What are your opinions on early spay/neuter?

Question

In my personal opinion, I am against early spay and neuter. The after effects of an early spay/neuter are too great a risk for me (Appearances of my dog is important to me, so when they turn out to be taller, leaner, and their heads and chests are too narrow, I'm a bit irritated). Also, the risk of incontinence, and other issues is raised.

Some may argue that the risk of uterine infections and testicular and mammary cancer are too great of a risk to take, but honestly, how common are those??

Now don't get me wrong, I fully believe rescue/shelter dogs should be spay/neutered before they are released, and if an owner does not care about looks or does not want the added pressure of keeping intact dogs from mating, then, by all means, SPAY AND NEUTER. However, if an owner is responsible enough, why not allow your dog to develop properly?

What are your opinions? Rebuttals? Arguments?

Answer 1

No younger than six months is how I feel. My girl was spayed at 5 months she turned out to be younger than we thought and she was under a spay agreement but normally I wouldn't spay before 6 months. And with larger dogs I would wait longer.

There is no need to spay earlier than 6 months.

Answer 2

I actually agree with you and require that my owners wait until my pups growth plates have closed (typically after 12 mths) before neutering. Early neuter can cause a delay of the plate closure and in performance dogs, that extra growth spurt affects physical balance.

Answer 3

It's actually been proven by vets that spaying before 6 months of age actually makes the dog grow bigger than spaying and neutering later in life.  The lack of hormones makes the growth plates grow bigger whereas the hormones actually supress the growth plates.  That was an article that I read in Dog Fancy Magazine.  There is no reason to spay and neuter later in life, cancer risks decrease more if spayed early and if your dog grew up skinny or taller or leaner then it's their genetics and not the fact you fixed them early.  There is no health benefit either for a female to have a first heat before being spayed.

Answer 4

I agree that too early is not a good idea, unless there is a medical reason (not sure of anything that would require a dog to be spayed/neutered early but I am sure there is some problem out that that requires it). I think the hormones of being in-tact are very important in the early growth stages (both physical and mentally) in a young dog.

I think that between 6 and 8 months is prime. Both of my dogs were neutered at about 7 1/2 months, and they are just fine. It didn't alter their growth, change their temperaments, or cause any other issues.

I have, however, heard that for giant breeds (such as the great dane) it is best to wait even longer-at least 10 months, so that they develop correctly. I don't remember where I heard it, who I heard it from, or how credible it is, but it is something that came to me through the grape vine.

Answer 5

i believe that dogs should spay and nuetered at earliest as 4 montsh

Answer 6

personally i always neuter my dogs it's cruel on a ***** to have a seeson without pups it's like torture and a male could do stuff without you knowing.

At 6 months i'd get them done!!!

katrie

xx

Answer 7

I am not in favor of early spay/neuter. I believe that they need hormones to grow and develop properly. If anyone was planning on doing certain jobs with their dogs, such as, agility, herding, schultzhund, etc..., I would advise them to wait before spaying/neutering to ensure proper development.

Answer 8

That's a tough question.  How early do you mean?  I also agree to spay & neuter program for health and breeding purposes, but I don't think before six months/one year.

Answer 9

I have no argument- I like you prefer to wait to spay untill at least 6 months..However my girl is almost ten moths now- wich I feel we are ready to have her nuetered.I want to make sure we get it done before her first heat..Some people need to have their pets done really young because I don't think they are responsible enough to keep track of them

Answer 10

I read your question and then did more thorough research online (can't say i really liked what i read).  I have a 6 year english pointer that was neutered at around 6 months or earlier and is doing great.  He is a great looking dog but he's big, 27-27.5 inches at his withers and weighs 85lbs very big for a pointer.  When we got him he was 7 months old and weighed 65lbs...not sure if early neutering had anything to do with that.  I adopted a 9 week old puppy from a no-kill shelter back in Feb. she is now almost 9 months not too sure if she's stunted, she was spayed at 8 weeks if not a bit earlier from her spay records.  After reading a lot of information on the matter, im concerned especially since i asked the vet if that was a concern having her fixed so early and they told me what shelters tell people who adopt that they are fine and hand us the liability of raising a puppy who may eventually have hip problems, cancers, etc.  My puppy (catahoula leopard) is currently 55lbs, and is 23 inches high (which seems to fit within the breed standards) but we will see, guess we'll have to see.

Thanks for bringing up such a interesting question

Answer 11

I don't believe in neutering males until 18 months of age, if you neuter before then you ruin working drives. Also male dogs who're neutered early also look more feminine than they would have if left unaltered until they reached adulthood. Early spay with females is okay in my opinion.

Answer 12

Depends how long you mean to wait - 6 months at the outset would be safe - after that most owners are not all that capable of keeping their animals from breeding.

There is no evidence that a dog won't develop perfectly normally if he is neutered between 4 and 6 months, that is a matter of opinion, not fact.

Answer 13

well i wouldnt take the chance on my pets it can effect the development of the animal weather it be positive r negative you never know what could go wrong and once done theres no correcting it

Answer 14

I love that people are so eager to spay/neuter their pets!  Congrats for being responsible!

However... the sexual organs of an animal do more than just make puppies... they help the animal grow, and grow properly.

I feel that if you can handle an intact dog into maturity without making puppies, spay/neuter should be held off until approximately 8-12 months.  If you cannot responsibly handle an intact dog, then you need to neuter as soon as you see testicles, and spay before the first heat.  Early than that?  The only real benefit is they'll heal quickly.  Many vet will not even perform the surgery.