At what age should you spay or neuter your dog?
Many vets recommend that you spay or neuter as early as 6 month. Breeders who are protecting their “blood lines” spay or neuter before 8 weeks of age…this practice makes me sad and angry.
When you spay or neuter you are altering your dog’s hormones. Your dog’s bones are growing until they are about 18 months old. Altering their hormones before they are done growing sets them up for bone / hip problems. Dogs that are altered early usually end up taller. I have seen it in my own litters.
Research is showing that spaying and neutering greatly increases the risk of some cancers.
I waited until FredMan was just over one year old to neuter him. I would have waited longer, but circumstances required that he be neutered to keep the doggy peace in our home. Ginger was spayed when she was four and a half years old. We have an un-altered male who was born in 2012. I used to think of un-neutered males as being aggressive and peeing on everything. This dog has totally changed my thinking. He is she sweetest male and yes he does mark, but never indoors and rarely on concrete. He’s been trained what he can and can’t pee on.
Everyone has to decide for themselves when to spay or neuter, if at all. Please do your own research and do not rely solely on your veterinarian’s advice.
If you can not keep your dog from unintentional breeding, you need to spay or neuter before an unwanted litter is produced.
Here are some links to help you decide if and when to spay or neuter.
New evidence shows link between early spay / neuter and Cancer!
When to spay or neuter. Do your research BEFORE you decide when to do this.
The following are links for potty training.