![]() It is also important to understand that often, the earlier these procedures are done, the easier the surgeries usually are for the veterinarian and recovery for the patient. Then, a discussion with your veterinarian based on your dog’s breed or breed type, sex, and potential future medical concerns must be had.Īn age of six to nine months of age may be appropriate for neutering or spaying a toy breed puppy or small breed puppy but a larger or giant breed may need to wait until they are near or over 12-18 months of age. If you have a purebred dog, you should also speak with your breeder, who may be able to provide valuable insight. My opinion on the topic is that the best age to spay or neuter should no longer be the standard “six months of age” response that many veterinarians have used as a guideline over the years, but rather tailored to each individual dog, especially if the dog is a large or giant breed. The American Veterinary Medical Association “promotes the professional judgment of the veterinarian in developing an informed, case by case assessment of each individual patient, taking into account all the potential risks and benefits of spay/neuter.” Irish Red and White Setter laying in the grass with a stuffed toy. The end conclusion is that generally, the larger breeds had possibly more to risk in future health conditions in than small or toy breeds of dogs due to early spaying or neutering since they mature at a later age. The wide margin of maturation of dogs varies considerably, as toy breed dogs mature sexually as early as six to nine months of age whereas large and giant breeds may mature as late as 16-18 months of age. Interestingly though, different breeds and different sized dogs mature at different ages, which means that early spay/neuter may not be bad for all dogs. We know they affect psychological development as well as the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and the immune system. ![]() Sex hormones are important in the development of any animal. The research conclusions are not surprising. Research conducted by the University of California – Davis reveals that for some dog breeds, neutering and spaying may be associated with the increased risks of certain health conditions such as joint disorders including hip or elbow dysplasia, cranial cruciate rupture or tear, and some cancers, such as lymphoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Today, we are discovering that possibly some of those decisions may have affected the health of some dogs. The relationship between sex hormones and canine health was not well-considered and understood decades ago when the early spay/neuter campaigns were started. However, studies have shown that this may not be the best age to spay or neuter your dog. Often, the spay and neuter take place at a very young age for pets, at four to six months. Although euthanasia has decreased over the last decade or so, there remains a very strong case for routine spay/neuter of pet cats and dogs. Of that number, it’s estimated that 1.5 million are euthanized. Currently, Statista estimates that 6.5 million animals enter U.S. ![]() ![]() This near-routine practice was a result of veterinarians and the animal shelter community working together to reduce the number of unwanted animals that would be euthanized. In fact, 78% of dog-owning households have spayed or neutered their canine companions according to the American Pet Products Association’s 2019-2020 National Pet Owners survey. In the United States, it is now common to have all dogs and cats not meant for breeding purposes spayed (ovariohysterectomy) or neutered (castration). ![]()
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