neutering times for dogs

RE: neutering times for dogs

Richard Carter — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 14:44:24 GMT

Seem to remember there was some work indicating better recovery, less behavioural issues and lower risk of weight related joint damage if neutered after reaching adult height so 1-2 years depending on breed?

RE: neutering times for dogs

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 20:09:33 GMT

Don't routinely neuter (male) dogs. Same effect achieved at any age. Only advise if there is an issue (either medical, behavioural or situational).

My preference for a bitch is 3 months after 1st season, but will spay literally any time you want - don't care if young, old, in season, pregnant etc. Advise that female dogs not intended for breeding should be spayed - we have a large entire population of working dogs.

RE: neutering times for dogs

ian bates — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:15:40 GMT

brilliant - thank you folks. That's helpful.

RE: neutering times for dogs

Sally Everitt — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 08:35:39 GMT

I think the honest answer to that question is that there is no longer a one size fits all answer as the most appropriate time to neuter an individual dog will depend on owner circumstances balanced against the potential effects of neutering on health and behaviour.

RCVS Knowledge have pulled together a collection of the evidence to help answer the question Benefits and risks of neutering pets – what is the evidence | in FOCUS (infocusvj.org), which includes consideration of the evidence relating to mammary tumours (under the heading Effect of neutering on disease risk).

The paper mentioned by Nicola was also reviewed for InFOCUS Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence | in FOCUS (infocusvj.org) .

RE: neutering times for dogs

Nicola Cole — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:11:25 GMT

There was a study done a couple of years back looking at data for all breeds and when to neuter-if you want to be more specific! I haven’t looked at the specifics of the study set up etc to see whether it stands up to scrutiny. There were a couple of breeds that came up with slightly different results, otherwise it was pretty much as you would expect. I’ll try and find it and post it up if I can.

RE: neutering times for dogs

Julie Innes — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 15:26:58 GMT

When I first qualified we wanted bitches to have a season first and dogs to be 6mths +.

Couple of years later in my second job we did everything at 5 mths old!

Now (some 26 years later...) we do small dogs either at 6mths or couple of months after 1st season, large dogs I like to have at least 1 season, giant breeds I prefer them to be 18mths +. Large male dogs 18mths + and giant breeds 2yrs.

The thinking has changed so many times over the years, I do try to keep up, but it's not easy! Especially when we hear of labradoodle breeders getting puppies neutered at 14 weeks, some breeders telling people not to neuter at all etc! Even the proper veterinary studies I have read don't all seem to completely agree

RE: neutering times for dogs

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 12:53:19 GMT

We don’t generally do prepubertal spays as we like a season first. We are in a rural area where this doesn’t usually cause an issue. Many breeds we will do at 9 months, large breeds and some specific breeds we like to leave to be a bit older (like 18months or so) And anything anxious, especially the lockdown male pups we like to leave later too.