Neutering Dogs Too Young?

**joycenalex** · 11-14-2005, 01:37 PM

and he is fine. i did it the day after the vet said he was old enough and he hasn't had any problems at all, and he's now nine years old; he's not a large breed, just 45# lab-terrier mystery mix.

**lute** · 11-14-2005, 02:26 PM

i think the sooner the better. i Got Trudy Spayed last week and she's only about 10-12 weeks old.

**Jessika** · 11-14-2005, 02:28 PM

Most shelters around here will have all dogs/puppies neutered before adopting them out. Some are only 10 weeks or so old. And the puppy my parents had adopted years ago never had ANY problems relating to it.

**lv4dogs** · 11-14-2005, 02:58 PM

Most shelters around here will neuter as young as 8 weeks of age. NO dogs/cats get adopted out without being spayed/neutered.

Personally, I think you should wait until a dog if full grown. Females I will spay at 6 months of age, males I prefer to wait until they are 8-12 months of age. Thats just me but I swear it has to have some impact on them if they spayed/neutered too early. Thats a lot of months, important months where their bodies are still growing without the normal amount of hormones & the such in their system.

Now I DO NOT reccomend this for everyone. I believe that you only really need to wait until they are older if you show the dog. Any show or sport. I just honestly believe it helps them grow up properly which is needed for a show dog or a dog that is used for sport/exercise . I also believe that if you plan on exercising your dog a LOT, like (s)he will be your 3 mile jogging partner everyday etc.... that it will be benificial to wait until your dog is fully matured. AND since waiting to spay/neuter them may cause behavioral problems I also reccomend that those who wait until they are older to spay/neuter that you go through at least a few obedience classes.
But if you get a dog for companion & he's not getting a LOT of exercise every day than I think spaying/neutering at an early age is fine. And the size of the animal matters too. A smaller dog/cat I would get spayed/neutered at an earlier age than a larger dog/cat.
I'm sure it helps with a LOT with the overpopulation of animals!

I know I'll probably hear it from a lot of folks and I've kept it quiet so far. The day after I made Kaige's neuter appointment I spoke to his breeder and I couldn't of been happier, she's allowing me to neuter him by the age of 1 year instead of 6 months like on our original contract. Like I said above, I don't reccomend that every person waits until every dog is 6-12 months old to spay/neuter.

**Suki Wingy** · 11-14-2005, 04:31 PM

I hope your yard is REALLY secure!!

**lv4dogs** · 11-14-2005, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Suki Wingy

I hope your yard is REALLY secure!!

Oh yeah thanks for mentioning that. I forgot to add that having excellent control over your dog is also very important!!!! If you can not keep your dog/cat confined you should spay/neuter earlier!

Kaige is NEVER out of my sight, neither would any unneutered or unspayed dog/cat.

**Suki Wingy** · 11-14-2005, 04:35 PM

Good!

**sammy101** · 11-14-2005, 07:38 PM

Kodie was neutered at 5 months old.We had a contract with the rescue that he had to get fixed before i certain age..i dont remember the age though

.
Lucy was spayed at 6 months

**Roxyluvsme13** · 11-14-2005, 08:04 PM

Roxy was spayed at 8 months or they said she was 8 months. Anyways, I've always heard 6 months. Our shelter doesnt do spay/neuter before the dog is adopted, so we had to get Roxy's done, but someone had donated money for her spay to be done, so we adopted her for $20.

**Pembroke_Corgi** · 11-14-2005, 08:23 PM

I had my dogs spayed when they were about 3 1/2 months. My vet believes in early spaying/neutering because young puppies tend to heal faster than older ones. Both dogs stayed over night and were fine the next day. I definately think it's a good idea for them to be spayed before their first heat.

**anna_66** · 11-14-2005, 09:47 PM

We didn't get Angus neutered until he was 10. Yep, I said it...10. We really didn't see the need (Keisha was spayed & we didn't know the harm of not neutering). The only reason he was neutered was that he had an enlarged prostate. He never tried to get out of the yard, he was a good boy

Bon was just neutered last month (he was 1 yr & 2 mo). This was also a recommended time by our vet (1-2 yrs since he is a giant breed).
Roxey was around 5 months when she was spayed.
Huney was spayed shortly after we rescued (approximately 1 yr).

I guess what it all comes down to is that it is a personal decision (or a decision made by your breeder) on when to spay/neuter.