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  1. #1
    Puppy marc515's Avatar
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    What's the best age to neuter Lab pup?

    We've had Labs before and have usually neutered them around 6 months of age. However, I had another lab owner indicate he had his Lab neutered at a year, as 6 months was too young and interfered with their growing.

    What age did you have your Lab's neutered?

    Thank you

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Maxx was done just before his 2nd birthday, I really wish I hadn't done it at all. It is best to wait until their growth plates have closed, usually around 18 months. What did your breeder tell you? I would follow their advice as long as you are comfortable and can commit to keeping your boy from taking off to find a girlfriend!
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    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    My breeders asked that we wait at least 2 years to do our boy. Our girl's breeder also asked that we wait until she was between 18-24 months of age. We had our boy neutered at about 3 years of age. If you got your boy from a breeder who has an opinion on neutering, I'd certainly check with them on their recommendation as well.

    There was a stickie thread with a dozen or more articles compiled by Snowshoe on neutering and spaying dogs, health reasons, behavioral reasons, the more recent thinking on the matter. I don't know if it's been resurrected yet, but if I can find it or any of the articles, which I might have bookmarked for myself, I'll add them to my answer.

    Here are a few of the articles previously posted by Snowshoe, in case you want to do some heavy reading. There are more recent articles as well, but for some reason, they weren't on this thread. The first one is a newer article that wasn't on the archived version of Snowshoe's thread, but may have been added at a later date.

    PLOS ONE: Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers

    Some of Snowshoe's articles:


    https://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf
    Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs
    Laura J. Sanborn, M.S.
    May 14, 2007

    https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.231.11.1665
    Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats,
    Margaret V. Root Kustritz, dvm, phd, dact

    https://www.savethedals.org/earlyneuter.htm
    Veterinary "Review" Article on Neutering, with Implications for Dalmatian Stone-Formers Abstracted by Carroll H. Weiss
    Study Group on Urinary Stones
    Research Committee
    Dalmatian Club of America

    https://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/neutr.html
    NEUTERING MALE AND FEMALE DOGS
    Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M.
    ©2003 for BREEDERVET

    https://www.littleriverlabs.com/neuter.htm
    The Question Of Neutering and at what age
    (Put together by Gregg Tonkin, Little River Labradors from postings by Pam Davol PHD and Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP)
    Last edited by smartrock; 05-23-2014 at 10:17 AM. Reason: added articles

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    Snowshoe (05-23-2014)

  5. #4
    Real Retriever Archie's Avatar
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    I don't think there's a one size fits all answer for this. Depends on your situation.

    Ideally, to let them grow and develop properly - 18 months to 2 years. But, there are a lot of factors to consider.

    For us, we are booked to do it soon. Archie is a little over a year old. We want to be able to send him to daycare this summer, which we can't do if he is unneutered. I figure by a year old, he's done the majority of his growing.

    I do think 6 months is too young, but that's what all the vets will tell you to do.

  6. #5
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    I neutered Charlie at 12 months. Niner will be 2 in July and he's not neutered yet.

    Nancy

  7. #6
    Senior Dog voodoo's Avatar
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    havent neutered chili yet, waiting as long as I can...if he stays "good" I may wait til 3 yrs old, so much depends on whether he turns into a sex monger. The longer he behaves well, I see no need to neuter.
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  8. #7
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Try to wait to 18 months if you can. No earlier than 12 months in my book. I neutered one dog at 8 years due to testicular cancer and I neutered the other due to seizures. My other 2 are still intact at 6 and 3.

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  10. #9
    Puppy marc515's Avatar
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    Thanks guys.

    Our breeder indicated we should wait at least a year, but our Vet, who has been our Vet for almost 20 years says 6 months is fine.

  11. #10
    Puppy labby's Avatar
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    Your vet is sooooo outdated it's pathetic. Tell him to either get with it or you'll find a better informed vet. There have been studies that show neutering early can cause a LOT of problems, including increased risk of CANCER and KNEE INJURIES.

    Frankly, I don't care how long I've been going to a vet, if they're not up to date on things and recommend early neutering, they'd no longer be my vet.

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    csblabmom (05-23-2014)

 



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