I have read a lot on here but I think we are going to get him neutered this Friday the 15th. ...:has anyone else neutered at this age?
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I have read a lot on here but I think we are going to get him neutered this Friday the 15th. ...:has anyone else neutered at this age?
Of the 7 dogs we've had, 3 were boys and none were neutered before they were about 2 years of age. The first 2 boys were not labs. Our lab boy was neutered at 3 years of age. There was no compelling reason for us to do it sooner but in our contract with our breeder, we agreed to have him neutered at some point. She recommended waiting until he was at least 2 years old.
Our breeder recommended that we wait until at least 18 months to two years of age. That seems to be the general recommendation of most breeders around here.
I had Barley neutered at 9 months because they required it at doggie-daycare and my parents got a rescue lab at 9 months who had been neutered earlier as well. They are both fine - but I know there are many suggestions to wait for future health reasons. My older lab was over 14 when I had to put him down - and he was taken care of around that age as well. I believe it to be a personal decision - and you may just want to ask yourself why you wish to do it now.
I personally would not neuter mine until they were 18-24 months, but lots of dogs get neutered around 6 months and are fine. My last Lab was neutered at six months and lived a long healthy life, put to sleep because of old age at over 16 years old. Lots of research says to wait, but it depends on your lifestyle and personal decision.
What's the hurry BigBob?
All the references we can and will share (if you'd like to read) will point toward the importance of growth plate closure first. Normally that's at least 12-14 mos for labs and then there is musculature development.... so 18 mos is really a better age all in all.
Unless there is some animal husbandry issue (for example, you can't responsibly manage an intact dog to ensure prevention of oops litters or you must neuter because you have no alternative to using a specific daycare/boarding facility) that necessitates early neutering, I don't see a benefit to it. Waiting until growth plates are closed, and the dog is physically mature, will ensure that the dog grows to his full potential. Males in particular often take longer to fill out and develop. If you got your dog from a reputable breeder, from conformation lines, and you like the looks of the parents, early neutering will likely keep your dog from maturing to the full potential of his pedigree. There are studies that suggest there may be orthopedic benefits to waiting also.
Ultimately, you know your circumstances best, and only you can fully determine why earlier neutering is appropriate for you.
Wow.... I would really like to wait but we can't due to a variety of reasons. He is a big boy so now you have me worried. My vet said that that there would be no problem for him to get neutered at this time. He has good musculature and should be able to hold the weight of his bones.
Neuter/Spay - Pros, Cons, Risks, Benefits - Research Article Links
You read here ^^?