Neuter/spay age chart

[smartrock]

We haven't had a reason to discuss the best age for spay/neuter in quite a while. But, in the interest of keeping things current, I recently saw this chart developed by UC Davis that suggests minimum age for spay/neuter for 40 breeds of dogs to decrease the risk for various cancers and orthopedic diseases. I know some of the articles Snowshoe collected also discussed behavioral issues related to early vs late spay or neuter, this did not.

I found it surprising that in labs, the recommendations said to wait 6 months for males and 12 months for females. It also indicated that male Dobermans and female Golden Retrievers would ideally not be castrated. I've gotten a range of recommendations from our lab breeders to wait 1-2 years.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/magazine/how...d-and-neutered

[barry581]

6 months old still seems way to young to me, they're still just babies. It wasn't that long ago that the UC Davis study on Goldens recommended waiting until the growth plates closed before spaying/neutering. Despite what is recommended by this study, I'd probably still wait to do this. Although it really doesn't matter for the boys as I don't have them done unless there is a concrete reason to do so. Brooks and Song are still intact despite my having no intention or desire to breed them. Rose was almost 2 1/2 when I had her spayed.

[Berna]

I'd never spay/neuter before the dog is done with development (which in Labs is around 2 years old, but I'd probably wait longer). With that said, I kept Cookie intact until he had a medical problem, which was at 13 years old. I intend to do the same with Sonic. If I had a female and didn't intend to breed her, I probably wouldn't wait that long since pyometra could be a life-threatening possibility.

[Snowshoe]

I saw that study and was surprised at some of the young ages. Oban's contract specified non-breeding but it did not say he had to be neutered. I always caution people to check their health guarantee as neuter can be part of it. I refused a local breeder's ESS due to the requirement of neuter by 8 months and found one who did health tests, had a guarantee and would waive her neuter requirement. I would spay a female, I figured on 2 years old. Jet was spayed at 9 months because it was pre-internet and I didn't have the information that's available to us now. Eddy is intact, at 3.5 years, and will stay intact. He looks like maybe he was neutered early, he has Lonnnnng legs. Smartrock, I'll see if I can add that chart to the neuter topic in health, Woody might have to do it for me - Woody?

Well, I got it added but had trouble making it look like the other entries. However the title is there and it is searchable.

[smartrock]

I agree, the age for neutering male labs seems too young.

Chase was neutered at 3 yo and died at 10 yo of a splenic hemangiosarcoma. Larky was spayed at 18 months after one heat cycle. She also died of a splenic hemangiosarcoma at 9 years old. Sigh. (No close ancestors) Henry (6yo) and Joey (nearly 3) are both intact. I don't know that it will help protect my boys but unless there's a compelling reason to neuter, I'll wait. And I guess I won't be getting any female doggos but I'm also hoping Henry and Joey stick around for a while.