Spay / Neuter Decision
The decision to spay or neuter is a both a situational and medical decision owners must take at various points in a dog’s life.
The best timing for spay / neuter is a matter of some contention. I ask new owners to try to give puppies mini of a year (first season), ideally 2 years before I consider spaying or neutering. From the AKC website:
AKC Canine Health Foundation-funded research has led to the following conclusion: “Most dogs in the United States are spayed or neutered, and for years the procedures have been completed prior to maturity. The research suggests that veterinarians should be more cautious about the age at which they spay and neuter in order to protect the overall health of dogs.”
Research results have shown that early spay or neuter (before the age of 12 months) can impact the incidence of different types of cancer, hip dysplasia, and development of canine cruciate ligament ruptures.
According to the Google AI Overview:
Early spaying (before sexual maturity, especially under 6 months) in dogs carries risks like increased chances of joint problems (hip dysplasia, cruciate tears) due to hormonal impacts on bone growth, higher risks for certain cancers (bone, bladder, prostate), and higher rates of hypothyroidism, obesity, and urinary incontinence, with effects varying by breed and size. While it prevents reproductive cancers, the loss of sex hormones affecting growth plates and immune function can lead to long-term health issues, necessitating careful consideration of timing, often recommending waiting until full maturity, especially for larger breeds.
Orthopedic Risks
- Growth Plates: Hormones are crucial for proper growth plate closure; early removal can delay closure, leading to longer bones and poor joint conformation.
- Hip Dysplasia: Increased risk, potentially doubling in some breeds.
- Cruciate Ligament Tears (CCL): Higher incidence reported in early-neutered dogs.
Cancer Risks
- Increased Risk: Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and bladder cancer.
- Decreased Risk: Ovarian/uterine cancers (though often offset by other risks).
Other Health Risks
- Hypothyroidism: Significantly increased risk, affecting metabolism and energy.
- Obesity: Higher risk due to altered metabolism, requiring careful diet control.
- Urinary Incontinence: More common in females spayed before puberty.
- Urinary Tract Issues: Higher risk of infections and bladder stones.
Behavioral Risks (Less Definitive)
- Some studies suggest increased fearfulness, reactivity, noise phobias, or aggression, though personality is heavily influenced by socialization.
Breed-Specific Considerations
- Large and giant breeds (like Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds) seem more vulnerable to orthopedic and some cancer risks when spayed early.
Key Takeaway
The consensus is shifting towards delaying spaying until dogs reach full physical and sexual maturity (often 12-18 months for large breeds) to allow for proper hormonal development, though the decision involves balancing these risks against the benefits (preventing unwanted litters, reducing mammary tumors). Always consult your veterinarian for guidance tailored to your dog’s breed and individual health.
If a female is not going to be bred, I will spay. If a female is done breeding, I will spay.
I don’t let to let females go beyond their 5th birthday without spaying because of the risk of pyometra, a serious and potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus that causes it to fill with bacteria and pus. Females can get pyometra at any age, but the risk are higher as they age and the secretions of the estrus cycles go unexecuted.
When spaying a female, owners should consider an ovary-sparing-spay.
a sterilization surgery for female dogs that removes the uterus and cervix but leaves the ovaries intact, allowing hormone production while preventing pregnancy and uterine infections like pyometra. This approach maintains benefits from hormones (estrogen/progesterone) like better bone, joint, coat health, and potentially longer lifespan, though dogs still have heat cycles (with less discharge) and require owner management, and long-term risks (like mammary cancer/stump pyometra) need consideration.
The Ovary-Sparing-Spay (OSS) is more expensive and only fraction of veterinarians do it. For those who have the resources, I recommend it.
I typically do not neuter my males unless there is a medical reason to do so …but for others there are clearly situational needs to neuter. In fact, the consensus on neutering is changing (for the better)
Choosing a Spay / Neuter Clinic
The costs to spay / neuter can vary widely, from as little as $200 to $1200 (or more!). It pays to consider options.
If your veterinarian offers cost-effective surgery, that is a good first option. Many vets perform the service at cost as a service to their clients and the community.
Alternatively, there are community organizations, often shelters and human societies, who provide low cost, high quality options to the public as part of their mission. Since these organizations spay / neuter all the time, they are efficient and good at it. They are where I get my dogs spayed (and occasionally neutered).