Best Age To Neuter A Male Dog
Possible reasons not to neuter your male dog most of the following statistics come from a 10 year study at the university of california davis veterinary teaching hospital.
Best age to neuter a male dog. Neutering a male dog prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk of other problems such as prostate disease. By 6 years of age 75 to 80 of intact male dogs will have evidence of bph. A male dog can be neutered any time after eight weeks of age. Unless the dog has a retained testicle a condition known as cryptorchidism a neuter procedure does not enter the abdominal cavity.
Neutering including spaying of male and female dogs in the first year after birth has become routine in the u s. The increased size of the prostate is associated with increased blood supply. Just quickly when we talk about a neutered dog we are referring to a male dog that has had his testicles removed. The study was headed by dr.
The size of the pet matters. They are also less likely to jump a fence fight or get hit by a car. In my experience dogs neutered under 6 months develop less obesity and don t establish some of the male behaviors that neutering is meant to treat. A neuter procedure or castration removes the testicles from a male dog.
The timing depends on what age they can expect to hit puberty. While still a major surgery it is not as complex as a spay in a healthy normal male dog. A few years ago most veterinarians advised waiting until puberty hit at about six months and some still make that recommendation. By 9 years of age 95 to 100 of intact male dogs will have evidence of bph.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy bph is age related change in prostate size. As long as you choose the right time to neuter your dog the benefits outweigh the risk. Suggested guidelines for the best age to neuter your dog hart et. What is the best age to neuter a male dog.
If neutering is done too early or too late the risks get higher and the benefits lower. Dog owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine the best age to. These pro early neuter studies were not carried out long enough to evaluate the risk of cancer. In the past i would have quickly replied oh around 6 9 mths old would be best but now with studies looking at the relationship between neutering and health of our dogs that advice may well be regarded as obsolete.
While this may seem like a straight forward question it is actually far from it. Depending on who you speak and in which country you find yourself you will notice that veterinarians will give different advice on the best age to neuter your dog.