It appears that most (if not all) of the Rescue Shelters want to fix the dogs prior to adoption. I'm looking at a couple Lab puppies down here and they are about 6-7 weeks old. They will have the puppies fixed at 8 weeks before adoption.

I dug up this post from Ed:

http://leerburg.com/qa/qna.php?id=2719

In it he links to this report:

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

Has anything changed in the last couple years?

We waited until Starbuck was about 2 or 2.5 before we fixed her.

I also find these kind of reports that are "Pro" Early Spay/Neuter. They appear to focused 99% on population control.

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/ivb/spay-neu.htm

Thanks

I'm not a medical expert here, but I've always been under the impression that spaying and neutering too early is a detriment to the young pups health in growth plates closing properly, and an increased chance for hip dysplasia.

Depending on the breed, and right before sexual maturity is when you spay and neuter. With a medium/large breed dog I wouldn't spay/neuter till a minimum of 5-6 months, but then that's JMO.

I have a giant breed dog and she didn't get spayed till she was 8 months. I wouldn't neuter a male giant breed till 12-18 months.

They should have waited longer in that study instead of the 6-7 month old mark, I would have waited till 18-24 months then really see what the difference is when they reach maturity.

Personally, I wouldn't want to deprive my pups body of anything it could potentially require to grow properly. Especially during the critical growth period. There is no harm in leaving it to right before sexual maturity so, I'd leave it. JMO

I would not adopt a puppy that had been spayed/nuetered at 8 weeks. It is just way too young. My primary concern is bone growth and body development and increased rates of cancer.

If a pup is nuetered young their long bones keep growing, and there is increased risk of ACL injury, among others. A recent study I found from University Colorado found a significant increase in ACL tear in dogs that were nuetered early. That alone is enough reason for me.

Many types of cancers, especially bone cancer- increase in dogs that are spayed/nuetered early.

Additionally, dogs nuetered early tend to be taller (because of that extra bone growth) and have narrower heads so often don't look quite right.

Psychologically, they may never fully mature mentally and retain puppy characteristics. Anectodotally, dogs I've known that were nuetered early are big goofs. Silly, frenzied, and retaining the attention span of a puppy.

Ideally, I'd wait until 18 months (full physical maturity) to nueter. If you'd like to avoid some of the behavioral issues associated with an intact dog, 6-8 months.

I have a big problem with 'rescue' agencies promoting this early spay/nueter. Every vet I've talked to worries about the physical growth issues associated with it and says they are seeing dogs come in with injuries related to this early spay/nueter. Increased cancer rates are also a huge concern.

I do understand worries about overpopulation. But rescue agencies tell adoptive pet owners that there will be absolutely no issues with early spay-nueter (I know from personal experience). In reality, they could be handing that person a dog who will have a lifetime of issues due to this early nuetering (mainly associated with bones/ligaments and cancer) . I think this is deceitful and shows a lack of respect to the adoptive pet owner.

Unfortunately, this is why I bought my most recent puppies from a breeder rather than 'rescuing them'. It seems that all rescues are early spay/nuetering these days.

How sad for someone to do the 'right thing' and adopt a puppy in need of a home only to have to face costly medical issues. Most adoptive pet-owners do not have the time or scientific know-how to research the issues related to early spay/nueter. Also, this is really the first generation of dogs subject to this procedure.

If the rescue won't work with you, I would not adopt an early-nuetered pup. All risks can't be avoided, of course, but they can be minimized as much as possible. This is one risk I'm not willing to take.

I'm about 90% sure we will get a female puppy. That article Ed sites says that females have a higher risk of several problems with the early spaying.

I guess I've changed my mind about early spay neuter having read all the information regarding orthopedic development/increased HD and stifle problems etc. If I had another pup to raise I would probably wait.
The drive for early spay-neuter is for population control, but another factor is that recovery is SO much easier on the dog, both mentally and physically. For a light weight non - working non-athlete, a little pet, it would still be my choice, not at 8 wks though -- I'd chose 4-5 mos.

I'm on board with pediatric sterilization in dogs when they are from rescue groups or shelters. It's all about population control. That said I refuse to ever adopt a puppy from a shelter, and will always adopt an older dog for several reasons-

1. What you see is what you get. Despite the dog being shut down because of a stressful environment, his true colors are there where as with a pup you'll have to wait months instead of a few weeks.

2. Adult dogs are typically picked up unaltered so the risks of early spay/neuter talked about above are minimal.

3. Adult dogs are more hardy and capable of fighting off the multitude of disease that shelter dogs are being bombed with daily.

4. Adult dogs are very often overlooked in favor of cute puppies, and they are the first to be killed when space becomes limited.

My female GSDs were spayed at 6 and 8 months. Would probably wait longer, knowing what I know now.

My male is still intact, but I have plans to neuter him around Christmas (since my hubby will be off work). He will be about 19 months old. His growth has already slowed, maturity is starting to set in, etc so I feel comfortable with this decision. I delayed his neutering twice previously because I felt he wasn't ready.

I think anywhere from 5-6 months is OK for a non-working pet. I am 100% against any nuetering done prior to 4 months.

Many 'pet' owners do want an active pet. Retrieving can be very physically taxing with the skidding stops, dodging at speed, and leaps. So even if that's all you want to do with your pet, proper growth is important.

Most pediatric nueters are still fairly young- this procedure is relatively new in wide-spread use (ALL rescues these days it seems). The study group is thus still young adults- most dogs that were nuetered early haven't hit mid-to old age when problems crop up more. I hope there is research being done on these dogs so that conclusive scientific evidence can be available.

Maybe that's my dissertation right there...

 Quote: Kiersten Lippman

I think anywhere from 5-6 months is OK for a non-working pet. I am 100% against any nuetering done prior to 4 months.

Many 'pet' owners do want an active pet. Retrieving can be very physically taxing with the skidding stops, dodging at speed, and leaps. So even if that's all you want to do with your pet, proper growth is important.

Most pediatric nueters are still fairly young- this procedure is relatively new in wide-spread use (ALL rescues these days it seems). The study group is thus still young adults- most dogs that were nuetered early haven't hit mid-to old age when problems crop up more. I hope there is research being done on these dogs so that conclusive scientific evidence can be available.

Maybe that's my dissertation right there...

Me too! Though, since most dogs that are neutered that early are rescues or from sub-standard breeders, I think they will probably just be classified as poor genetic make-up, improper care etc. until someone can make the connection between the actual neutering procedure and the poor health. It would be interesting to see studies done among siblings who have been sterilized at different stages in their lives.
In my personal experience, I thought I was doing the right thing by neutering Haz the day he turned 6 months old. After doing more and more research, I wish I would have waited another year or even a little more. He is a bit leggy and much more fine boned compared to his siblings, who weren't altered until they were a bit older and they all started out looking the same as far as body composition is concerned. He is now shorter than all of them too!

I'm conflicted about early spay/nueter programs. I can see both sides of the issue as well, having adopted 2 of our dogs from a rescue, however I have never had any of mine spayed or nuetered before 6 months. That being said, I think more studies should be done. I also spayed my female lab around six-seven months to prevent any accidents, however with the males, if we weren't given a deadline, we tended to wait closer to a yr old. That being said, if I were to get a rescue dog again, I'd probably get an older puppy (9-12 months) or preferablely an older dog. My hubby is not the biggest fan of puppies espeically younger than 6 months old.