When Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog?
Spaying or neutering your dog before they are fully developed is a dangerous, outdated, and uniquely American belief that hopefully dissipates as veterinarians and the public become more educated on this topic.
Unfortunately, most primary care vets in America are not up to date on recent research and may suggest to neuter/spay your dog before they are done developing to reduce the chance of cancer and improve behavior.
This reasoning is outdated and disproven by more recent and comprehensive research that indicates an early spay/neuter can actually increase the chance of cancer, behavioral issues, injury, and a variety of other health issues.
Clearly it is important for our dogs to fully develop before they have organs producing vital developmental hormones removed from their body.
If you are a responsible dog owner there should be little to no chance your dog will accidentally reproduce with another dog. In most other developed countries it is commonplace to not neuter or spay and instead be responsible when and who the dogs are interacting with.
The following are just a handful of research papers with data that supports waiting until a dog is fully developed before spaying/neutering them.
Hart BL, Hart LA, Thingpen AP, Willits NH. (2020) “Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence” Frontiers: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
Zink C, Delgado MM, Stella, JL. (2023) “Vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs: comparison of health and behavior outcomes with gonadectomized and sexually intact dogs” AVMA Publications: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/3/javma.22.08.0382.xml?tab_body=abstract
Van Hagen MA, Ducro BJ, van den Broek J, Knol BW. (2005) “Incidence, risk factors, and heritability estimates of hind limb lameness caused by hip dysplasia in a birth cohort of boxers” National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15757132/
Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH, (2014) “Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs: Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers” National Library of Medicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4096726/
Cooley DM, Beranek BC, Schlittler DL, Glickman NW, Glickman LT, Waters D. (2019) “Endogenous Gonadal Hormone Exposure and Bone Sarcoma Risk” National Library of Medicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6863800/
Vidoni B, Sommerfeld-Stur I, Eisenmenger E. (2005) “Diagnostic and Genetic Aspects of Patellar Luxation in Small and Miniature Breed Dogs in Austria” Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287313647_Diagnostic_and_genetic_aspects_of_patellar_luxation_in_small_and_miniature_breed_dogs_in_Austria
Hess RS, Kass PH, Shofer FS, Can Winkle TJ, Washabau RJ, (1999) “Evaluation of Risk Factors for Fatal Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs” National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9887939/
Slauterbeck JR, Pankratz K, Xu KT, Bozeman SC, Hardy DM. (2004) “ Canine ovariohysterectomy and orchiectomy increase the prevalence of ACL injury” National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15577502/
Whitehair JG, Vasseur PB, Willits NH. (1993) “Epidemiology of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs” National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8226247/
Duerr FM, Duncan CG, Savicky RS, Park RD, Egger EL, Palmer RH. (2007) “Risk Factors for excessive tibial plateau angle in large-breed dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease” National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18052804/