Puppies Desexed At 8 Weeks?

[Tammi]

Hey all,

My mum has asked me to have a look around for Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders as she feels she might be ready for a puppy. Her Belgian was put down on Jan 1st.

However there is a page where the puppies are desexed before going to their new home. They are done at 8 weeks of age. I can understand selling a pup with a contract to desex by a certain age. But at 8 weeks? This worries me a fair bit. If I haven't mixed the names up, the breeder is someone mum knows through a friend of a friend.

Should I just keep looking?

[Bonnie N Her Aussie]

In my own opinion; I feel that 8 weeks is probably too young to have a puppy desexed. I didn't think Vets would desex a pup at that age anyway. If your mum knows of the breeder, by "a friend of a friend" perhaps you could go straight to the source and ask her what her opinions are on this and why she wants to desex so early, at not at 6 months, or even 12. Best of luck, I PMed you also.

[MolassesLass]

Most rescue organisations (RSPCA, AWL and private) desex puppies before they go to new owners. Some breeders also do this, as they feel there is no problem for the pup and desexing contracts can't be enforced legally. I desex my BC pet pups at around 7 weeks of age.

There are many articles available on the web with information on the pros and cons of desexing at this age. I would be a little hesitant with a RR, as they are quite a large dog but I would speak with the breeder about it and ask about other pups that were done at that age (after educating myself).

[Tammi]

Thats what I thought. I'll keep looking for her, give her a few options to look through. It will be her dog after all. So if I got the name right, this breeder isn't too far from where mum lives. So she could always arrange to call in and have a chat at some point.

Thanks

[Dame Aussie]

I have experience working at animal shelters and most of the ones I know of desex animals at 8 weeks with no problems whatsoever.

It may not be an ideal situation, I wont have have my girl desexed till she is around 6 months, but I have the choice.

The shelters are trying to reduce the amount of unwanted animals so it's a bit different, I can't say Ive heard of many breeders desexing this young, but in saying that I don't see a problem with it

[poodlefan]

There's no reason why the puppy couldn't have a vasectomy if the breeder is adamant about the pup being sterile before going to a new home.

I'd not be wanting any breed of dog desexed at 8 weeks, let alone a large one but I understand from a welfare perspective why rescue organisations do it.

[Cordelia]

No reason for it not to be done.. if it bothers you at 8wks... ask the breeder to hold the pup until it's 12wks old.

If your mum isn't going to be showing or competing agility or other canine sports.. then there is no need to wait.

[Tammi]

No reason for it not to be done.. if it bothers you at 8wks... ask the breeder to hold the pup until it's 12wks old.

If your mum isn't going to be showing or competing agility or other canine sports.. then there is no need to wait.

I wasn't aware a dog had to be entire to compete in agility? Only for conformation showing.

[poodlefan]

A dog doesn't have to be entire to compete in agility. However, early desexing alters the growth pattern of all dogs and male dogs in particular may grow taller and have less bone if desexed early. The growth plates of dogs desexed before puberty close later, and some bones will be longer - that can have an impact on ligaments etc.

At least one notable canine sports vet recommends agility dogs not be desexed before 14 months of age. ETA quote from her article:

This abnormal growth frequently results in significant alterations in body proportions and particularly the lengths (and therefore weights) of certain

bones relative to others. For example, if the femur has achieved its genetically determined normal length at 8 months when a dog gets spayed or neutered, but the tibia, which normally stops growing at 12 to 14 months of age continues to grow, then an abnormal angle may develop at the stifle. In addition, with the extra growth, the lower leg below the stifle likely becomes heavier (because it is longer), and may cause increased stresses on the cranial cruciate ligament. In addition, sex hormones are critical for achieving peak bone density.(4) These structural and physiological alterations may be the reason why at least one recent study showed that spayed and neutered dogs had a higher incidence of CCL rupture.(5) Another recent study showed that dogs spayed or neutered before 5 1/2 months had a significantly higher incidence of hip dysplasia than those spayed or neutered after 5 1/2 months of age, although it should be noted that in this study there were no standard criteria for the diagnosis of hip dysplasia.(6) Nonetheless, breeders of purebred dogs should be cognizant of these studies and

should consider whether or not pups they bred were spayed or neutered when considering breeding decisions.

Edited September 4, 2008 by poodlefan