Desexing

[Grace1979]

Hi just wondering what age everyone desexed their doggies? Ive booked my girl in for when she is aweek over 4 mths but have had others say i should wait till after her first heat or after 6 mths? Thanks.

[Crazy Daisy]

Everyone has a different opinion. I believe larger breeds should be done when they have matured a little more as the hormones really help with their growing stages. I have always waited till 12-18 months to have my dogs done. Having said that all my large breeds have been male and I didn't have to go through a heat.

[Caesars mum]

As your bitch is a giant breed I would be waiting as long as possible, if you have the facilities to protect her from dogs I would wait until she is 12 months.or older.

I had Nala done at 6 months and I often wonder if this effected her growth as she is tall in the rear and shorter in the front.

I would ask the breeder when her mother and grandmaother first come into season and try to hold out closer to that age, if you feel that a dog could get to her if she was in season.

[The Spotted Devil]

Dogs desexed before sexual maturity grow very slightly taller when compared to those that are desexed after sexual maturity. The sex hormones actually stimulate growth plate closure in the long bones so this is very slightly delayed - and when I say very slightly, I mean very slightly! There is no evidence that it causes a change in the proportion of bone length within the same leg or between different legs.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both scenarios - I would be having a chat with your breeder and asking what they think and then weigh up the pros and cons

[Grace1979]

Thanks for that ive decided to wait abit longer. Its great getting different views on topics!

[stormie]

I desexed Orbit (great dane) at 18 months, but in hind sight, there is a part of me that wishes I had maybe done it a little earlier. When he started to mature sexually, he developed a bit of an 'entire dog' attitude; it wasn't anything major and I'm sure there are plenty of entire males who never show their hormones, but he did and developed a confidence that has stuck around a little even after having the chop. He never marked or anything like that, was more just his reaction to other dogs on his territory that seemed to change with maturity.

I probably wouldn't want to desex a large breed bitch that young however and would rather see her grow and mature a little more, mostly to try to reduce the risk of spey incontinence. A 4month old large/giant is much less mature than a 4month old small breed.

eta: for our large breeds we often suggest around the 8-9month and onwards.

Edited March 7, 2010 by stormie

[Starkehre]

If you would like her bones and joints to be developed in the way her body is designed to, which will be carry her mass around healthily into maturity, then I would suggest you wait until she is around 18 months before desexing. Her hormones will ensure this she has ideal growth and her growth plates will close at the correct time. Keep all exercise to a minimum until she is well into her 2nd year and ensure your training input is optimum to curb any hormonal issues that may crop up (but with bitches this tends to be way less than dogs). Good diet is imperative too, but I am sure her breeder has told you all this already.

She looks a lovely young girl. All the very best with her.