What Age To Desex?

[Black Bronson]

I've heard, if you leave it for longer than 6 months your dog will become a out of control horndog...

or if you do it before a year, your dog wont grow properly and can have huge amounts of problems.

Seems to be its your screwed if you do and screwed if you don't

Personally, I don't desex male dogs, never have and never will as I believe it's a pointless exercise and is more detrimental to the dog's health than a benefit. Humping, marking, aggression and jumping 6 foot fences to find bitches in season etc, and all the terrible behavioural issues supposedly associated with entire males is absolute bulldust. Perhaps in the days gone by when dogs were allowed to roam the streets at will without ever being trained may have contributed to these supposed entire traits surfacing, but for an obedience trained family pet that is looked after responsibly, entire or desexed doesn't make any difference. I much prefer the idea of a vastectomy for the comfort factor of not contributing to the possibility of random accidental litters.

[Black Bronson]

In the early 1990's one of the Guide Dog Schools in Europe did some work on the desexing of Guide Dogs, the findings were, <I am going on memory> that the desexed some dogs as early as 6-8 weeks and others were desexed at around 15-18 months just prior to being paired with a partner. The Guide Dog School found that they had a far higher success rate with dogs that were desexed later. I believe that during this time bloodwork was done and this showed that around this time that hormones released into the bloodstream of the dogs had an effect of causing a maturation of the brain.

I did find a couple of articles about this on the internet a while ago but am currently unable to locate anything.

With vets they are taught at University to advise people to have their dogs and cats desexed at 6 months to stop unwanted pregnancies. This recommendation was originally brought about in the early 1950's and 60's to help control the stray dog problems.

My opinion and recommendation to my puppy buyers is, "If you can be a responsible owner, wait until your dog is between 15 months and 18 months".

Correct Freunhund, I agree

I really wonder about vets sometimes with their desexing advise amongst other things . I take my GSD puppy to the vets after collecting him from the breeders for a check up. Firstly, "what's he crossed with, Kelpie" asks the vet. No he's a pedigree papered GSD. "He's crossed with something says the vet because he is pure black". No he's a working line GSD, explained about working lines and their different colourings etc etc, and that we had waited along time for this litter to train as a sporting dog and mentioned that he wasn't cheap either In the next breath, the vet says, "so you will be desexing him at 6 months???"

Seriously, who in their right mind would desex a sporting/working puppy specifically bred for working potential and purchased for dog sport at 6 months???

[Black Bronson]

I own a large breed too and breeders advise was not before 9 month (preferably longer).

I dont like the idea of desexing before the dog is mature. (unless the dog is a rescue or there are other valid reasons for it). I dont have any great scientific study to back that up but it just doesn't sit well with me.

Surely hormones are important in any animals development?

This is how I feel..

But then why does a vet say 6 months.

its confusing!!!!

Because they don't look outside the square and most would never research anything in that nature beyond what they were taught at vet school. Ask for a vasectomy and see how cleaver your vet is

BB did you mean cleaver! I have coffee everywhere YOU made my night very clever! lol

a vasectomy with a cleaver! lol

Its like the scrotum and the sternum always muddled them up too!

I guess you could use a cleaver

[bedazzledx2]

All my males have been left entire until maturity. I have used the implant Supralorin which is like a microchip and lasts from 6 to 12 months and is a wonderful option if you're not sure although I wouldn't use it before the dog is mature. I would never desex a male before he was 15 to 18 months old. Most vets are thinking of the over population of unwanted dogs and cats, and from their point of view they are giving appropriate advice. As I do dog sports I am primarily interested in proper development both physically and mentally and choose to wait. No biggie if you are a responsible owner.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

i have a small/medium breed dog and i would have preferred to wait until 9 - 12 months to desex BUT she had an inguinal hernia that needed operating on. after discussion with the vet on the urgency of the hernia op i made the decision to desex her earlier and fix the hernia and desex in the one operation so i left it as late as i could and the ops were done when she was 6 months.

there are equally a lot of opinions on when to desex bitches. some say that if the bitch is desexed prior to their first season it reduces the risk of mammary cancer and desexing male dogs removes the risk of testicular cancer.

in the end all we can do is to do what we think best for our dogs

[Black Bronson]

All my males have been left entire until maturity. I have used the implant Supralorin which is like a microchip and lasts from 6 to 12 months and is a wonderful option if you're not sure although I wouldn't use it before the dog is mature. I would never desex a male before he was 15 to 18 months old. Most vets are thinking of the over population of unwanted dogs and cats, and from their point of view they are giving appropriate advice. As I do dog sports I am primarily interested in proper development both physically and mentally and choose to wait. No biggie if you are a responsible owner.

To add to that bedazzled, once a male is sporting trained, well controlled and obedient by 18 months to 2 years old and entire, apart from an accidental mating, desexing IMO is no longer a behavioural factor of benefit at all once sporting obedience is established.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

All my males have been left entire until maturity. I have used the implant Supralorin which is like a microchip and lasts from 6 to 12 months and is a wonderful option if you're not sure although I wouldn't use it before the dog is mature. I would never desex a male before he was 15 to 18 months old. Most vets are thinking of the over population of unwanted dogs and cats, and from their point of view they are giving appropriate advice. As I do dog sports I am primarily interested in proper development both physically and mentally and choose to wait. No biggie if you are a responsible owner.

To add to that bedazzled, once a male is sporting trained, well controlled and obedient by 18 months to 2 years old and entire, apart from an accidental mating, desexing IMO is no longer a behavioural factor of benefit at all once sporting obedience is established.

BB what do you think of the school of thought that it reduces/eliminates the risk of testicular cancer

[Black Bronson]

i have a small/medium breed dog and i would have preferred to wait until 9 - 12 months to desex BUT she had an inguinal hernia that needed operating on. after discussion with the vet on the urgency of the hernia op i made the decision to desex her earlier and fix the hernia and desex in the one operation so i left it as late as i could and the ops were done when she was 6 months.

there are equally a lot of opinions on when to desex bitches. some say that if the bitch is desexed prior to their first season it reduces the risk of mammary cancer and desexing male dogs removes the risk of testicular cancer.

in the end all we can do is to do what we think best for our dogs

Small/medium dogs are believed to mature earlier than large dogs and apparantly doesn't impact as dramatically desexing at 6 months. Desexing does eliminate the risk of testiclular cancer in the male dog, but I don't know how risky testicular cancer is likely to occur. I guess a mastectomy would reduce the risk of breast cancer......but where is the line

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

i have a small/medium breed dog and i would have preferred to wait until 9 - 12 months to desex BUT she had an inguinal hernia that needed operating on. after discussion with the vet on the urgency of the hernia op i made the decision to desex her earlier and fix the hernia and desex in the one operation so i left it as late as i could and the ops were done when she was 6 months.

there are equally a lot of opinions on when to desex bitches. some say that if the bitch is desexed prior to their first season it reduces the risk of mammary cancer and desexing male dogs removes the risk of testicular cancer.

in the end all we can do is to do what we think best for our dogs

Small/medium dogs are believed to mature earlier than large dogs and apparantly doesn't impact as dramatically desexing at 6 months. Desexing does eliminate the risk of testiclular cancer in the male dog, but I don't know how risky testicular cancer is likely to occur. I guess a mastectomy would reduce the risk of breast cancer......but where is the line

a bit OT but now that they have found the gene some women who are in high risk groups are doing just that.

i would be curious to know the incidence of testicular cancer in entire male dogs as it is critical in eveluating the risk.

yep i wasnt too worried about getting my girl desexed at 6 months although if she was a large breed i would have done 2 seperate ops.

[Wazzat Xolo]

I just had too reply !!

Mastectomy may reduce the risk of Breast cancer BUT silicone implants then up it again lol

[Black Bronson]

All my males have been left entire until maturity. I have used the implant Supralorin which is like a microchip and lasts from 6 to 12 months and is a wonderful option if you're not sure although I wouldn't use it before the dog is mature. I would never desex a male before he was 15 to 18 months old. Most vets are thinking of the over population of unwanted dogs and cats, and from their point of view they are giving appropriate advice. As I do dog sports I am primarily interested in proper development both physically and mentally and choose to wait. No biggie if you are a responsible owner.

To add to that bedazzled, once a male is sporting trained, well controlled and obedient by 18 months to 2 years old and entire, apart from an accidental mating, desexing IMO is no longer a behavioural factor of benefit at all once sporting obedience is established.

BB what do you think of the school of thought that it reduces/eliminates the risk of testicular cancer

I have never had any of mine suffer from testicular cancer over 7 entire males or personally know anyone who's dog has suffered, but it does occur and desexing will eliminate that risk. I would ultimately like to know how often testicular cancer does occur to assess the risk properly. I have a feeling that testicular cancer is more rare than common, but it would be better to know the facts.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

All my males have been left entire until maturity. I have used the implant Supralorin which is like a microchip and lasts from 6 to 12 months and is a wonderful option if you're not sure although I wouldn't use it before the dog is mature. I would never desex a male before he was 15 to 18 months old. Most vets are thinking of the over population of unwanted dogs and cats, and from their point of view they are giving appropriate advice. As I do dog sports I am primarily interested in proper development both physically and mentally and choose to wait. No biggie if you are a responsible owner.

To add to that bedazzled, once a male is sporting trained, well controlled and obedient by 18 months to 2 years old and entire, apart from an accidental mating, desexing IMO is no longer a behavioural factor of benefit at all once sporting obedience is established.

BB what do you think of the school of thought that it reduces/eliminates the risk of testicular cancer

I have never had any of mine suffer from testicular cancer over 7 entire males or personally know anyone who's dog has suffered, but it does occur and desexing will eliminate that risk. I would ultimately like to know how often testicular cancer does occur to assess the risk properly. I have a feeling that testicular cancer is more rare than common, but it would be better to know the facts.

agreed i may have to research this

[Black Bronson]

I just had too reply !!

Mastectomy may reduce the risk of Breast cancer BUT silicone implants then up it again lol

You are correct Wazzat. What are your thoughts on testicular cancer in dog's, have you experienced it???.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

i have done a quick google and most say it is very low numbers of dogs get testicular cancer.

what i did find interesting is that dogs with undescended testicles are 13 times more likely to get testicular cancer than dogs with descended testicles.

[Black Bronson]

i have done a quick google and most say it is very low numbers of dogs get testicular cancer.

what i did find interesting is that dogs with undescended testicles are 13 times more likely to get testicular cancer than dogs with descended testicles.

I just did the same Jaxx I remember there were some GSD lines a few years ago that were producing an odd genetic undescending testicle that had to be desexed without question for health benefits which makes sense.

[tdierikx]

Your dog - your choice... nuff said...

T.

[GeckoTree]

Wouldnt the rate of testicular cancer be somewhere like the rate is in humans? Very little comparitive to the overall worldwide population? or are dogs prone to testicular cancer more than other species of animals are???

Edited May 25, 2010 by GeckoTree

[helen]

I've heard, if you leave it for longer than 6 months your dog will become a out of control horndog...

or if you do it before a year, your dog wont grow properly and can have huge amounts of problems.

Seems to be its your screwed if you do and screwed if you don't

LOL - I have never seen my 6 year old entire male do anything remotely horn dog except if there is a girl in season and only to another dog

I would recommend you ask your dog's breeder for advice

[Odin-Genie]

My male elkhound was desexed at 6 months (medium breed), so was my female goldy. My goldy does look taller and leaner compared to other goldies, but there is no discernible difference in my male dog compared to other elkies.

I do have a question about entire male dogs though. Every single entire male dog I have seen in dog parks ends up getting into fights with other males. Particularly if there are two entire male dogs around. Do entire males bring out aggressiveness in other male dogs? Do they tend to be more aggressive towards other males, including other entire male dogs?

Would anyone here leave two entire male dogs unsupervised for a whole day if they know each other very well?

Edited May 25, 2010 by Odin-Genie

[WreckitWhippet]

He should be left as long as possible, at least 12 months plus.