How old to spay or neuter
I would appreciate answers from you wonderful full of knowledge people out there. It makes sense if you think about it, especially a large breed dog. I just do not remember exactly what it was. Thanks, |
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| For OES, growth plates are generally considered sealed (growth of the long bones is complete) by 18 months. So for me and most with OES, that would be the younger side of considering a spay or neuter. To know for sure, xrays can be done, but most just go with the 18 months and can be assured they have waited long enough. My boys (7ys and 2 yrs) are both intact, and not being neutered has not affected them in behavior at all. They both are well behaved, super temperaments and very multi-titled.  But, having intact males is not everyone's cup of tea. |
| Thank you so much for answering my question. I could see where people had read it and wondered why no one would answer or if I asked it the wrong way. So now I know wait at least 18 months and what to say to my vet. I have not had one that needed to be spayed in over 15 years and back then it was the younger the better. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!! |
mable4ever wrote: Thank you so much for answering my question. I could see where people had read it and wondered why no one would answer or if I asked it the wrong way. So now I know wait at least 18 months and what to say to my vet. I have not had one that needed to be spayed in over 15 years and back then it was the younger the better. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!! Oh, you are welcome. I thought you worded your request very well. |
| I agree with everything Dawn has said. Give them time to mature & have all the organs in the right places. This is what my vet has always preached. |
| Is the 18 month guideline the same for the female? Helene's Mum had her first heat at 10 months does that make a difference? |
| Pretty much 18 months is the guideline for both maless & females when it comes to the growth plates settling in. |
| You will really get pressure from your vet to spay/neuter earlier as they have been "brainwashed" by the anti-litter groups........and in fairness for some good reasons. But like all overly zealous groups, common sense is often lost in favor or the cause. Assure your vet you will not expose your bitch during heat cycles and you will always have your boy under control; in the house, on leash, etc so he cannot break free for a wild time. As a responsible pet owner that is your job anyway. It will be more expensive to spay a larger female, often calculated by weight. Offset the cost of drugs at the other end of life due to poor development and structural pain or bone cancer. Vets will pooh-pooh this but would you emasculate a young boy because you are afraid he might impregnate a girl when he turns a teenager? Would you sterilize a young girl for same adolescent fears? Of course not. Castratos in opera may have had lovely voices, but oodles of physical problems. Hang tough. For the sank of physical soundness, delay it until growth has stopped.......18 months is good time. |
| Thank you all for the information. i am thinking about getting a puppy the first of May. She will be 6 months old and will take her to my vet when she arrives. Just need to know how/what to say to him. i believe he will understand/know this already, but I haven't had the need to discuss anything about puppies with him since my Bear Bear was a senior. I will say he gave her the best care and me tons of advice on how to take care of a senior fluffball. Thanks again everybody. |
| You really don't need to explain anything to your vet. Unless you are somewhere that has mandatory spay/neuter laws, it's your decision whether to spay or neuter at all, not his. Most breeders these days discourage early altering or even have it as part of their contract to wait to spay/neuter theirs dogs. Breeder contracts are a great defense if your vet disagrees with your wishes. If your vet is still argumentative, find another vet. This decision can affect your dog's entire life so you must look out for your pup. Fight for what you know is right. |
| i really do not feel I will have any problem with my vet. He is great. The spaying at an older age is new for me. Like I said, its been sixteen years since I had one that needed to be spayed. And back then it was the younger the better kind of thing. But after reading about pups being older it makes so much sense to me now. The one obstacle I have come across is doggie daycare does not allow any unaltered males/females over the age of 8 months. Shot that idea out the window.  Was thinking it would be good for my longest day of work, socialization etc. Guess I will have to quit work to stay home and play with my puppy......I can dream, can't I?? I am trying to read up on everything from nutrition, training, etc. to be prepared for the unexpected.. But are we ever really prepared?? And thanks again to all of you for the much needed current info and advice. |
| The doggie daycare rules do throw a wrench into the plans for a few months, anyway. Can you hire a trusted, private individual to care for your pup in the meantime? You can always take your puppy to classes or get together with friends or take him to the pet supply stores or other places for socialization. That way you will be in control of his actions when experiencing new things. No, I don't think anyone is ever entirely prepared for a puppy. My last two were polar opposites so what worked for one didn't always hold true for the other. Relax and enjoy things as they come. They always grow up too fast. |
| Thank you for all of your information. I really do appreciate it. |
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