Do veterinarians generally agree that spaying and neutering dogs is a good thing?

Question

Our puppy is 5 months old. We have taken him for his shots, heartworm treatments, etc. I plan to have him "fixed" as soon as he's old enough. I was suprised to find out though that the vet I picked does not condone spaying and neutering. He told me he does them, but doesn't agree with them. I am planning to switch vets because, frankly, I think that's weird. I was wondering if this is a common feeling among vetrinarians or if I'm right to think it's strange.

Answer 1

That is unusual for a vet to say, though not necessarily bad, it depends on his reasoning, you should ask him.

Most vets want to spay and neuter all animals, at 6 months or younger simply because they are concerned about population control and they don't know who the responsible owners are and aren't.

I have done a lot of research on the subject because my dog is at that age. The research I have done is specific to labs. For a lab, it is ideal to neutuer between 14 and 18 months (depending on who you ask). But each case is specialized, if your dog is exhibiting unwanted sexual behaviors like escaping to go after a dog in heat, then you'll want to think about getting him done right away. However, if you aren't having any problems and you are a responsible owner who keeps him confined or on leash at all times, and he isn't around unfixed females (even at the dog park), then for his health, it may be worth while to wait.

For example, with labs, because they are prone to serious hip and elbow problems, it can be helpful to allow their bodies time to mature before depriving them of those hormones which can have a positive effect on developing good joints and muscles. It has also been suggested that dogs neutered at maturity do in fact have less agression issues and sex drive than those neutered too early in life. There has also been a study showing that waiting until they reach maturity has the best chance of decreasing their risk for various types of cancer. Where as neutering them early will prevent some types of cancer, waiting till maturity will have that benefit but will also decrease risk of other types. Forgive me for not listing specifics I don't have my sources with me at the moment.
I think almost all animal lovers are for neutering, it does have health benefits, if done at the appropriate age (which is what people concerned with population control may not tell you). The people who are pro-waiting to neuter, would say, "What would happen to a human if we deprived them of their hormones during their teenage years?" Well the answer is that a lot of us would have big health and development problems, not to mention emotional issues (think of a woman going through menopause). That being said, dogs are not humans, and since they are domesticated, we have a responsibility to make sure there are only as many dogs as we can take care of properly.

This is a highly personal decision. I would say if you doubt your ability to keep your dog from having sex, get him done now. If you think this is a non issue, why not check out the forums for his breed, or go back and talk to your vet and find out what he thinks.

Edit: One more thing, keep in mind that many of the behavioral problems that people tell you will go away with neutering, usually do not. They are behavioral issues. For example, mounting, this is rarely sexual, it is almost always your dog showing dominance, if that's the case, it's time to work on asserting yourself as pack leader. Other behaviors will go away in time and aren't necessarily sexual. Each dog is different. The surgery doesnt' guarantee any change in behavior. But in my opinion you should have it done, at the age that you determine is best for your dog.

Answer 2

I had this talk with my vet. He said that if he thought spaying or neutering was cruel, he simply wouldn't do it. With females it's a no brainer as there are natural messes and more health concerns. With males there is still a pleathra of health problems that can come from not neutering. And of course the pup-u-lation problem.

I am an animal rights advocate, and I know some think that spaying/neutering is cruel. However minor surgery over the needless deaths of 1000's of dogs clearly out weighs the surgery.

Find a vet who does laser neutering for males.. it's less painful and heals faster. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's too "wishy-washy". It shouldn't say, "As soon as possible". It should say, "Within_____business days". The part about "choosing to breed" should be taken out or amended. This is a spay/neuter contract. You're goal is to get the puppy spay/neutered. Not allow wiggle room for people looking to turn the dog into an ATM machine. You should have 2 contracts. The first for pet dogs that, due to "faults" in conformation, temperament, or the inability to hunt, will have no other option than spay/neuter. This one should say something like this: Michell Honey Kennels is committed to breeding only the finest dogs with the best hunting skills, the best temperaments and the best looks. We are committed to keeping pure breeds out of shelters. We have determined that the dog you're purchasing is PET QUALITY and unsuitable for breeding. By signing this contract you are agreeing to spay/neuter this dog by the time it's 7 months old. If at any time a veterinarian determines the pup is unfit for surgery, call us immediately for further instructions. If this dog is bred for any reason, the contract is breached and the dog will be returned to us at the purchaser's expense. The second contract should state: Michell Honey Kennels are committed to breeding only the finest dogs with the best hunting skills, the best temperaments and the best looks. We are committed to keeping pure breeds out of shelters. The dog you're purchasing is a show potential/trial potential and we want to let the puppy grow up to see if it will meet our strict standards for breeding. By purchasing a BREEDER QUALITY dog, you agree to pay an additional fee should the puppy be bred.

Answer 4

Yes-please find another vet. Continue with your plan to neuter your boy.5-6 months is a great age for it btw. You do seem to have a strange vet right now. Perhaps he has personal religious reasons for not agreeing with spay/neuter.

Answer 5

I would ask him *why* he doesn't agree with it.

It is certainly unusual for vets to be agaisnt spay/neuter, but some do have valid reasons for having reservations about the procedure.

If it's just a case of "it's unnatural" or "every dog should have a litter first", then he's hopeless, find a new vet.

But if he should refer to studies indicating the possible downsides to spay/neuter, hear him out and then decide for yourself.

Answer 6

That is the first vet I ever heard of who does not approve of spaying/neutering. It's a simple surgery and can help prevent health problems later in life.
BTW: 5 months is already old enough to get your puppy neutered.

Answer 7

That's really strange. Usually vets are all for spaying and neutering! All of the vets we've ever had have suggested it and asked if our pets are fixed. I think you'd be doing the right thing if you switched vets.

Answer 8

It is actually quite odd that your vet doesn't think spaying/neutering is right. The majority of vets do. Not "fixing" an animal can increase their chance of developing mammary neoplasias and other cancers associated with mammary or uterine tissue (in females) and testicular tumors and other cancers associated with testosterone (in males). Not getting them "fixed" can lead to other serious problems down the road.

Answer 9

Any good vet will tell you that spaying and neutering is the most beneficial thing you can do for your pet.
It eliminates a myriad of problems (spraying, stress from looking for a mate, cancers that can be eliminated-i.e.testicular and ovarian).
I would switch definitely.

Answer 10

I agree that you should change vets. Thats very odd for him to say. Neutering the dog will calm him down and you wont have to worry about excessive barking and trying to hump your leg.