Why do most web sites say a dog should be neutered a t about 8months and my vet says it can be done a 6months?

Answer 1

Most vets recommend 6 months..
the reason you are seeing websites that recommend a bit older, these days, is that juvenile neutering has been linked to bone cancer in the adult.
The bone growth plates are better matured by 8 months, and there is less risk of bone cancer in the dog's future...
The proponents of 6 months, say that there is a much reduced risk of reproductive tract cancer ( and other reproductive tract disease) if the dog is spayed/neutered before maturity..
Cancer of the reproductive tract is more likely to be successfully treated than bone cancers..
So, it is just a controversial matter..

Answer 2

To give you an example of what happened to my dog: When she was 5 months old the vet told me her body was developed enough to get neutered so that's what we did. About 2 weeks later she started "leaking." She was peeing constantly super diluted urine. The vet said that her estrogen level was low, and her sphincter (the muscle that holds in her urine) wasn't able to do it's job properly. She had to go on estrogen pills for the following 2 months and there is a chance that she might have to be on them the rest of her life. In my opinion, waiting an extra month or 2 to get her neutered won't do any harm.

Answer 3

Vets do differ in their opinions, some say let a female have her first season, others say do it before.
Some vets are now doing dogs as you as 8 weeks of age, apparently, they recover so much more quickly. Alot of the big rescue centres do this so puppies that are being rehomed are already neutered.

Answer 4

I don't know why the websites you're looking at recommend 8 months. Most vets actually recommend 6 months, although all vets have their own personal preferences. Many vets are able to and/or will spay/neuter at 2 months (8 weeks) or 2lbs, whichever comes first. My vet has recently changed their recommendation from 6 months to 6 months or 50lbs because dogs over 50lbs are a slightly more involved surgery and suffer more pain and have a longer recovery time than those under 50lbs. For smaller breeds, my vet prefers to wait until 6 months because if there are any baby teeth that need to be pulled they can do it at the same time as the spay/neuter.

Answer 5

6 months is the average age to neuter..if not done at 6 months it should definately be done in most cases by the time a dog is 10 months old.
Dogs as young as 9 months can get anal fistulas and other issues from being intact. The longer a dog is left intact the higher the risk of testicular cancer, prostrate cancer, prostrate infections, etc.
Be ware of the anti-spay/neuter sites and excuses out there.
If you work in a vet hospital any length of time you will very quickly see the need for spay/neuter from a health stand point.

Answer 6

A dog can be neutered/spayed from 8 weeks old (and often younger depending on the breed). We have been doing this at my work for years and have had thousands of dogs and cats go through it. Alot of vets do not like doing it at this age. Some due to their own beliefs, some because they do not have the skill/ equipment to do this more specialized surgery. Think of it this way. At 6mths and more you are removing fully developed reproductive organs. This is fairly major surgery. Compare that to a younger pup, who has not had a chance to develope these organs and therefore the surgery is less invasive. It has pro's and cons as well from the point of view that some traits that come with maturing (eg testosterone) are wanted by some people and not by others. So in the case of you having a male dog who you do not wish for it to show signs of "male type" aggression then an early desexing is going to help achieve that trait compared to a 8mth desexing.

Answer 7

Your vet is correct. Most of the time, it's actually preferred to have dogs neutered or spayed by 6 months. There's nothing wrong about getting a dog neutered at 8 months. It's just a matter of opinion.

Answer 8

So long as your dog is mature enough at 6 months its fine to neuter them that early. Can't comment on the content of websites but perhaps this is a more average age for a dog to grow to the right physical maturity to neuter most safely.

Answer 9

You make up your own mind. If it is a large breed, it is nowhere near mature at 6 months & neutering does affect growth rates. Castration is not the wonder cure for physical or mental problems, like any other intervention it has it's own side effects.
http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/castrationindogs.html

Answer 10

It can be done anytime after 5 months. Our German Shepherd is 5 months old and the vet said that when we are ready, he will neuter him. We are not taking that advice, just for the fact, that we want him for protection, and if we take away is manhood, he will not be aggresive. I would listen to the vet, he knows what is best.