If shelters can spay/neuter so young, why can't regular puppy owners, too?

Question

Is it to be SURE the animal gets fixed? Why can't everyone get their young pups fixed early, too? Of course I know about health issues doing it early, so then why do shelters do it? See my confusion?
If I could-I would do it as early as possible, but I do wait until 6 months.

Answer 1

Vets are resistant to spay /neuter young, because they need to learn how to operate on the little guys, and they need to learn how much anesthesia to use on puppies of that age/size.. So they don't bother, and they make you go in when the puppy is older. Find a vet that has young puppy experience and you can get them spayed/neutered younger than 6 mos of age.

Answer 2

Shelters are forced to do it so early because it is the only way to insure that every dog/cat that leaves the shelter is in fact spayed or neutered. To often in the past animals were adopted out with the promise of being spayed/neutered and the new owners never followed through. Shelters have to do it this way to try to combat the over population of unwanted puppies/kittens. There are health risks, and that is why most private individuals wait till the standard six month mark.

Answer 3

Shelters do it so it's done. They don't trust the owners.

I would personally wait until after 6 months to spay/neuter and get the dog micro chipped at the same time. This way their bones and muscles are better developed. On younger dogs it's harder to place a chip correctly, with their muscles still developing. It could harm the puppy if the chip isn't correctly put in the right place.

Plus you would only be putting the dog under anesthetic once.

Answer 4

It depends on the vet. Some vets will not spay/neuter before a certain age. Not all shelters do it at a young age either; some require spay/neuter contracts to be signed when the puppy is adopted. It totally depends on where it's located.

Answer 5

Well it took my mothers and fathers decades to crack. I acquired a dog a couple of weeks in the past, and I've desired a puppy for years. She's first-class to have round, however plenty of labor. She follows me round anyplace I cross and could be very needy. Training is rough, and she will get nippy, so that you have to gain knowledge of find out how to train your puppy manners, and do a little study at the demands of your puppies, it isn't feeding, going for walks, and gambling with it. There will probably be injuries within the apartment, so I wish you are not assuming that your mothers and fathers will do this. I'm fifteen, and most effective me and my 13 yr ancient brother are taking accountability. All my different 9 yo brother is inclined to do is play together with her, and all people within the loved ones is pissed. Surprisingly, my mother particularly loves the puppy, and is completely happy she's right here. Good good fortune along with your mothers and fathers, it should take a little time even though. P.S. You're obviously correct, that it's not reasonable that dog mill dogs do not get love considering the fact that they have been born in a foul location. Unfortunately, the one technique to give up dogs from being born at dog turbines and placed them into bankruptcy, is not to supply the dogs any love and do not give a contribution to their benefit. It sucks, however you will have to both undertake or uncover a reliable breeder.

Answer 6

Many vets prefer that owners wait until around 6 months. Shelters do it so early so that we don't have to trust adopters to do it. You would be suprised how many don't...even when they pay the spay/neuter deposit.

But personally, with my dogs and the puppies I sell, I like people to wait until aroung 18 months for the boys, and 9-12 months for the girls. They need that time to develop better bone mass.

Answer 7

They can do it early, but it isn't recommended because of disease and a stunted growth.

Most places up where I am charge an extra $150 for a dog that is not spayed or neutered, which you get back with proof that it has been spayed/neutered instead of doing it so young.

Answer 8

Some breeders do early spay/neuter to ensure the pups they place are not going to be used from breeding. It would depend on your vet. I see no reason it couldn't be done at 8-10 wks. They put Dobermans, Boxers & Danes under sedations to crop the ears, so they should be able to spay/neuter under similar sedation.

Answer 9

One it's to make sure that the pet does get spayed and neutered. Also with today's anethesia it's possible to spay and neuter as young as 8 weeks of age. It would all depend on your vet and how comfortable they are doing it so young. There should be no reason why you can't get it done at 4 months of age or even 5.

The myth is that it stunts the dogs growth is just that a myth, according to an article I read in Dog Fancy Magazine spaying or neutering before 6 months of age actually increases the dogs size as the growth plates are stunted by sex hormones and by removing the sex hormones the plates continue to grow.

Answer 10

You can but I would suggest waiting till about 4 months when the pup gets its final round of shots and old enough for a rabies all at the same time.

Many vets prefer an owner do it this way because they don't want the pup to get sick while there. Parvo is most rampant in a vets office. It is best the pup has all its shots and built an immunity before being hospitalized.

As far as rescue/shelters we do it to ensure the pet has no opportunity to procreate. We don't want to do this but ignorant people that do not spay and neuter leave us no choice. It cuts down on time we have to take out of actually rescueing the dogs to get a dog back because somone was too lazy to get their free spay or neuter. We take care of it and all and any decent rescue truly out to stop the over population will have them done BEFORE they ever get adopted.

Spay and neuters are safely done daily as young as 8 weeks but to best protect the pet from parvo it is best to get a few rounds of shots in them before hospitalizing them.

Added:

Didn't stunt my dogs growth.

<----------- Look at that beast trrying to climb the fence.

Added:

DP - Anesthesthia is by weight nothing to do with age. If vets couldn't do pups they would never be able to do any of the "teacup" pooches or chihuahuas oh wait Chiwawas.