What's a good age to neuter?

[MC Smith]

I'm hearing mixed things. My vet says to neuter Mylo at 6 months, mostly because of being prone to cancer. My bestfriend (who has two boxers) says to do it at 8 months and no sooner or he won't get to grow to his normal size. Please....any recommendations?
Thanks,

Mylo's mom
:confused:

 

[vasha]

i neutered kaiser at four months. he's 14 months now and a stunning 60 lbs

VaSHa

 

[harley'smama]

Harley too was neutered at 4 months & at 10 months he's already over 60 pounds.

 

[Boxer_21]

My boy Riley was also neutered at six months old. He's probably pushing 60lbs now at just 9 months old. I don't think that neutering him at 6 months will have much effect, if it has any at all, on how big he will grow.

 

[sbartels]

I know you are not talking about early spay/neuter, but in one of my classes we discussed these programs. They are being done at shelters with young, young animals, as young as 6 weeks. This is not what I am suggesting for you, just stating what we learned about that and I'm certain that it would carry over when thinking of 6 mos. or 8 mos. Studies have shown that early spaying/neutering actually allows animals to grow as big if not bigger than their non-fixed littermates. The studies showed that skeletal growth occurred later, and the animals grew taller. It also showed that pups and kittens played more (is this really what we want in our boxers?). I also know that this is true in colts, that their long bones will mature to a larger size (they won't get as bulky though). So I wouldn't worry a bit about doing it at 6 months, everything that's been looked at up to this point makes that seem like it will be just fine, that your dog will grow the same no matter what.

 

[Eric J]

Cancer is one of the big boxer health concerns. Breeding goes a long way to avoid it. Another huge step is getting fixed, especially for a female. The odds of a female Boxer having cancer drops significantly if the spay is done before the first heat. I also have read (wish I could remember the site to reference it now, sorry) the younger a dog the better the odds of reaching full size or possibly being slightly (and I am talking 5lbs or less) bigger. I would do the fix at 6 months or younger, depending on your vet.

 

[Eric J]

This is not the study I referred to above, but it is one that tackles the issue. I found this with a Google search. The last sentence sums it up nicely (so I boldfaced it). I found the information at http://www2.dgsys.com/~ermiller/earlys-n.html
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From "Gonadectomy in immature dogs: Effects on skeletal, physical and behavioral development", JAVMA April 1, 1991, Vol. 198 No 7, Salmeri et al. pp 1193-1203.

Summary: In a 15-month study, the effects of prepubertal gonadectomy on skeletal growth, weight gain, food intake, body fat, secondary sex characteritics and behavioral development were investigated in 32 mixed breed dogs. Male and female pups from 5 litters were randomly allotted to 3 gropus: group I neuter at 7 weeks (n=14), group II neuter at 7 months (n=8) and group III, sexually intact dogs (n=10).

Growth plate closure was delayed (group I vs. group III; group II vs. group III) in all neutered dogs as compared with sexually intact dogs. Growth plate closure was delayed longer (group I vs. group II) in dogs neutered at 7 weeks old compared to dogs neutered at 7 montsh old. The rate of growth was unaffected by gonadectomy, but the extended growth period resulted in greater final radial/ulnar length in all male dogs and bitches neutered at 7 weeks. Gonadectomy did not influence food intake, weight gain, or back-fat depth. Penile development was immature in the adult group-I males (Mean +- SEM diameter of pars glandis = 11.1 +- 1.0 mm) compared with the adult group II (16.3 +- 0.5mm) and group III (21.0 +- 2.2 mm) males. Subjectively, the prepuce and os penis of the group-I males were immature, compared with those of the group II and group III males. Vulvar development in the group I and group II bitches was less mature than vulvar development in the sexually intact bitches. Of 7 behavioral characteristics assesed, only general activity and excitability rated differently amont the treatment groups. All neutered dogs were judged to be more active <> than sexually intact dogs. Group I males were judged to be more excitable than group III males. It was concluded that with respect to skeletal, physical, and behavioral devleopment, the effect of neutering pups at 7 weeks old was similar to that of neutering pups at 7 months old.
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[brianp66]

Well I went to the vet on Friday and asked the same question, and She told me that she would do it at 5 or 6 months... Good luck