HEALTH
9 min
Should I Neuter My Dog? Veterinarian Explains Benefits & Risks
Thinking about getting your dog neutered? Dr Rohit J shares the latest research on how neutering affects their health, behaviour, & the best age to neuter a dog.
Table of contents
Blanket neutering and spaying of dogs has become an emergent phenomenon in the pet care industry. Dog neutering or spaying (for female dogs) is the surgical sterilization of dogs where the gonads (testicles, ovaries, uterus) are removed to prevent reproduction and to possibly reduce certain health or behavioural issues. While there are several benefits to spaying a dog, there are also valid reasons to delay or avoid neutering your dog altogether. Research has shown that certain dog breeds do better when neutered at a later age as early neutering can cause long-term physiological and behavioural changes.
The shift in the blanket-neutering paradigm is a welcome one. The decision to neuter or not neuter a dog as well as the best age to neuter a dog should be based on what’s right for each individual dog- not a one-size-fits-all model. This article covers the latest research regarding the benefits and disadvantages of neutering a dog, the best age to neuter a dog so you can make an informed decision for your dog.
The shift in the blanket-neutering paradigm is a welcome one. The decision to neuter or not neuter a dog as well as the best age to neuter a dog should be based on what’s right for each individual dog- not a one-size-fits-all model. This article covers the latest research regarding the benefits and disadvantages of neutering a dog, the best age to neuter a dog so you can make an informed decision for your dog.
What are the Medical Benefits of Spaying a Dog?
There are several well-documented benefits of spaying a dog including a reduced risk of cancers and reproductive health issues. Let’s look at the benefits of neutering both male and female dogs:
For Male Dogs:
For Female Dogs:
For Male Dogs:
- Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer since the testicles are removed entirely. (Hart & Eckstein, 1997)
- It also often prevents other testosterone-related health issues such as perianal adenomas (cancer), benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate), and some types of perineal hernias. (Hart, 2001)
For Female Dogs:
- Depending on the type of surgery, spaying can eliminate the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. If both the ovaries and uterus are removed (ovariohysterectomy), the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer is completely removed. If either ovaries (ovariectomy) or uterus (hysterectomy) is removed, some risk may still remain.
- Spaying also significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer, especially if done before the first or second heat cycle. (Spain et al., 2004).
- Additionally, spaying prevents the risk of pyometra, a potentially life-threatening uterine infection which has an increased risk as the dog ages.
- Spaying, if done at an appropriate time, eliminates a condition called pseudopregnancy in dogs which is a where all the physiological and behavioural changes associated with pregnancy are seen including lactation and nesting behaviours but the dog is not actually pregnant.
Are There Any Medical Reasons to Not Spay Your Dog?
There are certain medical risks attached to neutering your dog including orthopaedic issues, increased cancer risks, long term urinary incontinence in females, etc. Let’s have a deeper look:
- Orthopaedic issues associated with early neutering: Studies show that neutering your dog before puberty (before 2 years for large breeds, before 8-12 months for small breeds), is associated with increased risk of orthopaedic problems such as:
- Delayed closure of growth plates that are responsible to suspend growth after a threshold, resulting in disproportionate limb development. (Hart et al., 2020)
- Increased risk of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture (tear of the ligament in the knees), particularly in certain large breeds of dogs. (Hart et al., 2020)
- Greater risk of hip dysplasia and patellar luxation (knee dislocation), even when accounting for body size. (Hart et al., 2020)
- Dogs neutered early often have longer limbs, narrower chests, and lighter bone structures, leading to problems in the gait, risks of fractures and other complications associated with disproportionate skeletal structures. (Hart et al., 2020)
- Cancer risks: While the removal of the reproductive organs decreases the cancer risks associated with them, it can also lead to increased risks of other cancers such as:
- Spayed females have an increased risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma (cancer of blood vessels of the heart) and an increased risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma (cancer of blood vessels of the spleen.) (Hart et al., 2020)
- Neutered dogs have increased risk of bone cancer, bladder cancer, lymphosarcoma (cancer of lymphatic system) mast cell tumours, and prostate cancer. (Hart et al., 2020; Zink, 2017).
- Rottweilers neutered before one year had significantly higher risk of osteosarcoma and reduced longevity. (Joonè et al., 2023)
- Urinary Incontinence in Spayed Females: Neutering female dogs can increase the risk of urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control, particularly in larger breeds, however it has no relation to age at neuter. (VetCompass, Royal Veterinary College; Pegram et al., 2019). Neutering a female dog before 3 months of age is associated with higher risk, especially in large breeds like Weimaraners and Dobermans. (Zink, 2017)
- Risks associated with administering anaesthesia: An important consideration, especially for older dogs, is the medical risk associated with general anaesthesia during surgery. As dogs age, the likelihood of complications during anaesthesia increases due to factors such as underlying health conditions, slower metabolism, and reduced organ function. Pre-anaesthetic blood work and close veterinary supervision are critical for minimizing these risks.
Did you know that spaying a dog can affect their behaviour, as well? 😱
What are the Behavioural Benefits of Spaying a Dog?
Neutering and spaying a dog can have potential effects on their behavioural traits as well. Here are some research benefits and drawbacks of neutering on a dog’s behaviour:
- A reduction in roaming behaviours to seek mates, inter-male aggression, along with mounting and urine marking (if hormonal influences are present). (Hart & Eckstein, 1997).
- Elimination of estrous or heat behaviours in females including bloody discharge and attraction of males.
- Elimination of stress and risks associated with heat and pregnancy especially in weak and high-risk dogs.
- Elimination of pregnancy/pseudopregnancy related behaviours like guarding and nesting which can often have aggressive manifestations.
Are there any Potential Drawbacks of Spaying a Dog on their Behaviour?
There are notable drawbacks of spaying a dog on their behaviour including the following:
- Studies show that neutering a dog may not reliably reduce aggression and can sometimes increase it. (Farhoody et al., 2018)
- Hormonal changes post-neutering may impact serotonin and thyroid levels, contributing to anxiety and stress responses.
- An increased incidence of noise phobia and separation anxiety in early-neutered dogs. (Spain et al., 2004)
- There is also a correlation between neutering and increased likelihood of separation related problems, general reactivity, and cognitive decline.
- If a dog is neutered without an appropriate waiting period after an occurrence of pseudopregnancy any associated problems can still occur due to hormonal reserves.
Tick tock, tick tock! Is it time for spay o'clock?
What Is the Best Time to Spay a Dog?
If you would like to neuter your dog, here are some rough recommendations based on the most recent and available research:
- Large-sized dog breeds: The best time to spay a dog belonging to this category such as Golden retrievers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds is after 12-24 months of age to reduce orthopaedic and cancer risks.
- Small-sized dog breeds: Small dog breeds are generally able to tolerate early neutering better due to lower incidence of joint issues.
Are there certain cases in which a blanket neutering policy is ideal? Let's find out!
When Should Neutering Always Be Done?
Neutering plays a critical role in public health and animal welfare, especially in countries like ours (India) where the stray population is a threat to health, disease-spread, and safety of humans and pets alike.
Why it matters:
- Population control: Reduces the number of unwanted litters and helps manage community dog populations. (Reece & Chawla, 2006)
- Improved public safety: Rabies is a deadly, wide-spread zoonotic disease in India. While attempts at large scale vaccination should never be halted, it is impossible to vaccinate 100% of the dog population. Animal birth control programs which include a trap-neuter-release policy also go hand in hand in mass vaccination. Fewer strays can mean reduced incidence of bites and rabies transmission.
- Other diseases: Community dogs can also transmit venereal diseases (STDs) like Transmissible Venereal Tumours and other viral diseases like distemper, viral gastroenteritis and tick-borne infections. Neutering can help limit their numbers and indirectly, the spread.
- Improved animal welfare: Neutered dogs are less likely to get into fights over mates, suffer fewer injuries, and in turn reduce strain on animal shelters. (Totton et al., 2011).
FAQs
1) Is Neutering Painful for Dogs?
Since neutering is a surgical process, there can be some pain after surgery. However, neutering is a routine, low-risk surgery that’s performed by veterinarians every day. Dogs are given anaesthesia and pain relief to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. While complications can happen, they’re rare when proper care is followed.
2) Will Getting My Dog Neutered Help with Aggression?
Neutering your dog does not fix aggression particularly if it’s learned or reinforced through other behavioural issues.
3) Does Neutering Affect Dogs' Weight?
While neutering does slow down metabolism, the neutering surgery itself will not cause weight gain. Appropriate diet and exercise regime is crucial to maintain healthy weight, post-surgery.
2) Will Getting My Dog Neutered Help with Aggression?
Neutering your dog does not fix aggression particularly if it’s learned or reinforced through other behavioural issues.
3) Does Neutering Affect Dogs' Weight?
While neutering does slow down metabolism, the neutering surgery itself will not cause weight gain. Appropriate diet and exercise regime is crucial to maintain healthy weight, post-surgery.
Latest Research References
- Spain et al., 2004: Found early-age neutering associated with increased risks of hip dysplasia, noise phobias, and separation anxiety, though also noted benefits like reduced reproductive-related disease and overpopulation control.
- IVC Journal (Zink, 2017): Highlights orthopaedic, behavioural, and cancer-related risks of early spay/neuter.
- Oliveira-Martins et al., 2023: Found developmental and behavioural differences in early-neutered dogs.
- UC Davis Studies (Hart et al., 2020): Identified breed-specific risks for joint disorders and cancers post-neutering.
- PubMed Study (ID: 39409803): Hormonal changes post-neutering can affect serotonin and thyroid pathways.
- Joonè et al., 2023: Rottweilers neutered before one year had reduced longevity.
- Farhoody et al., 2018: Found potential for increased aggression, noise sensitivity, and resource guarding.
- Reece & Chawla, 2006; Totton et al., 2011: Documented success of stray population management through sterilization in Indian cities.
Keywords:
best time to spay a dog ,
best age to neuter a dog ,
should i neuter my dog ,
dog neuter ,
spaying a dog
Get daily pet parenting tips to your Whatsapp
thePack.in
Happier together
with dogs
Copyright Interspecies Caretech Private Limited 2023