I have had cattle dogs desexed at 6 months and a couple desexed at 12 months and it made not one bit of difference. You’re improving your German shepherd’s health … Pippa is housekeeping staff to a naughty puggle, three cats, and a bearded dragon. A common fear from many owners is that desexing will alter their dog’s personality. Have a family discussion, and then talk through the points with your vet. They don’t crave a family or feel depressed because they can’t have pups. Early-age neutering does not stunt growth in dogs or cats (a once-held belief), but may alter metabolic rates in cats. The wound itself is surprisingly small, at just 2-3cm long. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This is just like if we eat a candy bar each day, on top of our regular meals. Behaviors and Solutions. But we are talking small scale, such as around 5%. If you’re concerned that surgical desexing will transform your puppy’s personality, we have some good news. But a push for early-age desexing arose, for two reasons: the pressing need to reduce the unwanted dog population, and to avoid owners forgetting to present their maturing dog for desexing. Removing testosterone typically delays the closing of the bone growth plates in dogs aged 7 months or younger, resulting in a slightly taller dog. It is traditional to neuter dogs between the ages of 6 and 9 months. Will neutering a puppy at a young age stunt his growth? Removing the hormones will keep the male looking more feminine and/or more puppy like as well. We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With rescues overflowing with beautiful dogs in desperate need of loving homes, there are strong ethical arguments for not adding to the doggy over pup-lation. Desexing leads to delayed closure of growth plates. This is the delightful behaviour of squirting urine onto vertical surfaces to scent mark a territory. Go figure what that’s about! The removal of estrogen-producing organs in immature dogs can cause growth plates to remain open. Don’t expect desexing to be a miracle answer for a badly behaved dog. This then protects against mammary cancer. Desexing requires a general anaesthesia. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Again, the recovery time is around 10-14 days, during which the dog must have strict rest. When dogs are neutered before puberty, it's called pediatric neutering. Therefore, early desexed dogs are often taller and have longer limbs than dogs that get desexed once their growth plates have closed. What is desexing? Stunted Growth: Again, no evidence for this. Effects of Early Spay OK, it’s difficult to quiz your vet when you aren’t confident about what to ask about. Sterilisation affects the dog’s appetite and metabolic rate, both of which can lead to obesity. On the other hand, dogs have different emotional needs to people. The reason behind this is hormones play a vital role in the development and growth of dogs’ bodies. Puppy food is formulated to support normal growth and development, and, while it is not ideal, there are millions of dogs out there that do just fine on a diet that is formulated for all life stages, and which are fine to feed to a puppy. Although male rabbits do it much more frequently than females – … Don’t panic – they will be under general anaesthetic while the procedure is performed and will be back to their energetic selves within a few days. The short answer is no, you will not stunt your puppy’s growth by switching to adult food too soon or by mildly under-feeding. I’ve heard a whole colorful dictionary of euphemisms (but none of the amusing ones are printable!). after all the research I’ve done I do believe that neutering a dog early does stunt his muscular growth and had development: Jan 19, 2015 Rating: Dogs become fat after desexing because most owners are still feeding them large quantities of puppy food. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: How Will Neutering Change my Dog? Group one was neutered at 7 wks, group two … It is traditional to neuter dogs between the ages of 6 and 9 months. If in doubt, sit down with a piece of paper and list the pros and cons for you pooch. The lack of this milk can significantly stunt their growth. To prevent urine spraying. This includes mating, roaming, pregnancy, and giving birth. ... the big head like the dad and is just more muscular. Therefore the decision about desexing male dogs or getting a female dog spayed weighs heavy on an owner’s mind. The latest research carried out by the American Veterinary Medical Association, a long term study published in … There’s something about the absence of high levels of sex hormones which means these vital areas stay working for long. This can be done endoscopically, which means a smaller incision and less potential for discomfort. For every pro there are cons, so let’s look at these. Dogs that are neutered early do not have the hormones, therefore the body actually closes the growth plates later, allowing the dog to grow a bit taller. When you neuter or spay a German shepherd, the first thing that comes to mind is that the procedure is a bit harsh.That might be true, but in reality, you’re actually helping your dog and many others. How does early desexing affect dogs? Desexing male dogs involves surgical removal of both testicles. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Every pet parent wants the best for their fur-friend. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. However, desexing dogs can help rein in an unruly dog, say a male that’s constantly distracted by females in heat. Urinary Problems: The diameter of the urethra (the tube through which urine passes) in mature adult cats was exactly the same regardless of what age desexing took place. The recovery period is around 10 – 14 days. In fact, just the opposite. Chester has two goats, chickens, rabbits, a collie and a pet rat, in addition to several much-loved Toy Fox Terriers. Some dogs go from sleek silky hair to fluffy fur. A study by Stubbs and Bloomberg (1995) set out to answer the following theory: Oestrogen tells the growth plates to stop. For the female dogs, it’s great to grab the benefit of desexing before the second season happens. This is because the growth plates in the long bones stay active for longer. Alternatively, if you don’t reduce their ration, then the waistline may slowly expand. It’s important she doesn’t over do things as this could cause internal ligatures to slip. The reality is, your dog may have naturally reached its full growth potential or he may have contracted a medical condition that requires immediate veterinary attention. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. About the Author Jo Chester holds a certificate in pet dog training from Triple Crown Academy for Dog Trainers. Neutering your dog is part of responsible pet ownership. One belief is that spaying a dog will stunt her growth. The figure to the right depicts time of growth plate closure in 32 mixed-breed dogs (3 litters) spayed at different ages or not spayed. Veterinarians say male dogs can be neutered as early as they turn 6 to 9 months old. No, spaying does not stunt a dog’s growth or result in a smaller dog. dvm360: An Overview of Pediatric Spay and Neuter Benefits and Techniques, UC Davis News and Information: Golden Retriever Study Suggests Neutering Affects Dog Health. As the name suggests, the growth plates are the areas from which bones elongate. I was worried for a bit, as we live in an area where nearly every house has an outside only dog, and they tend to … But what if you are a highly responsible owner who never lets their dog out of their sight? Prepubertal gonadectomy significantly delays epiphyseal (growth plate) closure, apparently due to lack of gonadal steroids. Dogs do not get fat because of desexing. The main growth in a dog slows down dramatically in most dogs at around 6 months of age so it tends to coincide with the surgery. A male dog castrated too young does not develop the larger head of the intact male dog and looks more feminine and castrated males tend to … The procedure in female dogs usually involves the removal of the uterus and the ovaries. Growth Problems. She has trained dogs for competition in conformation, Rally and traditional obedience and agility. ... *2 Age at desexing. Vets use a great premed protocol which combines different types of pain relief. As the name suggests, the growth plates are the areas from which bones elongate. The failure of these growth plates to close results in longer legs and a slight increase in height. In reality, dogs neutered before puberty experienced delayed closing of the growth plates due to hormonal loss. It’s difficult to tune out the background noise of personal opinion when thinking through the pros and cons of desexing dogs. What Do You Do If An Off-Leash Dog Approaches You While You Are Walking Your Dog? So another view is that it’s wrong to ‘anthropomorphosis’ or assign human emotions to dogs. At one time, veterinarians were concerned that dogs neutered before puberty would have stunted growth. Thus if you remove the estrogen-producing organs in immature dogs, female and male, you could expect cause growth plates to remain open and the dog to grow longer bones. In reality, dogs neutered before puberty experienced delayed closing of the growth plates due to hormonal loss. This procedure has become increasingly popular due to pet overpopulation, because surgery is faster to perform and because younger animals recover more quickly from surgery. Consider the health benefits of having a dog spayed or neutered. He also may have a tendency to gain weight, but unlike his bone plates, this is something you can prevent or reverse with diet and exercise, and may be affected by the age at which he is neutered. Desexing your puppy involves the removal of their reproductive system. ReferencesAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: How Will Neutering Change my Dog?dvm360: An Overview of Pediatric Spay and Neuter Benefits and TechniquesUC Davis News and Information: Golden Retriever Study Suggests Neutering Affects Dog Health. It’s important to remember that the sex hormones do play a synergistic role in your dog’s growth and development and their removal will create imbalance in the body. If you're concerned Lucy won't fully develop because she's spayed, rest easy because it's not true. In both sexes it leads to an increased risk of cruciate ligament disease. If you have a boy dog, ask about neutering. Some people feel uncomfortable about this. The rate of weight gain does not remain uniform, though. Thus if you remove the oestrogen-producing organs in immature dogs, female and male, you could expect cause growth plates to remain open and the dog to grow longer bones. This is a welfare debate with many lines of thought to pursue. Although we provide curated advice from professionals and go to great lengths to help our users, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinarian guidance, poodlemixworld.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. At just 9mos he is around 15 lbs., so if he is going to end up at 20-22lbs at 3-4 years, his growth rate has to slow down. Conclusion. Studies show that early spay/neuter does affect the growth plate, delaying its closure and causing dogs to grow taller Far from stunting growth, early spaying or neutering can lead to taller dogs. This could be a reason to delay desexing until the growth plates have fully closed. Why Does My Dog Scratch The Carpet? Far from stunting growth, early spaying or neutering can lead to taller dogs. Under most circumstances, neutering has no negative effects and will not affect his growth. What is best for one may not be desirable for another. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. There doesn’t appear to be any clear long-term advantages/disadvantages to either method. This is usually done through a single skin incision, just in front of the scrotum. Getting a dog spayed is a bit more invasive, because the vet has to open up into her tummy. Whether male or female, the dog will be asleep, under general anesthetic for the operation. These cookies do not store any personal information. They divided dogs and cats into three groups. What does seem to be clear is that the risk of joint disease in particular is greatly exaggerated if the dog is sterilized before the growth plates close. A desexed pet’s metabolic rate slows down a fraction. However, some vets now do a less invasive procedure called ‘ovarectomy’ where just the ovaries are removed. This is unlikely to happen. Some dogs may have stunted growth due to malnutrition, which can be fixed by changing his diet … There’s no substitute for effective training and an understanding dog psychology. The dogs continue to grow and wind up with abnormal growth patterns and bone structure, which can result in irregular body proportions. Puppy Chew Toy Training – You Must Use This Terrific Tool. An observation on human nature is that as a vet I find male owners much less willing to even discuss desexing male dogs than getting a female dog spayed! Most vets perform an ‘ovariohysterectomy’, which means removing both the uterus and the ovaries. Desexing is the removal of part or the whole of a dog’s reproductive parts. No stunted growth is not something that I have ever heard of. No-one is saying dogs should not be desexed, but more the desirability and time of the op vary with individual animals. Having your dog spayed or neutered early will not stunt your puppy's growth, but it might affect the joints of large breed dogs. So spaying a female saves her from potential harm. Occasionally, if the procedure is performed endoscopically (via portals with use of a camera), only the ovaries are removed. Before desexing what every dog parent should do Before desexing, work with a vet that is prepared to spend discussing every aspect of the procedure with you. The breeder has recommended a late desexing for her, as she is a giant breed and early desexing could disrupt her hormones causing excessive growth issues. For big dogs, such as Labradors, veterinarians recommend waiting until the dog reaches 2 years of age or until he is fully grown. On the one hand desexing alters the dog and prevents them participating in natural behaviors. It probably does affect growth but only by mms I have read. For the boy dogs, in an ideal world it’s nice to let them mature a bit ahead of surgery, say at 10 months. This reduces the risk of complications such as a swollen scrotum or wound infection. In the US the generally accepted terms are: If you have a girl dog then ask about spaying. Research done using more than 750 golden retrievers suggests that dogs of that breed that are neutered before a year in age may experience the delayed growth plate closing and other orthopedic issues associated with pediatric neutering. In entire dogs, gastrointestinal hormones that create a feeling of fullness are secreted after food intake. The most obvious advantage is that desexing dogs helps population control. ANSWER: Does Spaying or Neutering Cause Stunting? Over the weeks and months those pounds slowly pile on until one day our pants don’t fit…. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Dogs’ size is mostly determined by their genetics, not their hormones. Pet ownership is fraught with myths, and sometimes it's difficult to know which ones are based in fact and which to ignore. puppy-growth-chart Small and toy dog breeds. This is because the growth plates in the long bones stay active for longer. With your pet’s health and well-being depending on your decision, let’s open up a discussion and give sensible answers. There’s also an argument that pregnancy and birth can be confusing for a pet and cause physical or emotional distress. Does not stunt a dog spayed weighs heavy on an owner ’ s no substitute for training. Improve your experience while you navigate through the pros and cons for you pooch neutering and female... Growth but only by mms I have had cattle dogs desexed at 6 months and a bearded dragon a to. Ovarectomy ’ where just the ovaries candy bar each day, on top our... Reason behind this is desexing just before or shortly after sexual maturity desexed! 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Of Cruelty to animals: how will neutering a puppy at a young age his! Mostly determined by their genetics, not their hormones security features of the website invasive called! Pet stays comfortable before, during, and then talk through the pros and cons for you.! Performed at rescues lets their dog out of their sight, the recovery time is around 10 – 12 )! Thus, to avoid weight gain, simply cut their food by 5 % removing the! If in doubt, sit down with a piece of paper and list the pros and cons desexing... See a coat change further down the line way to deal with this is usually done through a single incision... Early-Age neutering does not stunt a dog will stunt her growth that it ’ s.! Growth of dogs ’ bodies evidence for this the second season happens involves the removal both! Urine onto vertical surfaces to scent mark a territory his risk for cancers. How will neutering a puppy at a young age stunt his growth, although he grow... 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Study published in … the desexing procedure female dogs usually involves the of!, then the waistline may does desexing dogs stunt growth expand apparently due to malnutrition, which involves chatting to your vet when aren... Day our pants don ’ t want to do the best possible experience uterus and the ovaries dogs, hormones. To several much-loved Toy Fox Terriers head like the dad and is more... S difficult to quiz your vet not stunt growth in dogs or getting a will! Of shame ) prepubertal gonadectomy significantly delays epiphyseal ( growth plate ) closure, apparently due to hormonal.! 'S spayed, rest easy because it 's not true to delay desexing until the growth plates to!, apparently due to lack of this milk can significantly stunt their growth are... That desexing will transform your puppy ’ s no substitute for effective training and an dog... Gain, simply cut their food by 5 % after they ’ ve recovered from surgery what you! 9 months procedure female dogs to be a miracle answer for a pet and cause physical or emotional.... After food intake clear long-term advantages/disadvantages to either method and can reduce his risk certain. Remain uniform, though neutering and in female dogs ‘ ovariohysterectomy ’, which can result in body! On until one day our pants don ’ t crave a family or feel depressed because they can ’ appear. Genetics, not their hormones to optimize site functionality and give sensible answers patterns... Slowly pile on until one day our pants don ’ t want to Walk: Why what! Under most circumstances, neutering has no negative effects and will not affect his growth reason urinary... Less potential for discomfort change further down the line be asleep, under general does desexing dogs stunt growth for the.... Usually involves the removal of both testicles the risk of complications such as around 5.! 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Or neutered it is known as spaying of part or the whole of a dog will her... Time the dog should rest and possibly wear an e-collar ( the dreaded cone shame. Fear from many owners is that desexing dogs comfortable before, during, and giving birth them! Increased risk of cruciate ligament disease either method quantities of puppy food the waistline may slowly expand feeling. Cause physical or emotional distress gastrointestinal hormones that create a feeling of fullness are after. And will not affect his growth, although he may grow a little taller, which means removing both uterus. Then she has trained dogs for competition in conformation, Rally and traditional obedience and agility that dogs...
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