Thinking about neutering your male dog? Before you make this important decision, there are several crucial factors to consider. Neutering can have significant effects on your fur baby's health, behavior, and overall well-being. From potential health benefits and risks to changes in behavior, understanding these aspects can help you make the best choice for your furry friend. In this guide, Dr. Terry White joins us to uncover everything you need to know about neutering your male dog, with suggested neutering age for golden retrievers and 35 dog breeds.
What are the benefits of neutering my dog?
Neutering your dog comes with several important health benefits, especially concerning the prostate gland.
Prostate Health
Prevents Enlargement: Testosterone causes the prostate gland to grow over time. By age five, an unneutered male dog's prostate is often significantly enlarged.
Reduces Discomfort: An enlarged prostate can become uncomfortable and may even interfere with defecation as the dog ages.
Prevents Infection: An enlarged prostate is more prone to infections, which are difficult to clear up without neutering. Neutering shrinks the prostate, reducing these risks.
It is a common misconception that neutering prevents prostate cancer. While it does not prevent cancer, the primary benefits of neutering for the prostate are preventing enlargement and infection.
Other Health Benefits
Apart from prostate health, neutering also helps prevent certain types of hernias and reduces the risk of tumors in the testicles and anus. Additionally, neutering decreases excessive preputial discharge, which is a common issue in unneutered dogs.
What are the downsides of neutering my male dog?
This is a relatively complex and controversial topic. Researchers often focus on orthopedic and joint-related problems, as well as different types of cancers, to determine whether neutering a male dog truly affects the incidences of these conditions. The Hoffman study of 2013 examined over 70,000 canine medical records and found that neutering increases a dog's lifespan by 14 percent. The study showed that neutered dogs were less likely to die of infectious diseases, degenerative diseases, or trauma. However, they were more likely to die of cancer or immune-mediated diseases compared to their unneutered counterparts.
When examining different types of cancers, it is important to note that the incidences are still relatively low. For instance, although the risk of developing prostate cancer is several times higher in neutered dogs than in unneutered dogs, the overall risk in both groups remains less than one percent. Cancer development is influenced more by environmental exposures and genetic predispositions related to breed than by testosterone, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.
When is the optimal time to neuter?
The latest study (as of 2024) from US Davis has provided clarification on the best neutering ages for 35 dog breeds. This adds on top of the study in 2020. The researchers conducted studies on the association between age of neutering and potential joint disorders, cancers, and urinary incontinence. Take a look at this study to find your fur baby’s breed and the research on breed-specific age of neutering.
The conventional wisdom is that neutering can be done as early as the age of 6 months. This is not entirely recommended as the study shows some breeds such as Border Collies may benefit from delaying the age of neutering to 1 year old.
Another example is in Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherd Dogs, where neutering within the first year increased the incidence of joint disorders by 2–4 times compared to the 3–5% incidence in intact dogs. For female Golden Retrievers, neutering at any age resulted in a 2–4 times higher occurrence of cancers compared to the 5% incidence in intact females. However, for male Golden Retrievers and both male and female Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs, there was no noticeable increase in cancer rates compared to intact dogs.
The breeds represented in this study are, alphabetically, the: Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Beagle, Bernese Mountain Dog, Border Collie, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Corgi (Pembroke and Cardigan combined), Dachshund, Doberman Pinscher, English Springer Spaniel, German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, Pomeranian, Poodle-Miniature, Poodle-Standard, Poodle-Toy, Pug, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Shetland Sheepdog, Shih Tzu, West Highland White Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier.
Below is the suggested neutering age guidelines by breed and sex according to UC Davis.
What changes should I watch out for after neutering?
Behavioral Changes
Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of neutering on various behaviors, including: Playfulness, fear of strangers, territorial aggression, mounting, urine-marking, roaming and more.
The behaviors most consistently affected by neutering are:
Mounting
Urine marking
Fighting
These behaviors were significantly reduced or completely eliminated in 50-60 percent of male dogs after neutering. Most pet parents look forward to reducing these actions, which can greatly improve their relationship with their dog.
Metabolism Changes
Neutering can affect a dog's metabolism, increasing the risk of weight gain. You should be ready to adjust their pet's diet or exercise routine if they notice their dog gaining excess weight. Check out our previous post on the nutrition guide for puppies and how to transition to adult food.
Unsure about what the best decision is for your pup?
EverPal is here to provide expert guidance. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Terry White at EverPal for your fur baby from the comfort of home. We also deliver the medications to your home.
Consultations are currently available only for residents and pets living in California.
Comments