What is the average age to neuter?

[eva247]

Hi all,
Just a quick one - what age should you really neuter your male at? Its just my vet has told me neuter Kane at 5-6 months when he gets microchipped? Is this the average age to do it at?

[Carina43]

That seems to be the standard recommendation!
Some people like to wait until the dog is a bit over a year old...check the other neutering thread right below yours. :)

[eva247]

Originally Posted by Carina43

That seems to be the standard recommendation!
Some people like to wait until the dog is a bit over a year old...check the other neutering thread right below yours. :)

Hence why I asked, I was a bit confused as the other thread says that his boy is 15 months? :)

[Carina43]

Well...I guess most vets will tell you six months. Some people are concerned their large breed dog may look a bit "lanky" and not fill out completely if neutered at that age.

My breeder gave me in the contract 24 months to neuter Cooper. My vet and I decided that at 16 months or so, it wasn't going to affect his growth at all so I did it then, in part because we were having a HORRIBLE time getting him to behave around other male dogs.

There seems to be a bit of dissent as to whether earlier neutering actually makes a perceptible difference, so if it's not a big deal to you whether he's 1/2" taller or whatever, do it if you want! I have an adult dog who was neutered at 4 years old, he's large but quite lanky. My last Rottie was neutered at 6 months & he was a big bulky bruiser of a dog. So I guess there's no guarantees either way.

I'm sure there's people here better qualified than me...there have been some very long discussions about neutering on the vet forum though! Do a search here. There was one that went on for page after page after page, about two years ago.

[Rott-Wiley]

I'd say that the average age is 6 months. There are a lot of vets that are leaning toward doing it sooner then later.

[Carina43]

Originally Posted by Rott-Wiley

I'd say that the average age is 6 months. There are a lot of vets that are leaning toward doing it sooner then later.

Which - in this country anyhow - is the responsible recommendation for most people, because of the horrendous pet overpopulation & daily mass slaughter of healthy animals here. There are shelters who will s/n puppies & kittens at 8 weeks, before they are adopted.
I would guess that most people who neuter their dogs, do so right around six months old.

Neutering at six months will also help you avoid having to deal with a testosterone-flooded adolescent male dog, and will result in a calmer family dog who won't wig out every time he smells a bitch in heat, & is more likely to be friendly and accepting of other males.

So to your original question - there's the average age - about six months - but no age one should neuter a male. If you are a responsible owner who makes sure the dog will never get out & find a date, ;) and you are prepared to do the extra training & work that an adolescent male may require (Cooper was horrible) then there really isn't a reason to neuter young. I don't think there's any health risks to NOT neutering (unlike bitches, who should optimally be done before the first heat) until the dog is quite a bit older.

[eva247]

Hi Carina & Rott-Wiley,

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go ahead with the 6 month neutering. Kane is quite a stubborn and playful little thing and he is a big pup and expected to be a very big adolescent/adult so I think I'll do it earlier rather then later (to be on the safe side). Don't want to have to try and pull him off a female ;)

Thanhks again, Eva

[papa bear's mom]

Six months I believe is the average as well. That's what my vets suggest. However, I know there is new research out there about spaying and neutering at three to four months of age. I have a dog that we bought from a breeder (lab) and we got her spayed at 6 mos. However I have another rescue who I adopted at four months and the rescue had already had her spayed. It is definite for a female to be spayed before her first heat cycle. As for males, I don't believe that is the case, but I figure three months is fine, as my rescue had no problems. And I volunteer with that rescue now and I know many other organizations that spay early b/c of the significant overpopulation problem of dogs in this country. But going with six months should be fine. Thank you for neutering your dog!!!! :D