My trainer says wait to neuter my dog. Is early neutering risky?

Question

My dog trainer tells me that male dogs should not be neutered until age 3, to allow for physical development and personality setting. She says there are articles claiming that neutering too early makes males more likely to cancers and heart issues. Is there a basis for this? Pet's info: Dog | Labradoodle | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 22 days old | 15 lbs

Lauren Kennedy, DVM · Accepted Answer

There have recently been some studies that have shown an increased risk of orthopedic disease (such a knee ligament rupture) and some types of cancer in certain breeds that are neutered before age 2. The main breeds that were included in this study were Golden Retrievers and Rotties. However, it is my personal opinion, after reviewing the studies, that the benefits of early neutering outweigh the risks of potentially developing the aforementioned diseases. I strongly recommend juvenile neutering (around 6 months of age) especially if there are behavior issues with the dog. This is still a new topic of discussion for vets and there are many different opinions. But because there has not been extensive research on the subject I still recommend neutering at a younger age. I hope this helps.

My trainer says wait to neuter my dog. Is early neutering risky?

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