Neutering 6-month dog for humping: Is it too early for joints?

Question

Max is now 6.5 months old and 55lbs (GS x lab x border collie x bernese). The day care we take him too has a policy that all dogs need to be fixed by 8 months, however today they told me that he is humping more than usual and that we should look into getting him fixed sooner. I'm worried about fixing him too soon. I've read that it can cause bone growth and ligament issues as well as hip dysplasia, especially in German Shepard's and Labs. Multiple vets has told me different things... Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 6 months and 12 days old | 63 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

There are some studies that recently may have found a correlation between earlier neutering and an increased risk for joint issues. This is pretty new evidence and at this point I think it's not really clear what the risks and benefits are. I typically recommend waiting until a male dog has reached his adult size, usually around 1 year, to neuter BUT in situations where the dog is showing undesirable behaviors potentially related to sex hormones I strongly recommend neutering earlier. If you were planning on having him neutered by 8 months I doubt 1.5 months of growth would make much of a difference for his bones and joints, so I would considering scheduling the neuter now. You could always talk to your veterinarian about pros and cons as well.

Neutering 6-month dog for humping: Is it too early for joints?

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