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Should I neuter my 9-month-old male dachshund? Pros and cons?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Male | unneutered | 12 lbs

Hi I have a male dachshund 9 month old, he is intact yet, some say castrating a dog besides advantages like easy training or lesser chance for prostate cancer, it have disadvantages too, like higher chance for bone cancer or blood cancer. So in this matter I did some research but I couldn't find a answer that can satisfy me, finally I want trust your experience, what do you recommend?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on February 22nd, 2017

The main advantages for castrating male dogs are behavioral - intact males have a tendency to urine mark (sometimes in the house!), often don't get along with other male dogs, and are highly motivated to roam in search of females. These can be problematic behaviors for many family pets. From a medical standpoint, intact males are prone to get prostate enlargement, prostatic cysts or infections, and sometimes testicular tumors as they get older. There is some limited evidence that early neutering may increase the risk of certain cancers and orthopedic issues in some breeds, but these effects can usually be mitigated by waiting until the dog is fully grown to neuter. For me personally, I usually neuter my male dogs at around 12 months of age, when they are finished growing. This is also what I recommend for most clients, unless there are specific reasons for leaving the dog intact (show or working dog, breeding dogs, etc.)

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on April 29th, 2018

    Hi there! Whether or not to neuter a male dog is really a matter of personal preference, in most cases. Advantages of neutering include decreased urine marking behavior, excessive mounting ("humping") of humans or other dogs, and less tendency to roam. Neutering also prevents health issues like testicular cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy. And of course, if you aren't positive you can keep him confined with no access to female dogs, he should be neutered to avoid accidental matings as these contribute to pet overpopulation in many communities. There are some disadvantages of neutering early (before the dog is finished growing), including an increased risk of orthopedic problems like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears, and a possible increased risk of certain types of cancer. But as long as he's fully grown, there's not much downside to neutering if you want to. Hope that helps a bit!

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