Hi, I have a male Queensland Heeler and I am wondering what age I should have him neutered. There is a lot of conflicting information online. My parents told me that their vet recommended 6 months, but my vet told me that for larger breed dogs, you can wait until 2 years old. Queenslands are medium sized dogs, so I wasn't sure if 6 months would be good or if I should wait any longer, since I am not sure when he will hit puberty. Thanks, Nicole. Pet's info: Dog | Australian Cattle Dog | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 18 days old | 20 lbs

Great question! There are pros and cons to neutering at different ages, so ultimately it comes down to your personal preference. The biggest advantage of neutering around six months or so, is that this will normally prevent the development of problematic "boy behaviors" such as urine marking, wanting to mount other dogs, not getting along with other intact males, and wanting to roam constantly in search of female dogs. There is some evidence that early neutering (before the dog is finished growing) can increase the risk of certain orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures later in life, especially in large-breed or very athletic dogs. So, this is something to take into account as well. Personally, I have always neutered my male dogs at around 10-12 months of age, when they're still fairly young but finished growing for the most part. Most of my clients choose to neuter around 6 months of age to avoid the behavior issues mentioned above. But ultimately, the choice is up to you :)

Thank you for asking this question! Neutering is typically recommended at around 6 months of age, though depending on breed and some physical characteristics it is sometimes recommended to wait till closer to 12 months. I see that Whiskey is about 4 years old-it is never too late to neuter your pet, have your vet check Whiskey over to make sure he is healthy, and I always recommend preanesthetic bloodwork to check for any internal issues!

While there are some studies that link neutering with an increased risk for certain types of cancers in certain breeds of dog there is not currently evidence that early neutering vs neutering as an adult has an overall increased risk. I would recommend talking to your vet about the pros and cons of neutering prior to sexual maturity with your vet. It is a complex decision and the ideal age is different for every dog.