Should I wait to spay or neuter my pet? What's the ideal age?

Question

I’ve heard that it may be better to wait to neuter? Thoughts? Pet's info: Dog | Australian Shepherd - miniature | Male | neutered | 1 month and 30 days old | 26.6 lbs

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

There is still a debate on whether or not spaying / castrating animals at a later age is beneficial. For now, until more research is done, it is still recommended to spay female animals around 6 months of age. Some veterinarians will recommend spaying at a later age (12 months or more) due to the effects of removing hormones on the body causing stunted growth and other changes later in life. Castrating is recommended around 6 months of age as well. However, in my opinion, it is ok to wait on castrating a male animal until an older age. In female animals, there is enough research that has been done that shows spaying reduces the risk of developing mammary cancer and also eliminates the chance of getting a uterine infection (pyometra) which can be fatal. In my honest opinion, if the stunted growth theory were true, I would take a decrease in growth rate over mammary cancer. I have spayed and neutered hundreds of animals and I have not seen any complications (other than urinary incontinence in female dogs) from getting spayed or castrated. If you want to wait on castrating Red, I would be comfortable in saying that this should be fine but to consider castrating him in the future due to reducing the risk of testicular tumors and prostate issues. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Should I wait to spay or neuter my pet? What's the ideal age?

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