What happens if you spay a dog too early

Likewise, neutering keeps male dogs from developing testicular cancer. Sterilization may be the key to keeping your beloved pet by your side longer. As well, the spayed and neutered dogs had a lower risk of dying from infectious disease. Animals are oftentimes driven by their primal desire to find a mate. This can lead to troublesome behaviors like mounting, humping, wandering, and urine marking.

Spaying female dogs eliminate their heat cycle and all the issues that come with it. Normal heat cycles occur twice a year, bringing attitude problems, whimpering and panting. Female dogs also experience a bloody discharge while in heat. Grooming wipes link product and stain and odor remover link product can help solve the messiness, but spaying prevents the heat cycle altogether. When you spay or neuter a dog, you are removing organs that produce hormones. As for behavioral issues, there are studies that link early neutering to noise phobias, fear and anxiety.

The American Humane Association recommends spaying or neutering as early as eight weeks. Some veterinarians say that spaying and neutering too early will deprive your dog of the sex hormones necessary for their maturation. These hormones are responsible for skeletal growth. The occurrence of MC in intact females was 5 percent and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 6 percent.

Of intact females, 3 percent were reported with PYO. The suggested guideline for males, given the risks of joint disorders, is delaying neutering until over 2 years of age. For females, with the same joint issues as males plus the risks of UI, the suggested guideline is delaying spaying until over 2 years of age. In intact males and females, the level of occurrence of one or more joint disorders was 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed in intact males was a high 15 percent and for intact females 5 percent. The occurrence of MC in intact females was 1 percent and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 4 percent. No cases of UI were reported in females spayed at any age. The suggested guideline for males, based on the increased risks of joint disorders and cancers, is delaying neutering until beyond a year of age.

The suggested guideline for females, based on the increased occurrence of cancers at all spaying ages, is leaving the female intact or spaying at one year and remaining vigilant for the cancers. The study population was 90 intact males, neutered males, 69 intact females, and 91 spayed females for a total sample of cases.

This is a giant breed where one might expect a high risk of joint disorders. However, both intact males and females have low levels of joint disorders, just 1 and 2 percent, respectively. For both males and females, there was no evident increase in this measure with neutering. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed in intact males was 6 percent and for intact females, 3 percent.

There was no evident increase in this measure of cancers with neutering in either sex. In early-spayed females, no UI was reported. However, given the large body size, and physiology of late musculoskeletal development, neutering well-beyond year 1 should be considered. The study population was 30 intact males, 19 neutered males, 21 intact females, and 16 spayed females for a total of 86 cases.

Even with the small number of cases, this breed was chosen for analyses because of the large body size: challenging the Great Dane for height, and where one might expect an increased risk of joint disorders.

In this sample, 7 percent of intact males and none of the intact females had a joint disorder. No joint disorders were seen in neutered males or females. With the intact males and females, the incidences of one or more cancers were 8 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

There was no evident increase in cancers in neutered females above the relatively high level in intact females. There was no occurrence of MC in intact females or those spayed late. The suggested guidelines for males given the increased occurrence of cancers around at ages 1—2 years, is neutering beyond 2 years. However, given the large body size, and physiology of late musculoskeletal development, some may want to consider neutering females well-beyond year 1.

The study population was 92 intact males, 87 neutered males, 84 intact females, and spayed females for a total sample of cases. As in other small dogs, joint disorders were rare; none of the intact males, and just 2 percent of intact females had one or more joint disorders.

Neutering was not associated with any increase in this measure in either sex. In intact males, 3 percent, and in intact females none, had one or more of the cancers followed. There was no evident increase in cancer occurrence in either sex with neutering at any age. In those spayed at 2—8 years, MC was diagnosed in 3 percent. UI was not diagnosed in any females. One or more joint disorders were reported in 6 percent of both intact males and intact females.

This measure was significantly increased to 13 percent for males neutered before 6 mo. The occurrence of cancers followed was 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively, for intact males and females. Neutering at the various ages was not associated with any evident increased risk in the cancers. The occurrence of MC in intact females was 1 percent and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 2 percent. For females left intact, 2 percent were reported with PYO.

For females, given the increased risks of joint disorders with spaying through 11 months of age, the suggested guideline is delaying spaying until beyond a year of age. The study population was 49 intact males, 72 neutered males, 65 intact females, and 86 spayed females for a total sample of cases.

As mentioned in Appendix 1 , the Maltese and Chihuahua vie for the smallest breeds and the Great Dane and Irish Wolfhound for the largest, but all four breeds share a low predisposition to joint disorders. For the Maltese in both sexes, there was no occurrence of joint disorders in either those left intact or neutered.

Virtually the same picture emerges with cancers, with only one of 64 intact females being diagnosed with a cancer. There was no occurrence of MC in the intact females and only one case among the 19 females spayed at 2—8 years. PYO was seen in none of the intact females. UI did not occur in any of the females. The study population for this small-dog breed was 47 intact males, 63 neutered males, 25 intact females and 96 spayed females for a total sample of cases. There was virtually no occurrence of any joint disorders in males or females either left intact or neutered.

The incidence of cancers in intact males was 4 percent and in females, zero percent. There was no indication of cancer increase related to neutering in either sex. There was no occurrence of MC in any of the females left intact or spayed, and a 4 percent occurrence of PYO in intact females.

None of the females was diagnosed with UI. The study population was 84 intact males, 69 neutered males, 65 intact females, and spayed females for a total sample of cases.

As with other dogs of small body size, both males and females had no occurrences of joint disorders in either those left intact or neutered. With regard to cancers, for both males and females left intact, the occurrence of cancers was zero, and there was no indication of increased cancer risk related to neutering in either sex. The study population was 49 intact males, 53 neutered males, 58 intact females, and 78 spayed females for a total sample of cases. While the AKC registers all the Poodle varieties as the same breed, the three main varieties are dealt with separately here because of differences in size.

In intact males, 4 percent had one or more joint disorders and in intact females there was no occurrence of a joint disorder. In neutered males and females, there was no evident increased risk of a joint disorder.

There was a 2 percent occurrence of cancers in intact males and none in intact females. In neutered males and females, there was no noteworthy occurrence of cancers. The study population was 41 intact males, 60 neutered males, 30 intact females, and 69 spayed females for a total sample of cases.

However, because of differences in size, the varieties of Poodles are dealt with separately here. There was no occurrence of a joint disorder in intact males or females. However, in males neutered at mo.

In spayed females, there was no occurrence of a joint disorder. In intact males and females, there was a 5 and zero percent occurrence of cancers, respectively. There was no indication of increased cancer occurrence related to neutering in either sex. The only occurrence of MC in females was one female that had been spayed at 2—8 years.

Of intact females, 6 percent developed PYO. The suggested guideline for males, based on the significant occurrence of a joint disorder with neutering at mo. The study population was 47 intact males, 88 neutered males, 53 intact females, and 87 spayed females for a total sample of cases.

There was a 2 percent occurrence of joint disorders in both intact males and females. The occurrences of cancers in intact males and females were 4 and 2 percent, respectively.

In females, there was no significant increase in cancers with spaying. There was a 4 percent occurrence of MC, and a 2 percent occurrence of PYO in the females left intact. Just one female spayed beyond 2 years later developed UI. The suggested guideline for males, based on the occurrence of one or more cancers with neutering at 1 year, is to delay neutering until 2 years of age.

The study population was 96 intact males, neutered males, 63 intact females, and spayed females for a total sample of cases. In intact males and females, the occurrences of joint disorders were zero and 2 percent, respectively. In neutered males and females, there was no evident increased occurrence of joint disorders. The level of occurrence of one or more cancers in intact males was 6 percent and in intact females, 8 percent. Neutering males and females did not lead to any evident increase in risk of a cancer.

There were no cases of MC in females left intact or spayed at any time, and there was a 5 percent occurrence of PYO in the intact females. The study population was intact males, neutered males, intact females, and spayed females for a total sample of cases. Joint disorders are a major concern in this breed with 8 percent of intact males and 16 percent of intact females having one or more joint disorders. The cancers followed occurred in the intact males and females at 16 and 11 percent, respectively.

These relatively high occurrences of cancers in intact males and females were not increased by neutering at any age. Of females left intact or spayed at 2—8 years, 8 and 5 percent were diagnosed with MC, respectively.

In intact females, 12 percent were diagnosed with PYO. The suggested guideline for males, given the risk of joint disorders for those neutered at mo. The study population was 26 intact males, 27 neutered males, 18 intact females, and 23 spayed females for a total sample of 94 cases. This breed was chosen because of the large size. In intact males and females, the occurrences of one or more joint disorders were 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

The cancers followed occurred in intact males and females at 4 and 11 percent, respectively. With neutering males and females, there were no noteworthy increases in cancers. There was no occurrence of MC in either the intact or spayed females. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered males those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age.

However, given the large body size, some may wish to consider neutering well-beyond 1 year of age. The study population was 31 intact males, 30 neutered males, 20 intact females, and 52 spayed females for a total sample of cases. There were no joint disorders in intact males and just one in the intact females. The occurrence of cancers in intact males was 6 percent and in intact females, zero. There were no evident increases in cancers in neutered males or females. There was no occurrence of MC in intact or spayed females and a 14 percent occurrence of PYO in intact females.

Spaying at mo. However, to avoid the high level of UI occurrence in females, one could consider spaying females at, or beyond, 2 years. The study population was intact males, neutered males, 77 intact females, and spayed females for a total sample of cases. In this small-dog breed there were no occurrences of joint disorders in either intact or neutered males and females, revealing virtually no vulnerability in this regard.

There was no occurrence of the cancers followed in intact males and females. In neutered males there was no occurrence of cancers. However, in females, the occurrence of cancers for those spayed at mo.

MC occurred in 3 percent of intact females. PYO occurred in 5 percent of intact females. UI was not reported in any females.

The picture is very different for spaying females where the increased risk of cancers started with spaying at mo. The suggested guideline for females is to delay spaying until the female is 2 years of age. Another possibility is to spay a female a month or two before 6 months to avoid the increased risk of cancers.

The study population was 35 intact males, 33 neutered males, 28 intact females, and 46 spayed females for a total sample of cases.

Just one intact male had a joint disorder, and other than this, no joint disorders were reported in intact females or in neutered males or females. None of the intact males or females had any of the cancers followed. There were no noteworthy occurrences of the cancers in neutered males or females. There were no occurrences of MC in either intact or neutered females, and a 7 percent occurrence of PYO in intact females.

However, for females, one could consider delaying spaying until a year of age to avoid the risk of UI. There were no joint disorders reported in intact males, and in intact females, just 1 percent. In neutered males and females there were no noteworthy occurrences of joint disorders. In intact males and intact females, just 1 percent were reported with at least one of the cancers followed. In both neutered males and females, none of the cancer occurrences was noteworthy.

In intact females, the occurrence of MC was 1 percent as was the occurrence with spaying at 2—8 years. PYO was reported in 7 percent of intact females. No UI was reported in any of the intact or spayed females. Since the reporting from this center of increased risks of joint disorders and some cancers in Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherd Dogs 11 — 13 , the appropriate age of neutering has become a common point of discussion 16 — With the evidence-based information on the risks, if any, of joint disorders, cancers, PYO and UI associated with neutering at different ages for males and females of various as dog breeds, dog owners, and their veterinarians, can use this information to select an age for neutering for the long-term health of their companion dogs on a case-by-case basis.

The overall major finding from the present study is that there are breed differences — and sometimes sex differences — with regard to the increased risks of joint disorders and cancers associated with neutering at various ages. For example, with the Boston Terrier, neutering females at the standard 6 month age did not increase the risks of joint disorders or cancers over that of dogs left intact, but with males, neutering before a year of age was associated with a significant increase in cancers.

The opposite effect with genders was seen in the Cocker Spaniel where neutering at 6 months was not associated with an increase in joint disorders or cancers in males, but in females there was a significant increase in risk of cancers to 17 percent with neutering before 2 years.

Another important finding that holds across several breeds is that with the small-dog breeds — Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Corgi, Dachshund, Maltese, Pomeranian, Poodle-Toy, Pug, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier —the occurrences of joint disorders were close to zero in both the intact and neutered males and females. In these small-dog breeds, the occurrence of cancers was low in both those kept intact and neutered.

Two exceptions were the Boston Terrier and Shih Tzu where there was there a significant increase in cancers with neutering. As noted in the results section, the mean date of last entry per patient in the hospital record ranged from about 4. The perspective taken here is that it is the early occurring joint disorders and cancers that are the most impactful on the human caregivers, both emotionally and financially, as well as their dogs.

To just delay neutering by a year or so to lower the risk of a joint disorder or cancer in those breeds where the issue is relevant, is a noteworthy goal, making it worthwhile to discuss appropriate ages to neuter with caregivers who have a new puppy.

A suggested guideline for the use of the data presented here for those who may wish to focus on a breed or two, is to first scroll through Table 1 to peruse the breeds for a brief look at the neutering guidelines for the breeds of interest. The next step could be to refer to summary paragraphs in the Results section, which present the major findings with a suggested guideline for neutering age. Our intention is to offer readers data-based information to make case-by-case decisions about age of neutering.

As is clearly evident in the breed-specific data presented, one cannot make a generalization for all dogs about age of neutering guidelines. As mentioned, this study involved 35 breeds, counting the three varieties of Poodles as three breeds. Thus, most breeds registered by AKC or other comparable agencies were not covered. The breeds chosen were the most popular, and with the largest dataset in our records, or were included to sample the largest range of breed sizes as was feasible.

Hence, some of the largest breeds e. While with some of the most popular breeds there were over 1, cases in the database, most breeds ended up with to cases which was sufficient for statistical analyses where the impact of neutering was substantial. A suggestion for those interested in a breed not covered in this study is to find a breed or two closest genetically to the breed of their interest in order to get an estimate of the various disease risks, if any, associated with neutering.

However, one needs to bear in mind that even genetically related breeds may vary a great deal. An example is seen when comparing Golden and Labrador Retrievers, using the data from this study, where in the Labrador, there was no increase in cancer risk above that of intact dogs with neutering, but in the female Golden, the risk of a cancer with neutering increased to 2—4 times that of the 5 percent level of intact females.

The popular Poodle breed provides another example, where there are three major varieties in size, the Standard, Miniature, and Toy. In the Standard, neutering males at 1 year was associated with a highly significant increase in the risk of a cancer mainly LSA to over six times that of intact males, whereas in the Miniature, there was no increase in cancers with neutering but a significant increase in joint disorders mainly CCL with neutering at mo.

A likely mechanism by which early neutering may lead to a joint disorder is related to disturbance of the closure of the long-bone growth plates by gonadal hormone secretion as the animal approaches maturity 19 , We have proposed that neutering much before the closure of growth plates allows the long bones to grow a little longer than normal, and may sufficiently disturb joint alignments in some neutered dogs to lead to a clinically-apparent joint disorder.

December 14, at AM by Nikki Wardle. When it comes to spaying your female dog, you probably have plenty of questions. In almost all cases, the answer is yes. Pregnancy and birth also come with health implications that could put your dog at risk of injury or even death.

Consider the circumstances carefully before you choose to breed your dog. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work.

Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence.