To Fix, Or Not To Fix That Is The Question

When do I need to get my puppy or kitten spayed or neutered? This is a question I get on a daily basis. First and foremost, the days that we recommend spaying and neutering by six months of age are really over. We now know that there are a lot of potential benefits to leaving your dog intact, at least for a little while. Let’s see what each veterinary discipline would consider. 

What would the orthopedic surgeon say?

The first consideration is the breed. We know that for large breed dogs (~40 lbs or more), waiting to alter for one year has been associated with a lower risk of orthopedic diseases such as cruciate ligament injury and hip dysplasia. Now, that sounds great, but that has not been 100% proven. So, let’s make that a goal, not a hard rule. For smaller dogs, this same benefit has not been associated. 

What would the behaviorist say?

Dealing with a behavioral problem can be a lifelong nightmare. So, above all else, we want to make sure we are not adding to a behavior problem by picking the wrong time to spay or neuter. If you have a six-month-old, 100 lb Saint Bernard that is starting to show signs of aggression and a toddler in the house, it’s probably time to get the dog neutered. I tell my clients to use their best judgment, especially with large male dogs. For female dogs, early alter has been associated with an increased risk of behavioral problems, so we want to consider the opposite for females. 

What would the cancer specialist say? 

We have known for a very long time that altering your female dog before their first heat cycle almost completely eliminates the risk of breast cancer in dogs. If you wait until your dog has one heat cycle, the risk goes up to about 10%. If you wait until after the second heat cycle then the risk goes up to about 25%. HOWEVER, studies have also shown that in certain breeds, such as Golden Retrievers (females), leaving intact for life may decrease the chance of certain cancers.

What would the urologist say?

About 5% of dogs that are spayed before their first heat cycle will experience urinary incontinence (leaking urine). This number is much higher for certain breeds, so make sure to ask your veterinarian if your dog is at risk. Recurrent urinary tract infection is also a potential problem that can result from spaying too early in life. For the boys, leaving intact for too long will almost certainly result in prostate disease during a lifetime. That may be anything from difficulty urinating to infections or prostate cancer. So for the boys, we do want to get them neutered if they are not used for breeding. 

What would the emergency room doctor say?

The number one reason we see dogs that have been hit by a car is the intact male dog looking for love! Those boys are highly motivated to hop that fence and peruse the neighborhood looking for ladies, and that often results in accidents. The second ER concern is the dreaded pyometra. This is when an intact female dog gets an infection (abscess) in the uterus. This is a real medical emergency, and it is 100% preventable with spay. 

What about the kitties? Less research is available on when to alter our cats. The current data still recommends that we spay at about 4-5 months AND 5 lbs or larger. 

That’s a lot to unpack, guys! The bottom line is: talk to your veterinarian and discuss what is the best age for your particular little friend.

Vol. 41, No. 8 - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025

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