early neutering

Re: early neutering

Anna Rayne — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:59:16 GMT

We had a 12 week old labradoodle that had already been castrated by the breeder recently.

This is an interesting article regarding early neutering

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

about the vet ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Christine_Zink ) she has been over to the UK to do some seminars recently.

and this

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

I'm all for neutering but some of this info was quite interesting and suprising, I know its all american research, I don't know if there is any UK based info available.

Re: early neutering

Elerrina — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:53:02 GMT

I think its the australian labradoodle breed club that require them to be neutered so early. Our practice is a bit divided over it. Some believe for behavioural reasons its better to let them have a season and then spay (the risk of mammary cancer from one season is under a 1% increase). But the puppies seem no worse off for being neutered so early

Re: early neutering

Fuzzyduck — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:51:42 GMT

There is no real greater risk with putting them through an anaesthetic at that age or at 6 months. We do 100s of puppy GA's and have never lost one yet.

I work with a vet who advocates young neutering in cats and dogs, there are too many unwanted puppies and kittens out there so anything that stops that is a good thing. If all staffies were neutered at 8 weeks just think how much of a difference there would be!!

The old age incontinence thing is only really in certain breeds and many become incontinent anyway when they have been speyed at a reccommeded age and i have seen some incontintent entire bitches. The vet i work with doesnt seem to see this as a major problem and i would certainly want my bitch speyed before a season as the risk of mammary carcinomas is far reduced than post season and also just the hassle of having a bitch in heat, the mess, not being able to take them out due to the male dogs.

There are more and more vets doing young neuters and the RSPCA so i dont think it will be long before this is commonplace

Re: early neutering

Julie-Anne Wilson — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:39:11 GMT

I just don't see the point in putting them through an anaesthetic that early. And, as Mark stated, there's pros to both but I know in my pet I'd rather wait.

Re: early neutering

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:11:52 GMT

I still hear the occasional study that worries about old age incontinence in very early spays; I know it's a long time to wait but there's still valid arguments for early and delayed spaying...

Re: early neutering

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:42:30 GMT

Proof is out there that there is no problem from 8 weeks. The older neurois is a hangover in uk from bad anaesthetic days. Bring on the puppy neutering can not happen to soon.

Re: early neutering

Julie-Anne Wilson — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:37:27 GMT

Plenty of charities are now pushing it for cats so it wouldn't surprise me that some Vets will do it on dogs as well.