Why fix a male dog

This has not been proven true. The only behaviours that change will be loss of the mating urge, and reduced roaming and fighting.

Talk to your veterinarian about the procedure — they will be happy to address any questions or concerns you might have. Benefits of Neutering Your Male Dog. Gold Level. Silver Level. Associate Member. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers with neutering in either sex, those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age. The study population was 71 intact males, neutered males, 61 intact females, and spayed females, for a sample size of cases.

The occurrence of at least one joint disorder was seen in 1 to 3 percent of the intact males and females. Spaying females was not associated with an increase in joint disorders.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 6 percent in intact males with no increase with neutering. None of the spayed females developed UI. The suggested guideline for males is neutering beyond 6 months of age. Given the increased cancer risk for females spayed at a year of age, the suggested guideline is delaying spaying until beyond 2 years of age.

The study population was 29 intact males, 26 neutered males, 24 intact females, and 37 spayed females, for a sample size of cases. The occurrence of at least one joint disorder was seen in 7 percent of the intact males and in none of the intact females. None of the neutered males or females had a noteworthy occurrence of a joint disorder.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 11 percent for intact males and none for the intact females. Of females spayed at 6—11 mo. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered males, those wishing to neuter a male should decide on the appropriate age.

The study population was 42 intact males, 78 neutered males, 50 intact females, and 70 spayed females, for a total sample size of cases. Although these are two breeds, they vary only a little in size, so these two breeds are combined for statistical analyses and display of data. The occurrence of at least one joint disorder in intact males was 5 percent and for intact females 6 percent. There was no significant increase in this measure in males or females with neutering.

This is one of the breeds where intervertebral disc disorders are a concern, and in 3 percent of intact males and 8 percent of intact females, IDD was reported. In males neutered before 6 months, the occurrence of IDD reached 18 percent, and in females there was no increase with neutering. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 5 percent in intact males and 6 percent in intact females. In neutered males and females, there was no evident increase in cancers.

There was no diagnosis of UI in spayed females. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders, IDD, or cancers with neutering females, those wishing to neuter a female should decide on the appropriate age. The study population was intact males, neutered males, 99 intact females, and spayed females, for a total sample size of cases. Joint disorders were basically absent in males and females, left intact or neutered.

This is a breed plagued by intervertebral disc disorders, and in this sample 53 percent of intact males and 38 percent of intact females were diagnosed with a form of IDD. There was no evident increase in this measure with neutering of males or females. The study population was intact males, 91 neutered males, 53 intact females, and spayed females, for a sample size of cases. The percentage of intact males with at least one joint disorder was 2 percent and 0 percent for intact females.

There was no evident increase in this measure with neutering males. For females, spaying within 11 months resulted in an increase in joint disorders of 11 percent, which did not reach significance. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed for both intact males and intact females was 2 percent. In neutered males at the 1 year and 2—8 year periods, there was a non-significant increase in occurrence of cancers to 6 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

For females, there was no noteworthy increase in cancers with spaying at any time. The occurrence of MC in females left intact was 2 percent and 4 percent for those spayed at 2—8 years. There was a 7 percent occurrence of PYO in intact females. The suggested guideline, based on fragmentary results, for males is to leave the male intact or neuter before 1 year of age to avoid the possible increased risk of cancers seen in those neutered beyond a year of age. For females, the suggested guideline, also based on limited data, given the risk of UI in early spayed females, and the possible increased risk of a joint disorder, is to consider delaying spaying until beyond 2 years of age.

The study population was 52 intact males, 57 neutered males, 37 intact females, and 66 spayed females for a total sample of cases. In males and females left intact, the occurrence of one or more joint disorders was 5 and 8 percent, respectively.

Among males and females neutered at various ages, there were no noteworthy increases in joint disorders. The cancers followed occurred in the intact males and females at a 6 percent level, and neutering at any age was not associated with any evident increase in this measure in either sex. In intact females, MC was diagnosed in 6 percent, and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 15 percent.

PYO was not reported in any of the intact females. Spaying females at 6—11 mo. For females, given the increased risk of UI in those spayed before 1 year, the suggested guideline is to delay spaying until a year of age.

The study population was intact males, neutered males, intact females, and spayed females for a total of 1, cases. In males and females left intact, the occurrence of one or more joint disorders was 6 and 5 percent, respectively. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed for intact males and females was 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Neutering at the various ages was not associated with any appreciable increased risk in cancers followed. 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. Spaying and neutering is a responsible way to prevent accidental breeding resulting in unwanted puppies. Reduction of certain health risks. Spaying or neutering can lead to a reduction in certain health risks for both female and male dogs. Unspayed females can develop a painful and life-threatening infection of the uterus called pyometra.

Unspayed females are also at a higher risk of mammary tumors than females that have been spayed. Neutering a male dog prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk of other problems, such as prostate disease. A neutered male dog might also have less desire to roam. May help with certain behavior issues. In addition to reducing roaming in male dogs, neutering can often, though not always, help reduce or eliminate undesirable behaviors, such as leg-lifting and mounting.

Neutering may also decrease aggressive behavior in some dogs. Spayed females are also less likely to roam. At what age should a dog be spayed or neutered? What is the recovery time for spaying or neutering a dog? After spay surgery, some clinics will want to keep your dog overnight, while others will let her go home on the same day. Your dog may have some post-surgery discomfort, and the veterinarian might provide pain medication. The clinic may send your dog home with a protective collar to keep her from licking the incision.

She will probably need to have her activity restricted for 7 to 10 days while she heals. Your veterinarian may have you return for a follow-up visit to check on how well your dog has healed and to remove the stitches.

If there are no complications or other health issues, male dogs can usually go home on the same day of the procedure. The veterinarian will discuss with you any pain medication and aftercare for your dog.