Neuter before 6 months old??

r8rs4lf · Jan 20, 2016

My dog Shaka is going on 4 months and I've been contemplating getting him neutered before he's 6 months old. My previous dog, an American Bulldog, was neutered before 6 months and never had any issues.

What are the cons to having him neutered this early?

Alice Kable · Jan 20, 2016

We have had an English Bulldog neutered at 5&1/2 mos. before because of a hernia repair that was needed. He developed normally. It is advised to wait until a Frenchie is 18 mos. to 2 years so they get their full growth. Buster is half English, half French and we needed to neuter him at 8 mos. because of some behavior issues

MaplesMommy · Jan 20, 2016

There are many reasons why no dog should ever be neutered this young.
Try the search function for this forum. We have had this topic come up numerous times.

2bullymama · Jan 20, 2016

I would not recommend anything under 8 mths of age

davidh · Jan 20, 2016

Our vet always recommends neutering around 18 months of age.

Steve Doyon · Jan 22, 2016

We just got Meeka neutered at 6 months, our vet highly recommended it before she started to get her hormones.

Tgirl · Jan 22, 2016

Steve Doyon said:
We just got Meeka neutered at 6 months, our vet highly recommended it before she started to get her hormones.

Females are spayed, males are neutered.

r8rs4lf · Jan 23, 2016

Steve Doyon said:
We just got Meeka neutered at 6 months, our vet highly recommended it before she started to get her hormones.

This is exactly what I was told and the reason why I asked.

MaplesMommy · Jan 23, 2016

r8rs4lf said:
This is exactly what I was told and the reason why I asked.

Hormones are essential for a healthy dog! By desexing them this early you take away important hormones for growth and other developments(physicially and mentally). For example the growth plates between the joints won't be able to properly grow and you will have lots of joint problems later.

It's a sin that a vet would recommend such thing! I would be furious and leave their office immediately.

Tgirl · Jan 23, 2016

You can't really say "you will have lots of joint problems later". I agree that spay or neuter before 6 months is too early, but humane societies neuter at like 7 weeks and most of those dogs are fine and live normal lives like any other dog.

Cbrugs · Jan 23, 2016

I got Jax neutered at 6 months and he is now almost 3 and he has developed just fine. However, I definitely would not suggest getting it done younger than 6 months.