What age was your dog when neutered/spayed?

[Andi]

Did you spay/neuter at all? If so, what age were they when they were fixed? If you have more than one dog, you can choose more than one answer.....

[Jilly]

4 girls and all fully intact as nature intended. Easy for me though as there are no aspiring lovers around here. Bit of a problem with them all coming on heat at the same time though...it's a bit like having a housefull of hormonal teenagers !!! cheerleade

[kristyrenee]

I just got Rockne neutered yesterday and he is 5 months. I hear it's better to do it younger and they bounce back easier.....well, he was in a lot of pain last night and was crying and whinning for about an hour or two :mad:
He's much better today though and is playing again :029

[CaGolden]

We had Cooper neutered right around 6 months. We were expecting him to be in pain and calm. When they brought him out the next day he bolted from those doors. They told us no playing, no running...etc so that he won't hurt himself. I don't think he heard any of it...lol We actually had to go back and get some pills to calm him down. It was like he never went through any surgery at all. Has any other puppies come out like nothing ever happened?

[lvngold]

Beau was neutered last month at 7 mos and he was a wild man. Never knew he had anything done. He plays with the lab next door every afternoon. When we got home that afternoon, I was being really gentle and easy getting him out of the SUV and before I knew it he was off like a shot to play with Duke. I had to just finally ignore him and he came back on his own. He never acted like he had surgurey at all. Never groggy, no loss of appetite, nothing. I really had a time keeping him from overdoing.

[scorpio118]

MADDIE was spayed at 7 months old.......

MIKEY will be five months old next week and I "heard" it was best to wait until he was a year and a half before neutering him......... jugglex1 Something about fully developing or something like that?? :204 IM SO CONFUSED!!

[LauraLynn]

Rider was originally to be a show dog but when he fell short on height - no pun intended - the breeder sold him as a pet and he was then neutered at 14 months.

[Rascal's Memory]

Logan just got neutered a week ago at 9 months. We expected it to be a little less sad than it was. He is finally back to himself but just as of yesterday. He seemed to be in pain and freaked out/depressed (don't blame him). He had to wear the cone so he wouldn't lick since he was trying to pull at the incision. Poor Logan. :(

He's back to himself now though...thank goodness. It wasn't the "no big deal" that we heard it has been for many others.

[2blondebabes]

Riley was 4 1/2 months old. We were going to wait until 6 months but she has had a bad case of puppy vaginitis that we couldn't get rid of and the vet said it is hormonal and spaying would clear it up. Like many other posts, she never had any ill effects and was bouncing around immediately. It has been hard to keep her calm. Another week or so and she should be healed up enough to run and play again! As far as the vaginitis, I haven't seen any signs as of yet so I hope it is gone! banana

[Andi]

I "heard" it was best to wait until he was a year and a half before neutering him......... jugglex1 Something about fully developing or something like that?? :204 IM SO CONFUSED!!

Some will say that they may become a little more "leggy" when neutered before 12-18 months. I know Porter is not leggy and he was neutered around 6 months old. Then, I also heard about the growth plates closing too early if neutered early.

I really think that it's easier on the dog if they are younger. But that's just my opinion.

[GoldenLady]

Some will say that they may become a little more "leggy" when neutered before 12-18 months.

This isn't always the case, but I understand it can happen. Also, primarily with males, their heads often don't become as broad and blocky if they're neutered at a young age. Genetics plays a part in this as well: a dog that is neutered as a young pup, but comes from lines where the males have big, blocky heads, may well still end up with a larger head than one that isn't neutered until after maturity, but comes from a line where the dogs are finer-boned and the males are not as prone to a "brawny" look. The same goes for the legginess: some lines are more prone to it to begin with. But in general, I think they do need those hormones to *fully* mature - though the differences might be slight, and not at all important to the respective owners. :)

With females, physical differences are not as obvious, plus there is a big advantage in spaying them prior to their first season in order to prevent the chances of mammary cancer.

[Merlinsmom]

Merlin was neutered at 8 months-and acted as though nothing had happened!! I was expecting to pick up a very sad quiet dog-and could hear him-barking-before I even walked in the vet's door-LOL.

It was just about impossible to stop him playing afterwards..

I truly dont know what is the best age to get it done-there's so many opinions on this!

[Rusty-14]

Rusty was 7 months old. I got him neutered because I had a female who wasn't spayed and was in heat.

As soon as we came home that day, he went right outside and I looked out the window and said, oh my god. He was mating her right after the surgery.

I called the vet and he said, oh my. I didn't think he would feel that good.

[GoldenBlaze]

Blaze was neutered at 6 mths our Vet believes this is the best time. He was fine when he came home... like nothing happen. :dogbark

[sugarsmom]

Lil' Sugar goes in next week! She'll be almost 6 months old. I can't imagine her not being hyper and jumping, etc. after the surgery. I also can't imagine having to lift her in and out of the SUV!!! :eek: As you all know, these are not tiny, purse-sized dogs! Anyway.....is it typical that they need to wear the big cone thing after this surgery?

[GoldenLady]

Lil' Sugar goes in next week! She'll be almost 6 months old. I can't imagine her not being hyper and jumping, etc. after the surgery. I also can't imagine having to lift her in and out of the SUV!!! :eek: As you all know, these are not tiny, purse-sized dogs! Anyway.....is it typical that they need to wear the big cone thing after this surgery?

It depends on the dog; some dogs don't bother with their stitches at all, while others go after them every chance they get. I used to work as a veterinary technician, and my advice to owners has always been to keep an eye on the dog when they (owners) are around, and to put the cone on overnight and when they're going to be out of the house; if your pup seems to be bothered by the stitches/incision even when you're around, you might want to keep it on whenever you can't closely watch her.

A funny cone-related story: my first Golden, Heidi, was really bad about going after her stitches, and I had to put a cone on her anytime I couldn't keep a close eye on her. The cone I had gotten from the vet was the second-largest size, and it seemed like the right fit - kept Heidi from going after the stitches, while at the same time not being *too* huge, making it easier for her to get around the house with the cone on. Well, one morning, about a week after her operation, when I checked the incision, I found that the bottom couple of stitches had been ripped out. :eek: She had been wearing the cone, but had either managed, through practise, to *stretch* enough to get at those stitches, or had grown just that much over the course of the week, and was able to get at what she couldn't reach before. :confused: Fortunately the incision had healed by that point, and the vet simply removed the rest of the stitches; I left the clinic with a larger e-collar just the same, to prevent any further damage to the still-tender area.

[buddysmom]

We got Buddy neutered at around 10 months. My hubby dropped him off on the way to work and picked him up on the way home. He was a little drugged that evening (hehe) but the next morning it was as though nothing had happened. He licked a little but stopped when we told him "no". It was a good experience for all of us.

[ChicagoCanine]

I don't know what age Ginger was spayed because she was already spayed when I found her... If I DID have her as a puppy I probably would have gotten her spayed at about 5 months.

[goldensaremylife]

I have heard of spaying as young as 6 to 14 weeks. That seems a bit young to me, but I am not an expert. It seems that many people spay/neuter at 5-7 months.

[hunter's mom]

Hunter is 9 months and not neutered yet. We will probably get him done within the next 2 months. I have heard the same thing about waiting till they are fully developed. :204

[ChicagoCanine]

I wanted to point out that the chance of a dog developing mammary tumors goes up with each heat they have before spaying... If spayed before the first heat the chance is near zero. After each heat the chance goes up. If spayed after the 3rd heat the chance goes WAY up.

[WVSongbird]

Sunni was spayed on Thursday (she will be seven month's old tomorrow) and we picked her up on Friday. I missed her so much Thursday night. :( She layed around most of the afternoon on Friday (poor baby) but by Saturday she was acting like nothing had happened. She sure bounced back fast. :ddog

[spindog]

Spin was about 6 months ....... per vets advise. No problems, no cone. He was back to his usual antics the next morning. :)

[WVSongbird]

Sunni was supposed to have been spayed when she was closer to six months but the vet had to postpone it for two weeks due to him having to be out of town. I was just hoping and praying that she didn't go into heat before then. Thank God, she didn't.

[CaynCher]

I have two intact Golden males (owner preference) with no problems at all with/between them. :dogbark :reddogx

[GoldenLady]

I have two intact Golden males (owner preference) with no problems at all with/between them. :dogbark :reddogx

The same goes for me and my boys. :)

GoldenLady :)

[HenryWI]

Henry was just neutered Tuesday, he is 6 1/2 months old. He's as good as new already!

[pouncermom]

Jenny was just spayed on Tuesday, at 6 months 1 day (what a way to celebrate!!!). Picked her up that night. Dr.s orders were no playing for 10 days. Yeah, right!!! My little girl cannot sit still longer than 15 seconds!!! She was out of it that night, and somewhat the next day. Yesterday she was her old self - running, jumping, chasing the cats, etc!!!
No problems with her.

Julie

[elvira]

Suzie was spayed when she was 10 years old due to pytomea. After 10 days she participated in a agility contest. She recovered very quick. Her mother, Itosca was spayed when she was 9 years old. She had a mammary tumor after a fals pregnacy. She also recovered very quick. So I don't think age does mather that much. Now I have a male, but as long as there is no medical reason, he will stay intact. He has two male intact friends where he can stay when I have to be away from our house to long, without any problems.

[Miss Daisy's Mom]

Daisy will be spayed on Aug. 12th. She will be 5 months old, as was my Aussie when I had her spayed last year. Lily (my aussie) breezed through it and has been very healthy, and I'm hoping the very same will hold true for Daisy!

[Jasmine Skyes Mom]

Today is Jasmines 9 month birthday and I am taking her in to get spayed today. Until I hear from the vet this afternoon that she is doing good, I think I am going to be a ball of nerves. I will get to pick Jasmine up tomorrow when I get off work then I have taken off work through next Wednesday. My plans at this point are to keep her leashed to me as much as possible to help keep her still.

[Boondox]

Some will say that they may become a little more "leggy" when neutered before 12-18 months. I know Porter is not leggy and he was neutered around 6 months old. Then, I also heard about the growth plates closing too early if neutered early.

I really think that it's easier on the dog if they are younger. But that's just my opinion.

I'd heard that. Tetley was 4 1/2 months old when we had him neutered, and till he was about three years old he was the leggiest, all legs and angles dog we'd ever seen. But he was also a big boy and eventually grew into those long legs. Still not sure if it was neutering or genetics, but gawd was he a sight to behold when in full flight! :reddogx

Tuppence the Wonder Pup was spayed at 6 months and remains a little pipsqueak of a dog. :dogbark

[Buffy's Mom]

Buffy was just over 6 months when she was spayed. She had not had a first heat. She had no problems and recovered very quickly.

[GoodBoy]

Harvey was neutered at 6 months old. He came charging straight out of the vets just after having surgery. Nothing changed at all .... only instead of him charging about the place on his own ... he was charging into everything with one of those lampshade thingies round his head !!!!!! :ddog

[SuGaR]

Sugar was spayed when she was a few days shy of her 7th month birthday.

She was feeling so sluggish and drowsy when we picked her up that evening that she has to be carried to the car. That night, she has no appetite for any food or water (for the 1st time!) and we got really worried. Thank goodness the next morning she bounced back to normal.

I guess what she hated most from that episode was no walks for the next 10 days. :laugh2

[dssxxxx]

Today.

Murphy will be 8 months old next Wednesday.

We are turning a thoroughbred into a gelding..... :dogbark

[Soda]

I've tried to wait as long as possible "da boyz". I've been told by some breeders and vets that they continue to mature and neutering can stunt some of the mature growth.

I've been told the opposite too. But as long as there are no ragin' hormones and wandering I feel safe in waiting.

[Baylee Golden]

According to Chris Zink DVM, who specializes in canine athletes, has written books and gives seminars on the subject, it is best to wait until after 14 months to spay/neuter. This allows time for the hormonal effect necessary for the complete growth of the long bones in proportion to the dog's structure. According to her, studies have shown that ACL tears and ruptures seem to be more common in dogs that have been altered at an earlier age. This is a frequent and debilitating injury, especially in performance dogs.
She has, also, suggested that other maladies may be related to early spay/neuter. This is a bit controversial especially in light of the more frequent suggestions by vets that early spay/neuter is "harmless" and required by shelters and rescue organizations in order to reduce the number of unwanted dogs.
Just a comment.

[Hailie's Mom]

I am still confused as whether is it more beneficial to spay a female before her first heat (this reduces the chances of her getting certain types of cancers dramatically) or to wait until she has fully grown to prevent proportional and orthopedic problems. If most of the issues advocating late spaying is aesthetic, it is probably still better to spay before the females first heat to prevent those certain types of cancers. I still have Hailie scheduled for spay surgery middle of June, and hopefully I am making the right decision and doing what is best for her health.

[CanadianGolden]

I posted Chris's article on this site under a neutering thread (Chris is actually a friend of mine). All of the issues are not cosmetic. If you search for neuter* you can probably find it here.

[Hailie's Mom]

Hi CanadianGolden,
I did read the other thread's postings, but I still do not know if the risks associated with postponing the spaying will be greater than the risks associated with spaying earlier. For example, a greater chance of cancer vs greater chance of hip dysplasia. I think most people still spay their pups at around 6 months and that seems to be the best age to spay to reduce the risks of certain cancers.

[Soda]

I really think it depends on the dog. Rusty is very lanky, tall and BIG. He also went through pano at 6 months old so I want him to have all the advantages of growth and hormones he can. Looking into his family health history there is no evidence of cancer so the chances of a bone and joint problem I think are more substantial. We'll probably wait until 2 before nuetering. He's 13 months now and doesn't lift his leg yet even with 2 other male dogs and one intact. It appears he is a slow maturing one!

I'm not up on the females though and not sure about the differences there.

[So ist brav]

I won't spay or neuter before 24 months.

[LoveMyGoldenNamedDuke]

I have a 4 year old Sheltie named Scarlett Rose and we had her spayed before her first heat. I was told that it could prevent certain female type cancers. Given that our first Sheltie Misty died of breast cancer at the age of 12 and was never spayed I felt that it was best to spay early after that experience. Scarlett Rose is our second sheltie since Misty died. Wendy was our second sheltie and we had no cancers with her and she was spayed before her first heat as well.

We now have our first Golden Retriever puppy (I love him so much) :050 3months old and we are going to have him neutered after 14 months old. Our breeder told us that having him neutered before that could effect his development. I have concerns about him lifting his leg, mounting and developing bad habits but I do not want his growth effected. I want him to reach his full potential as an adult male Golden. We love the big boned, large head and stalky built Goldens.

Duke's Mom :dogbark