Neutering,,

[luke4275]

I know this is discussed often.. My pup will be 5 months old jan 01. I was told to wait till he grows a bit as the sex hormones regulate too much growth,, pano, etc.. . My vet says studies betw 8 week old and 1-2 yr olds neutered, show very little if any difference.. Might GSD be a bit different. My second gsd was neutered at the pound, at early age and the radiologist said he had the worst case of pano that he had ever seen. So, I;m thinking of waiting a while.. Maybe 8-9 months for a male? any comments?

[PupperLove]

Yeah, I would wait. I can't see a benefit in taking away hormones from a living creature that needs to grow and develop properly. I can't possibly see how there could be a benefit in that.

[jetscarbie]

IMO...I think to neuter or when to neuter...depends.

I have never heard of pano being fixed by neutering. It's always been my understanding that in most cases....pano is basically like "growing pains" for a young dog. The way my vet explained it to me, their bodies are growing so fast that it's hard for their bones to keep up. That's why my vet told me to quit feeding my dog... puppy food. He said the puppy food makes them grow to fast. I know from my own experience.....not long after I switched my dog to regular adult food...He quit having problems with pano. Since then, I have never fed any of my dogs puppy food and I have never had a problem with pano since.

As far as what age to neuter...I think that depends on several different scenarios. Is your dog going to be around unfixed females?
Also, cost could play a part. I know here....my vet charges more to fix older dogs. The older they get, the more they usually weigh. So it cost more for the meds to put them to sleep.

When my first male was seen by the vet...it was under the puppy wellness program the vet runs. I chose not to get him fixed when recommended by the vet. I waited until he was about 1 1/2 and it probably cost me an extra $300 dollars. If I would have done it under the wellness program...I probably would have only paid $100. That may be something you want to talk to your vet about.

[MountainGSDs]

Time to have some popcorn and watch the debate begin.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Originally Posted by luke4275

I know this is discussed often..

Yes, did you use the search button at all? Because the information that you are going to read is going to be the same over and over.

But the bottom line and most important factors are you: your ability to insure that your male does not participate in an accidental breeding and the environment that you and your dog lives in: if there are many unspayed female dogs in your area who are tied out or allowed to roam, your vigilance needs to be increased infinitely.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Did you see this link yet ---> http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...ay-neuter.html