Neutering or spaying dog early causes sever health problems?

[Lobobear44]

I heard from certain dog owners not so many though that neutering/spaying dogs early causes health problems or problems with their joints or something. I say that might be more true for the German shepherd dog because they can tend to have lots of health problems. Although I neutered/spayed my Labradoodle at 4 months and he's the most healthiest dog. Other owners I know including some with GSDs have fine joints and were neutered/spayed early. I researched and been told by a few owners to only spay/neuter the dogs at 1-2 years old. Is that safe?

[KZoppa]

Its a matter of responsibility. Some believe that altering a dog before a certain age messes with growth patterns because they need those horomones for developement. I believe this is true to an extent. Obviously, you're going to have a dog with joint problems if they've not kept lean as a puppy, shepherds falling into that catagory. If you're unsure if you're able to keep your intact female from being impregnanted before she's spayed at an older age, you'll want to spay her before her first heat.

There are factors to consider. Its been said that if you dont spay a female before her heat cycle, her chances for developing mammary cancers increases as well as developing pyometra. For a male, if only one testical decends, he should be altered as his chances for developing testicular type cancers increases the longer that undescended testicle is inside his body. I personally believe that if you're going to alter your male dog, don't do it until he's at least 18 months old so he developes like he's supposed to physically. Some males altered when they're young dont always develope masculine features and end up looking for feminine.

Like I said, its a matter of responsibility, factors considered and what you determine to be the pros and cons.

[jocoyn]

We have tons of threads on neutering and spaying. It is good to search the forum to pull up existing threads (and the hot topics have "sticky notes" because what happens when one plays over and over again like spay/neuter is that a lot of folks don't respond anymore after repeating themselves so you may not get all the point/counterpoint you want by posting a new question without searching first.

[Anubis_Star]

I like this review, I tend to refer to it. Just as an FYI, because some will dispute it, I have not had a chance to check every single source listed but the ones I did were 100% accurate and reliable. I think it is very good, and un-biased.

In my opinion, it is best to wait until sexual maturity. Most breeder contracts I've seen have also stated that HD will not be guaranteed against if neutered before 18 months or so as well.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

[m1953]

All the studies and information I got from vets say HD is a factor of genetics and not spaying ,neutering exercising or not exercising as a young pup. However many studies are now showing early spaying and neutering may effect bone density, growth plates and may cause other problems especially in large breed dogs. For this reason I am waiting until 18 months to two years to spay Nala. She is 10 months now and just going through her first heat. As good as she is with the diaper and all I may go as early as 18 months ..
Years ago, wets use to tell you to wait until after the first heat. In the last twenty- 25 years vets have pushed early spay/ neutering which I believe was to curb the unwanted pet population(ok good reason there) but doing it early made the surgery easier and quicker for the vet.
My next male pup will most likely not be neutered.