When To Neuter My Lab Puppy

We have a 15-week old black lab puppy Dennis. I have been reading about the best age for neutering and had in my head it would be after 12 months, but hopefully wait until 18 months. I have been looking at options for him once my husband and I both need to be back in our full-time work in September.

When to neuter my lab puppy. “Fixing” your Lab is more cost-effective than trying to raise a litter.. there are a host of other cancers that can be more probable if you neuter your puppy at a young age. According to a 2014 study with 2,500 Vizslas, the younger the dog at the time of neutering, the more likely the dog is to develop one or more of the following: Mast. Neutering Labradors and other dogs is a topic which comes up regularly. In my email inbox, in the comments section of the website, and on the forum, where we have recently had quite an in-depth discussion on the subject. “Should I have my Labrador neutered” and “when should I have my dog neutered” are two very different questions, but both come up with equal frequency. Most people hear that you should spay or neuter your puppy as soon as possible (as young as 6 months old), so as to diminish the unwanted puppy population. While we agree that there is unfortunately a growing population of unplanned puppies, there are also valid arguments for waiting to spay or neuter a dog, that affect its lifetime health. While it is still a good idea to neuter dogs that are older, the best time to neuter your puppy is prior to its first heat cycle. In most dogs, this happens when the puppy is between five and six months old. Planning to have your puppy neutered when they are between four and six months old is a good general estimate.

As a puppy, your lab will have to eat more frequently. It is common for a puppy to have it's daily food ration split into 3 or 4 feedings spread out evenly throughout the day. This can gradually be reduced to two feedings a day as your Labrador gets older and can eat more at each feeding. On the other hand, there’s less urgency to spay or neuter if the puppy is the only intact dog living in the house, she adds. Most veterinarians recommend spaying a female dog before her first heat cycle. This varies but occurs somewhere between 5 and 10 months of age. I have a 9 month old labrador puppy. I have only had German shepherds for most of my life and still have 2 shepherds as well. Shepherd people seem pretty set on not neutering before 2 but my puppy's breeder recommended age 1. I am trying to plan the neuter in conjunction with Xrays for OFA (either prelims or final) while he is under anasthesia. The best time to spay or neuter your lab would be once it hits puberty, which is usually between 9 and 15 months old. Doing it too early can pose new health risks, so it’s best to discuss your puppy’s options with your breeder and trusted veterinarian.

"The big snip," as some people call it, provides many benefits beyond making sure dogs don't become puppy daddies. Neutering can cut the risk of certain diseases, unwanted behaviors, and conflicts. Having your dog spayed or neutered early will not stunt your puppy’s growth, but it might affect the joints of large breed dogs. Studies show that early spay /neuter does affect the growth plate, delaying its closure and causing dogs to grow taller than they should have. This can predispose the dog to later joint problems. These pro-early neuter studies were not carried out long enough to evaluate the risk of cancer. In my experience, dogs neutered under 6 months develop less obesity and don’t establish some of the “male” behaviors that neutering is meant to treat. They are also less likely to jump a fence, fight, or get hit by a car. Adult dogs can be neutered at any age but the best time is before sexual maturity. For many years, the recommended spay/neuter age was 6 to 9 months, however, now it is quite common for surgery to take place at 4 months old. If a puppy’s future involves performance competition, ask your veterinarian and breeder about timing.

What does it cost to spay or neuter a puppy or dog? The cost of spaying and neutering varies across the country, and depending on the facility where the surgery is done, the procedure can set you. Puppy Join Date May 2014 Location NJ Posts 32; Thanked: 6. What's the best age to neuter Lab pup? We've had Labs before and have usually neutered them around 6 months of age. However, I had another lab owner indicate he had his Lab neutered at a year, as 6 months was too young and interfered with their growing. Hi all , today my 7 month lab puppy was neutered. my vet recommended to move to neuter dog food. obviously she recommended the brand that she supply which is royal canine, but I don't rush for it. currently I feed him with taste of the wild, should I change and look for specific ingredients… A common question among owners is “When is it too late to neuter or spay?”, as improper timing can certainly have unintended consequences to the long term health of your furry companion. You also may be wondering if you should even bother getting your new lab puppy spayed or neutered at all.