Our Spay/Neuter Guidelines
When to spay/neuter your puppy/dog has/is an ongoing debate among vets and breeders. Our veterinarian fully supports our guidelines in our spay/neuter contract.
Here are some of the reasons we require 8-12 months. With the female having at least one heat cycle before spay and males closer to 12 months.
When Should I Spay My Dog?
Now that we’ve established how important it is to spay your female dog, we should discuss how to time the procedure.
There is most certainly such a thing as spaying your dog at the wrong time—in particular, too early while she’s too young—and it’s something that you should work to avoid at all costs. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. That said, it’s wise to let your dog go through one heat cycle so she can get those hormones running through her system. Your dog’s ideal time to spay will also be based on her breed and size, so it’s best to work closely with a veterinarian to determine when is the right time.
https://www.intermountainpet.com/blog/news-flash-you-can-spay-your-dog-too-early
Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence.
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/health-risks-of-early-spay-neuter/
The American Kennel Club® opposes laws that mandate the spaying/neutering of dogs. Spaying/Neutering are major surgeries and the decision to spay or neuter a dog should be made by the dog’s owner in conjunction with their veterinarian. Recent scientific studies demonstrate that spaying/neutering, particularly before a dog is fully mature, may result in detrimental long-term health impacts. In light of this information, AKC encourages breeders, owners and veterinarians to consult on the appropriateness and timing of spaying or neutering an individual dog.
“Dr. Hart’s landmark study is the first to provide evidence for when to spay or neuter dogs. For years the veterinary community has been aware that early-spay and neuter may impact orthopedic health in dogs. Through a very detailed analysis and inclusion of body condition score as a risk factor, Dr. Hart was able to show that timing of spay and neuter does indeed have health implications,” said Dr. Shila Nordone, Chief Scientific Officer for the AKC Canine Health Foundation.
http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/news/health-implications-in-early.html?