[joanne76]

I was just in the Breeders thread and read a post saying that all her pups are desexed before going to new homes.

What is the youngest age you can desex dogs? would the breed or size of the dog make a difference? Would a Labrador be able to be desexed earlier than a Chi?

I work in cat rescue and we get kittens desexed at about 8 weeks but for some reason i thought it was different for dogs.

Thanks in advance for answering my question.

jo

[WreckitWhippet]

8 or ten weeks, depending on the vet

[joanne76]

So that is the same as kittens.

Thanks Again

[MolassesLass]

My vet won't do them unless they are 6 weeks or older and 1kg or heavier (yes, similar to kittens).

This post has been edited by molasseslass: 06 July 2009 - 12:46 PM

[Borderpower]

molasseslass, on 6th Jul 2009 - 12:16 PM, said:

My vet won't do them unless they are 6 weeks or older and 1kg or heavier (yes, similar to kittens).

Yep same...
Normally 6 weeks plus

[Aussienot]

Two criteria must be met as a minimum (AWL criteria for desexing) : 8 weeks plus 1 Kilo in weight, to make the sedation safer. So yes, the larger the animal the more likely they will be at 1 kilo at 8 weeks. I can usually tell a "kilo" kitty just by lifting.

[sandgrubber]

Can and want to may be different. I don't like to desex before six months because it changes the way the dog grows, and the chance of complications (eg incontinence) is higher with early desexing.

[Kirty]

Actually sandgrubber, there is no difference between desexing at 6 months and desexing at 8 weeks. If you want to prevent growth differences, you need to wait until the dog is mature (12-24 months). I read a paper on this recently but can't find the link now. Will get my friend to email it to me if anyone wants to read it.

[Kyra]

Kyra was desexed at 8 or 9 weeks.. can't fully remember, she was a rescue and had to be done before she came to me. She hasn't had any problems, however we bought our sharpei from a registered breeder who told us its best to wait until he's 18 months to desex him and all i had was problems, he was trying to hump kyra and all sorts of crap so he lost his bits about a fortnight ago now.
Much prefer them to be done as pups, they recover quicker and there's no dramas.

[Ams]

Kyra, on 6th Jul 2009 - 09:22 PM, said:

Kyra was desexed at 8 or 9 weeks.. can't fully remember, she was a rescue and had to be done before she came to me. She hasn't had any problems, however we bought our sharpei from a registered breeder who told us its best to wait until he's 18 months to desex him and all i had was problems, he was trying to hump kyra and all sorts of crap so he lost his bits about a fortnight ago now.
Much prefer them to be done as pups, they recover quicker and there's no dramas.

My shelter likes having smaller puppies, like chi's desexed at a slightly older age so they get done at 12 weeks. (My two Lhasa Apso X fosters go back this am YAY).

[Teebs]

My vet will do anything as long as it is 1kg or heavier.

[BittyMooPeeb]

Vets round here generally dont desex until 6 months old. It would be great if the effects of early desexing was the subject of some good studies, so we knew for sure which school of thought was the more correct.

[willis08]

BittyMooPeeb, on 7th Jul 2009 - 11:30 AM, said:

Vets round here generally dont desex until 6 months old. It would be great if the effects of early desexing was the subject of some good studies, so we knew for sure which school of thought was the more correct.

There is some really interesting reading on this from vets in the U.S , especially on large breeds that are de-sexed before they have finished growing.

[callee]

willis08, on 7th Jul 2009 - 11:39 AM, said:

BittyMooPeeb, on 7th Jul 2009 - 11:30 AM, said:

Vets round here generally dont desex until 6 months old. It would be great if the effects of early desexing was the subject of some good studies, so we knew for sure which school of thought was the more correct.

There is some really interesting reading on this from vets in the U.S , especially on large breeds that are de-sexed before they have finished growing.

I'd love to read this, do you have link?

[willis08]

callee, on 7th Jul 2009 - 12:12 PM, said:

willis08, on 7th Jul 2009 - 11:39 AM, said:

BittyMooPeeb, on 7th Jul 2009 - 11:30 AM, said:

Vets round here generally dont desex until 6 months old. It would be great if the effects of early desexing was the subject of some good studies, so we knew for sure which school of thought was the more correct.

There is some really interesting reading on this from vets in the U.S , especially on large breeds that are de-sexed before they have finished growing.

I'd love to read this, do you have link?

I can't remember the site, I googled " dog neutering side effects "