Many new dog owners find themselves asking the question “at what age should I neuter my puppy?”
While it really isn’t recommended to perform such a procedure on a newborn puppy, it is absolutely best to have the surgery performed before your puppy reaches sexual maturity.
The ASPCA answers the question “at what age should I neuter my puppy,” by stating that it should take place before puppies reach sixth months of age. Doing it at this time helps to avoid behavior problems associated with not neutering your dog.
Regarding male puppies, when they are eight weeks old, their testicles have fully descended. This is a required condition before surgery can take place. According to the ASPCA, spaying and neutering can occur as early as eight weeks. However, the specific breed and the physical health and maturation of the puppy also plays a role in determining “at what age should I neuter my puppy.”
Common Concerns About Neutering Dogs
Many people are worried that if they have their puppies neutered too soon, that the procedure will negatively affect her personality and/or physical development. We, at Sarasota Veterinary Center can help ease your fears or concerns. There’s a myth that has floated around for ages that neutering male dogs will hinder their playfulness. This is not true, for being playful is a general characteristic of domesticated canines. You can rest assured that your pup will play throughout his lifetime!
Considerations for Early Neutering
To further answer the concern “at what age should I neuter my puppy,” there are suggestions that early neutering will help to deter the development of negative behavior patterns, such as:
- Male aggression upon sexual maturation
- The desire to escape and roam neighborhoods, which can lead to fights and
- Territorial marking
There is no guarantee that early neutering will fix or prevent all of these problems. You’ll want to introduce and consistently reinforce training to deter undesirable behavior.