I was very happy when I saw the post above. Sally is sharing my super fact 21: Superfact 21: It is often recommended that you should neuter or spay your dog by the age of 6 months even as early as 8 weeks. This may be OK for some smaller breeds but is dangerous to the health and longevity of many larger breeds. In addition, she is promoting my Leonberger dog book for which Robbie wrote a great review. Thank you so much Sally and Robbie. Please visit her post at the Smorgasbord blog magazine and read it.
My name is Thomas Wikman. I am a software/robotics engineer with a background in physics. I am currently retired. I took early retirement. I am a dog lover, and especially a Leonberger lover, a home brewer, craft beer enthusiast, I’m learning French, and I am an avid reader. I live in Dallas, Texas, but I am originally from Sweden. I am married to Claudia, and we have three children. I have two blogs. The first feature the crazy adventures of our Leonberger Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle as well as information on Leonbergers. The second blog, superfactful, feature information and facts I think are very interesting. With this blog I would like to create a list of facts that are accepted as true among the experts of the field and yet disputed amongst the public or highly surprising. These facts are special and in lieu of a better word I call them super-facts.
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26 thoughts on “Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Share Superfact 21 – Neutering or spaying a dog at 6 months old can be dangerous to their health depending on breed”
I loved the post and sent my comment there, Thomas XX
Thank you so much Jacqui. It was also something I did not know until our Leonberger breeder explained it too us and then I looked it up, read some reasearch, and talked to people knowledgable about Leonberger and dog health at the Leonberger Club of America.
This is absolutely wonderful!
It’s fantastic to see your important health facts and your Leonberger book getting such well-deserved love and support from Sally and Robbie.
Vets can give conflicting advice…………….. spay/ neuter at 6 months, with bitches after first heat or after first litter. Maya, Maggie, Kizzy and Babs were not spayed, and Barney was not neutered. It was a personal thing on our part, but had it been a medical issue, we would not have hesitated. We have heard of several instances where dogs have had a complete change of character after neutering, one woman’s GSD bitch becoming insecure, clingy and experienced separation anxiety. Neighbours opposite had their bitch spayed because they didn’t want the mess and it would calm her down. It didn’t.
It may be a complicated decision for rescue centers because there are so many irresponsible owners who let the dogs run loose causing unwanted pregnancies. However, for responsible owners, like us, it is an easier decision. Depending on breed it can really harm their health if done too early and scientists have figured out which breeds and how long you should wait. We waited almost two years with our Leonberger Bronco based on the advice and insistence by our breeder, who is arguably North America’s most reputable Leonberger breeder.
Java Bean: “Ayyy, thank you for helping to get this word out! I was a street dog until I was about one so I got past the six-month cutoff, but many dogs do not.”Charlee: “Six month cutoff. We see what you did there.”
“Six month cutoff. We see what you did there.” — ha ha I see it too Charlee. Very clever Java Bean. I am sorry you were a street dog for so long, Java Bean, but at least there was a silver lining.
The science around pet health sure has evolved in the 30 years since we got our first pair of dogs. Tucker and Trixie were both neutered early and while they both lived to good ages (15 and 16, respectively), Tucker in particular was plagued by weird autoimmune issues for the last five or six years of his life and no one could ever figure out why.
Yes you are James. These things we did not know 30 years ago. The Leonberger Health Foundation International has done a lot of health related research, or rather paid people who do that research. A lot of things have been discovered about dog health.
I loved the post and sent my comment there, Thomas XX
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That is great. Thank you for doing that Cindy.
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That is a good post. When to spay/neuter is something I think about with each of our dogs so I appreciate the guidance.
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Thank you so much Jacqui. It was also something I did not know until our Leonberger breeder explained it too us and then I looked it up, read some reasearch, and talked to people knowledgable about Leonberger and dog health at the Leonberger Club of America.
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This is absolutely wonderful!
It’s fantastic to see your important health facts and your Leonberger book getting such well-deserved love and support from Sally and Robbie.
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Thank you so much Luisa and I am certainly very happy about the attention my book gets and for Sally’s kind support.
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You are so very welcome!
Wishing you all the best! 📚
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And Robbie of course. I really appreciate it.
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🙏🌹🙏
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Congrats! I remember this post.
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Thank you so much Denise
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Vets can give conflicting advice…………….. spay/ neuter at 6 months, with bitches after first heat or after first litter. Maya, Maggie, Kizzy and Babs were not spayed, and Barney was not neutered. It was a personal thing on our part, but had it been a medical issue, we would not have hesitated. We have heard of several instances where dogs have had a complete change of character after neutering, one woman’s GSD bitch becoming insecure, clingy and experienced separation anxiety. Neighbours opposite had their bitch spayed because they didn’t want the mess and it would calm her down. It didn’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be a complicated decision for rescue centers because there are so many irresponsible owners who let the dogs run loose causing unwanted pregnancies. However, for responsible owners, like us, it is an easier decision. Depending on breed it can really harm their health if done too early and scientists have figured out which breeds and how long you should wait. We waited almost two years with our Leonberger Bronco based on the advice and insistence by our breeder, who is arguably North America’s most reputable Leonberger breeder.
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I think Rescue Centres have their hands full and do their best. Some vets here offer discounts for dogs or free neutering for cats to rescue centres.
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Yes you are right and deeply admire people who volunteer at rescue centers
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Java Bean: “Ayyy, thank you for helping to get this word out! I was a street dog until I was about one so I got past the six-month cutoff, but many dogs do not.”Charlee: “Six month cutoff. We see what you did there.”
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“Six month cutoff. We see what you did there.” — ha ha I see it too Charlee. Very clever Java Bean. I am sorry you were a street dog for so long, Java Bean, but at least there was a silver lining.
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Very interesting post, I think this is why it’s so vital to do your research before as well as after getting a pet.
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Thank you so much Pooja. There’s been a lot of interesting dog and pet research lately.
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I’m glad there is, pets deserve a good life and with that sort of research people can provide it for them.
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Yes I certainly agree with you Pooja
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congratulations, Thomas. It is great that Sally is helping to spread your content and messaging.
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Thank you so much Robbie. Yes I am very grateful she does that.
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😊
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The science around pet health sure has evolved in the 30 years since we got our first pair of dogs. Tucker and Trixie were both neutered early and while they both lived to good ages (15 and 16, respectively), Tucker in particular was plagued by weird autoimmune issues for the last five or six years of his life and no one could ever figure out why.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes you are James. These things we did not know 30 years ago. The Leonberger Health Foundation International has done a lot of health related research, or rather paid people who do that research. A lot of things have been discovered about dog health.
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