spaying a 9 week old puppy? - Page 1

Hi everyone,

I was looking at a web site for German Shepherd Dogs for adoption.  They had a few 9 week old puppies available.  They said in the ad that these pups had been spayed/neutered already.  Isn't that too early to alter a puppy?  Should a dog that young even be put under anesthesia for this?  Doesn't altering a dog so young pose risks to the health and growth of the dog?  I don't think I would want to take a puppy that has been altered so early in life.  They are really cute, but I can't help but wonder what problems they might be facing in their future because of this.  I have already decided not to neuter Ryder now if even ever.  He doesn't have  access to free roam and even neutering at 6 months seems early to me.  I have read about pros and cons and think it best to just leave the boy intact.  He agrees!

Doing rescue I can tell you yes spay/neuters are done all the time at 8 - 9 weeks of age.  Many states require the dog be altered prior to placement or placed with a deposit to be refunded upon reciept of the paperwork that a spay/neuter has been done.  It must be done by 7 months of age.  It is perfectly safe to do the surgery, the anesthesia used now is the same they use on humans.  The trickiest part of the surgery is learning the technique which is somewhat different than the procedure done on a mature dog.  The puppies bounce back almost immediately without the recovery time required by older dogs.

Now do I really think it is ideal to alter at that age - no, I would prefer the dog to mature first but when dealing with shelter/rescue medicine they approach the problem of overpopulation differently.  And as we all know far to many people are not responsible for their pets which is
why rescues and shelters are so over run.
As long as you are responsible, do not let your dogs roam and/or reproduce as will I see no reason to spay or neuter - unfortunately to few people are that responsible.

That is correct, a friend of mine that works at a shelter says they do it all the time with no problems.  I sure don't agree with it that young, but it's done all the time.

my experience has been females altered very early are not as bad about fighting with other females.  I would be interested to hear if others have experienced the same thing.

We have a rescue boston terrier that was spayed when they got him from a puppy mill at 8 weeks old. His bladder never matured properly. Someone got him and was not home during the day and he was not capable of holding it all day so they stuck baby diapers on him and by time I got my hands on him he has no hair on his back half and diaper rash from sitting in wet diapers. He does not mess in the house as long as he gets out every two hours. I work from home so I am able to do this for him and he has been living a happy life.

Sure spaying and neutering is done all the time at that age. Kinda of a really bad approach to the big problem of unwanted animals though. Lets increase there chance's of cancer, urinary incontinence and growth issues and host of others so we don't have full shelters. Probably past time to rethink this one. 

 

ILGSDs experience is most likely not an oddball, I remember reading something as to females altered early are %'ly more fearful which I guess would also translate into also being less aggressive.

 

Best not to go monkeyn around with the design unless there is a real good reason. If said reason exist's, try and wait until full growth is reached. These seems to be the best advice I can find, and its the one I offer as well.

 

My opinion only

This is how nature intended them to be, they are complete body, mind and spirit. Unless medically necessary, No I wouldn't not at that age. I know it is done all time by vets all over the world, does not make it right.


spay/neuter effects the proper development of the animal