DESEXING GUIDELINES DOGS NEW

We understand that the decision to desex your dog can be complex.

The WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinarian Association) have recently updated their desexing guidelines. In general, there has been a change in approach from the previous blanket recommendation to desex all dogs before sexual maturity to ensure population control/unwanted pregnancy, to now one of tailoring the desexing recommendation to meet the individual patient circumstances.

We recommend having a discussion with your vet at the Juvenile Health Check to make a plan around the best time for desexing your pet.

AS A GENERAL RULE WE RECOMMEND:

Large and giant breed dogs: desexing 18 months + of age
Medium breed dogs: desexing 12-18 months for age
Small breed dogs: desexing 6 -12 months+ of age
(See Breed specific recommendations below)
Cats: desexing 6 months of age

Note: Ovary sparing techniques can be considered for some females and discussed with your vet. This procedures removes the reproductive tract but leaves 1 ovary behind. The ovary provides the sex hormones that may have some protective effect for joints and cancers in some breeds (see list below). Note the dog will stll cycle (but not bleed), and be receptive to males during heat (2 week period twice a year). The risk of pregnancy, reproductive infections and cancers (except ovarian) is removed as the reproductive tract has been removed.

PUT SIMPLY THE ADVANTAGES OF DESEXING INCLUDE STOPPING:

Unwanted pregnancy
Unwanted wandering to find a mate
Unwanted urine marking in males and in season bleeding in females
Infections in the uterus (pyometra) in females (affecting approx 4% of undesexed females) and prostate in males, which can be very serious and costly to treat compared to cost of desexing)
Eliminate the risk of many cancers of the reproductive system- ovarian, uterine, cervical, testicular (though these are not very common). Note mammary cancers can still occur in desexed females and prostatic cancer has higher incidence in desexed male dogs.

There is no clear evidence around the effect of desexing on behaviour. Desexing may reduce some testosterone induced behaviours (particularly in males) such as urine marking, dominant behaviours, territorial aggression. However for dogs displaying signs of anxiety the increase in sex hormones may in fact be helpful and delaying desexing until 1 year of age may be recommended.

DISADVANTAGES OF DESEXING

Desexing before skeletal maturity has been associated with an increased risk of joint issues (for example cruciate ligament disease, elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia) in some breeds, especially larger breeds such as German Shepherds and Labradors.
Desexed dogs have much higher rates of obesity

Early desexing may slightly increase the risk of some cancers on some breeds ( Boxer, see breed specific risk below)
Early desexing may increase the risk urinary incontinence in females (see breed specific risk below)

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR FEMALE DOGS UNDERGOING SPAYING

If your female dog is in heat, we recommend postponing her spay surgery for approximately 3-4 weeks until her heat cycle ends. During heat, increased blood flow to the ovaries and uterus makes the tissues more fragile, increasing surgical risks such as bleeding. Scheduling surgery outside of this period minimises complications.

SUMMARY OF BREED SPECIFIC RISK OF JOINT DISEASE AND CANCERS WITH EARLY DESEXING BY BREED

A study compared the rates of joint disease, cancer, urinary incontinence, uterine infections and mammary tumours in dogs desexed young and those not desexed, across various breeds. Approx 200 dogs from each breed were reviewed. The cancers analysed include lymphosarcoma, haemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumour, mammary tumours.

Breed	Increased risk of joint disease if desexed before skeletal maturity	Increased risk of cancer if desexed before skeletal maturity	other	Desexing recommendation
Australian Cattle dog	in females	nil		Desex > 6mths
Australian Shepherd	nil	nil	Can develop mammary tumours	Desex at any time Monitor mammary glands as ages
Beagel	Mild in males	nil		males < 12mths
Burnese Mountain Dog	Significant increased risk	Mild increase in females		> 2years
Border Collie	nil	increased		> 1year
Boxer	nil	Higher rates of cancer generally, slightly increased with early desexing		> 2years
Bulldog	nil	nil		6mths +
Cavilear King Charles Spaniel	nil	nil		6mths
Chihuahhua	nil	nil		6mths
Cocker Spaniel	Mild in males	Increased risk for females (Mast Cell Tumours)		> 2years
Collie	nil	Mild in females	Increased risk urinary incontinence if desexed early High rates of (pyometron) uterine infection in undesexed females	>1 year
Corgie	Increased IVDD in males	nil		Females > 6mths Males > 12mths
Dashund	nil	nil	High baseline rates IVDD no worse with early desexing	>6mths
Doberman	nil	females	High rates urinary incontinence if desexed young	females < 2years
English Spinger Spaniel	nil	nil	High rates urinary incontinence if desexed young	females < 1year
German Shepherd	yes	nil	Mild increase risk urinary incontinence	>2years
Golden Retriever	yes	High baseline rates cancer made worse with early desexing
Great Dane	nil	nil		Previous recommendation desex < 2years
Irish Wolfhound	nil	nil		Previous recommendation desex < 2years
JRT	nil	nil		6mths
Labrador	yes	nil		>12mths
Maltese	nil	nil		6mths
Miniture Shnauzer	nil	nil		6mth
Poodle, Toy	nil	nil		6mths
Poodle, Miniature	In males	nil		Females 6mths Males >12mths
Poodle, Standard	nil	In males		Males >2years Females 6-12mths
Pug	nil	nil		6mths
Rottweiler	yes	nil		>1year
Saint Bernard	females	nil	Increase risk urinary incontinence	Females >2years
Shetland Sheepdog	nil	nil	Increase risk urinary incontinence	Females >2years
Shitzue	nil	Yes females		Females > 12mths
West Highland white Terrier	nil	nil	Mild increase risk urinary incontinence	Female > 1year
Yorkshire Terrier	nil	nil		6mths

DESEXING GUIDELINES DOGS NEW

We understand that the decision to desex your dog can be complex.

AS A GENERAL RULE WE RECOMMEND:

PUT SIMPLY THE ADVANTAGES OF DESEXING INCLUDE STOPPING:

DISADVANTAGES OF DESEXING

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR FEMALE DOGS UNDERGOING SPAYING

SUMMARY OF BREED SPECIFIC RISK OF JOINT DISEASE AND CANCERS WITH EARLY DESEXING BY BREED

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