The short answer is yes. But the more important question is when?
Recent guidelines suggest the ideal time to spay or neuter your pet depends on their size and breed:
- Small dogs and cats: Spay or neuter around 6 months of age.
- Medium to large dogs: Wait until they’re close to one year.
- Giant breeds (like Great Danes): Wait until they’re closer to two years.
For medium to large dogs, delaying spaying or neutering allows their joints, growth plates, and bones time to fully develop. However, after the age of two, the risks of leaving your pet intact often outweigh any benefits.
Benefits of Spaying Your Female Dog:
- Cancer Prevention: Spaying a female dog before her first heat cycle significantly reduces her risk of developing mammary cancer later in life (less than 1%). The risk increases with each heat cycle — 8% after the first, and 26% after the second.
- Vaginal Tumors: Female dogs spayed before 2 years of age are unlikely to develop vaginal tumors, which, though often benign, can be painful and cause complications. Treatment typically requires invasive surgery or chemotherapy.
- Pyometra Prevention: Intact female dogs are at risk for pyometra, a serious uterine infection that often requires costly emergency surgery and hospitalization.
- Behavior and Pregnancy: Spaying also eliminates the risk of unwanted pregnancies and the unwanted behaviors that come with being in heat.
Benefits of Neutering Your Male Dog:
- Cancer Prevention: Neutering your male dog early can reduce the risk of developing prostatic cancer to just 8%. More than 60% of dogs diagnosed with this aggressive cancer are intact males, and the prognosis is poor, with many dogs euthanized at the time of diagnosis.
- Prostatic Hyperplasia: Testosterone can lead to prostatic hyperplasia — a non-cancerous growth of prostate tissue that can cause urinary problems. Neutering helps prevent this condition.
- Perineal Hernias: Older intact males are more likely to develop perineal hernias, where pelvic muscles weaken and abdominal organs slip through. This requires expensive and invasive surgery, which could be avoided by neutering.
- Behavioral Risks: Intact males are more likely to wander in search of a mate, increasing their chances of being struck by a car.
Spaying and Neutering for Cats:
- Female Cats: Intact females are at risk for mammary carcinomas after even one heat cycle, and can also develop pyometra, often requiring surgery.
- Male Cats: Intact males may exhibit problematic behaviors and are also prone to perineal hernias.
The Cost Comparison:
The average cost of spaying or neutering your dog is around $500. In contrast, the cost of emergency surgery for complications like pyometra or a perineal hernia can exceed $8,000, with potential for serious risks and complications.
For Breeding Animals:
Dogs and cats that are actively bred should still be spayed or neutered after they retire from breeding.
Dr. Samantha Gans, DVM, Medical Director
Dr. Samantha Gans is originally from the East Coast. Dr. Gans first gained an interest in veterinary medicine after spending a week visiting a very special black lab, Squirrel-Fish, who was being treated at the local emergency vet clinic. She left the coast to complete her Bachelors in Animal Science at KSU. From there she moved with her husband and son, Colton, to Arizona and obtained her DVM from Midwestern University. Having great appreciation for the low humidity here, they decided to stay. Dr. Gans is interested in emergency medicine, ophthalmology, and pain management. She has a special place in her heart for furry geriatric companions and keeping the human-animal bond strong through all their years. In her free time she enjoys mountain biking, camping, and swimming with her family. She has a dog named Trixie and a cat named Nash.
