At What Age Should I Neuter My Tibetan Terrier Puppy?
Question: I have a male 5 mo old Tibetan Terrier puppy. I am attempting to determine the optimal age for neutering. I wrote to Dr. Mary C. Wakeman of the Ashford Animal Clinic in CT, but no response. She is of the school that neutering should only be done in males who have male-to-male dog to dog agression. I have read opinions favoring waiting for maturity to favor proper skeletal development, etc. I have had early neutered dogs before who have continued urine marking through life so I understand that neutering prevents this only 50% of the time.
I do NOT want to compromise his growth - he cannot get out of our fenced yard and I am VERY responsible….so although the politically correct option is early neutering to prevent unwanted puppies this is not a risk with us. Tibetans grow solid compact bodies and it’s important to me to choose the most healthy age. Some Tibetan Terrier breeders suggest not until the first year of age….some say later. Dr. Wakeman claims that “castration predisposes to highly malignant prostatic cancer.” She says nearly all dogs who get this tumor are neutered dogs. I would like to know if breeders allow their male dogs to roam inside the house…and do they urine mark in their own homes? Or for that matter in any one else’s homes. I had a Havanese neutered male who urinated on a woman’s back while we were watching a horse show in France (she was sitting on the lawn) - from Violet
We encourage you to share your "dog wisdom" - Please Feel FREE to Help Answer this Dog Question!!Answer: Violet, you have obviously done your research on this subject, and I hope to add some relevant information for you to consider.
Your exactly correct, neutering a male dog does not cure the “marking” issue that all male dog owners have experienced. You probably have the most interesting story about this that I have heard! :) In fact, neutering does not appear to have any impact on behaviour of the male dog - no matter the age the puppy was when fixed.
Lets look briefly at the risks associated with leaving a male intact - testicular cancer, benign prostate enlargement, greater risk of being attacked by other intact males and other testoterone induced problems. I understand from your statement, that you did intend to neuter your dog, you just want to understand the best time to get it done.
One of your concerns was the growth of your puppy. A 1991 study (see reference below) of neutering of immature dogs, and the effects of behavioral and physical development. This study specifically compared the effects of netuering puppies at seven weeks vs. seven moths of age. They found the neutering at either age produced similar effects on physical, skeletal and behavioral development. Furthermore, neutering did not affect food quantity intake or weight gain.
This study further found that it did not affect the activity level of the dogs. In fact the owners of the neutered dogs actually reported that their dogs appeared to have more energy than the intact males.
The most important thing for you to take from this study is that fact that early neutering does not stunt the growth, it was actually the opposite, it contributes to growth enhancement!
Here is the citation on the growth aspect:
Bone growth ceases when the physiologic growth plates located at the ends of immature bones “close.” Growth plate closure of the radius and ulna (forelimb bones) occurred three months later (in seven-month-old neuters) to four months later (in seven-week-old neuters) in neutered puppies versus their sexually intact litter males. The result is that the forelimb bones of neutered puppies were a fraction of an inch longer than those of the unneutered pups.
This could be important to you, if you want the optimum build for your breed.
I have read some of the information from Dr. Wakeman - and while she has good opinions, I don’t see any scientific studies like the one cited below to backup her information.
From the research I have done, it appears that most breeders do in fact let their intact males roam their homes. Some seem to have problems with ‘marking’, while others never, or rarely, have that problem.
Be sure and review all the options, benefits, and risks with your own veterinarian.
1. Salmeri KR, Bloomberg MS, Scruggs SL, Shille V. Gonadectomy in immature dogs: Effects on skeletal, physical, and behavioral development. JAVMA 1991;198:1193-1203.
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February 27th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
The TT puppy question above is mine. Yes, I am familiar with the growth plate process. I know that the bones grow a fraction of an inch longer in the neutered (pre-puberty) male…..I also have understood by the writings I have read that the bones while a little longer - are not as solid and robust - but weaker. I also have read that the chest development is compromised (but to be clear - the writer was referring to large breed dogs). Then again there is what I call the “mystery factor” - and that is the effect of testosterone on the development of other areas of the body - that have not been well researched. It would seem that a compromise might be to wait until the dog is fully mature - and that leaves the question of when that is…..It seems that all breeders of TTs agree that the TT is “slow to mature”. Other writers say that big breeds may not be mature until they are two years old….that the only way to tell is the presence of sperm …….(I dread the thought of how they determine that!). One breeder suggests that one can tell that all TTs are slow to mature by when their 2nd teeth come in……well, Shai-Ming is right on time with most other puppies…he has already shed teeth and growing new ones. I read all the time of the importance of testosterone in the human male…….rather recently advocated is supplementation. I am wondering how much conditions like hip displasia may be affected by
low testosterone in the male dog……..
Violet Weinberg