Neutering puppies too young can limit their growth potential.
Neutering pets is a highly recommended practice by veterinarians. Most advise neutering a pet before he is 6 months of age. While neutering a male dog has clear advantages, disadvantages exist as well. Some of the disadvantages of neutering a male dog are attributed more to neutering timing than to neutering.
Working Dog Drive
Ed Frawley, a German Shepherd breeder and trainer, states on the Leerburg Video and Kennel website: "I do not believe that any dog that is being used for personal protection, police service work or Schutzhund should be neutered (unless they are a monorchid). I may be wrong but I don't think any working dog should be neutered without a medical reason." Neutering can reduce the drive a working male dog needs to be trained.
Obesity
On average, neutered male dogs are more obese than their non-neutered counterparts. Obesity seems to be linked to an increased appetite as opposed to metabolic changes.
Allergies
Adverse vaccine reactions and allergies have been found to happen 27 percent more often in neutered male dogs. The theory is that by neutering a male before maturity, the sex hormones do not get a chance to form the immune system properly.
Cancer
While neutering a male dog has been shown to reduce the risks of prostate cancer, neutering before the age of 1 year doubles the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Specifically, larger breed males that are neutered before the age of 1 year are more prone to acquire osteosarcoma than dogs neutered after the age of 1 year.
Joints
Canines, males and females alike, neutered before 6 months of age have been found to have twice the risk of hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament injuries compared to dogs neutered after 6 months of age.
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