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.
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Working Dog Drive
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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