Updated November 28, 2020
Whether you call it neuter, spay, castrate or desex, there’s been a lot of debate about the right time to get it done in dogs. That’s because it varies from breed to breed. Recently, a study was published on the best age for neutering in all three Poodle breeds.
While the paper isn’t perfect (more on that later), it does provide the first evidence for Poodles on choosing a time of desexing with the fewest health problems. The study compared dogs neutered at different ages for their rates of:
- joint disorders: hip dysplasia (HD), cruciate ligament injury (CCL) and elbow dysplasia (ED)
- cancers: lymphoma (LSA), mast cell tumour (MCT), haemangiosarcoma (HSA), osteosarcoma (OSA)
- urinary incontinence (UI)
All of these have been suspected to be linked with the age of neutering. Here’s what they found (only bold values are significant, after the six tables you will find my summary):
Toy Poodles
HD | CCL | ED | At Least One | |
Male < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Male 6 – 11 months | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) |
Male 1 year | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) |
Male 2 – 8 years | 0/10 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/10 (0) |
Male Intact | 1/49 (2.04) | 1/49 (2.04) | 0/49 (0) | 2/49 (4.08) |
Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Female 6 – 11 months | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) |
Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/11 (0) |
Female 2 – 8 years | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) |
Female Intact | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) |
LSA | MCT | HSA | OSA | At Least One | |
Male < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Male 6 – 11 months | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) |
Male 1 year | 0/9 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/9 (0) |
Male 2 – 8 years | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) |
Male Intact | 1/50 (2) | 0/49 (0) | 0/49 (0) | 0/49 (0) | 1/50 (2) |
Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Female 6 – 11 months | 0/28 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/28 (0) |
Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) |
Female 2 – 8 years | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) |
Female Intact | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) |
Miniature Poodles
HD | CCL | ED | At Least One | |
Male < 6 months | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) † |
Male 6 – 11 months | 0/23 (0) | 2/24 (8.33) | 0/24 (0) | 2/23 (8.7) † |
Male 1 year | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) |
Male 2 – 8 years | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Male Intact | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) |
Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Female 6 – 11 months | 0/23 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/23 (0) |
Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) |
Female 2 – 8 years | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) |
Female Intact | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) |
LSA | MCT | HSA | OSA | At Least One | |
Male < 6 months | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) |
Male 6 – 11 months | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) |
Male 1 year | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) |
Male 2 – 8 years | 0/13 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/13 (0) |
Male Intact | 1/42 (2.38) | 1/41 (2.44) | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) | 2/42 (4.76) |
Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
Female 6 – 11 months | 0/22 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/22 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/21 (0) |
Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) |
Female 2 – 8 years | 1/16 (6.25) | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 1/15 (6.67) |
Female Intact | 0/29 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/29 (0) |
Standard Poodles
HD | CCL | ED | At Least One | |
Male < 6 months | 2/24 (8.33) | 0/25 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 2/24 (8.33) |
Male 6 – 11 months | 0/38 (0) | 1/38 (2.63) | 0/38 (0) | 1/38 (2.63) |
Male 1 year | 0/16 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 0/16 (0) |
Male 2 – 8 years | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) |
Male Intact | 1/47 (2.13) | 0/47 (0) | 0/47 (0) | 1/47 (2.13) |
Female < 6 months | 0/17 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/17 (0) |
Female 6 – 11 months | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/31 (0) | 0/29 (0) |
Female 1 year | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) |
Female 2 – 8 years | 0/28 (0) | 0/28 (0) | 0/28 (0) | 0/28 (0) |
Female Intact | 1/53 (1.89) | 0/52 (0) | 0/53 (0) | 1/52 (1.92) |
LSA | MCT | HSA | OSA | At Least One | |
Male < 6 months | 2/25 (8) | 0/25 (0) | 0/25 (0) | 0/25 (0) | 2/25 (8) |
Male 6 – 11 months | 0/37 (0) | 0/38 (0) | 1/36 (2.78) | 0/37 (0) | 1/36 (2.78) |
Male 1 year | 4/16 (25) | 0/16 (0) | 0/15 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 4/15 (26.67) |
Male 2 – 8 years | 0/8 (0) | 0/7 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/7 (0) |
Male Intact | 1/47 (2.13) | 1/47 (2.13) | 0/47 (0) | 0/47 (0) | 2/47 (4.26) |
Female < 6 months | 0/17 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/17 (0) |
Female 6 – 11 months | 1/31 (3.23) | 0/31 (0) | 0/31 (0) | 0/31 (0) | 1/31 (3.23) |
Female 1 year | 1/9 (11.11) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 1/9 (11.11) |
Female 2 – 8 years | 0/26 (0) | 0/27 (0) | 1/28 (3.57) | 0/28 (0) | 1/25 (4) |
Female Intact | 1/53 (1.89) | 0/53 (0) | 0/53 (0) | 0/53 (0) | 1/53 (1.89) |
UI was reported in only one Miniature Poodle spayed under 6 months and one Standard Poodle spayed after 2 years.
Summary: The Best Poodle Spay & Neuter Times
As the findings are different, I will consider each breed separately.
Toy Poodle
There is minimal evidence that Toy Poodle health problems are influenced by the age of neutering. Owners of either sex are therefore free to choose the age of desexing that suits them best.
Recommendation: 6 months for both sexes.
Miniature Poodle
Male Miniatures had an increase in CCL problems when castrated under 12 months of age. There is minimal evidence that female Toy Poodle health problems are influenced by the age of neutering.
Recommendation: 6 months for females, 1 year for males. However, this late decision may be influenced by:
- local neutering legislation
- risk of male dog aggression to children or urine marking behaviour
- health problems associated with intact dogs
Standard Poodle
No joint problems were associated with the age of desexing. Male Standard Poodles desexed between 1 and 2 years of age had an increased rate of lymphoma.
Recommendation: 6 -11 months for both sexes.
Problems With This Study
In the original paper, the authors appear to make some recommendations based on very limited evidence. I have published the original study data so you can see the actual numbers involved and decide for yourself.
The authors also do not mention the well-known increase in lifespan associated with desexing male and female dogs, which tends to counteract most concerns about specific cancers. The following comment in the paper is a clue that it might also have been true for this population:
Across all breeds the mean age of last entry in the record for neutered males was 5.5 years (range 3.71–6.54), for neutered females 5.7 years (range 4.21–6.97), for intact males 4.9 (range 4.15–7.11), and intact females 4.7 (range 3.41–6.32)
The study tries to also look at the rates of mammary cancer & pyometra in females, but cannot give an accurate assessment for two reasons:
- the mean ages listed above are far too young to pick up most cases
- pyometra and mammary cancer are rarely referred to university hospitals
Regardless of any concerns, the authors are to be applauded to bringing into focus one of the most common questions from dog owners. For the Poodle at least, they’ve made the decision a lot easier.
Related: Best Desexing Age For 35 Breeds | Desexing Choices For Dogs | Costs Of Desexing
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. These blogs are from a series regularly posted on email and Twitter. Subscribe via email here to never miss a story!
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