When to Neuter and Spay your Beagle

Neutering can be used to correctly describe the alteration of a male or female to make it unable to reproduce and so from now on I will use “neuter” or “neutering” which will cover both neuter and spay for male and female Beagles.

The main reason for neutering is to be sure that unwanted litters do not occur and to stop reproductive cancers from shortening the life of your dog.

Producing unwanted litters, or litters that are not aimed specifically to improve the breed, would increase the unwanted pet population.

Unwanted Pet Population -

Pet owners have been under the impression that there continues to be a huge overpopulation problem in the United States. This is a skewed opinion, not fact, and normally no longer the case.

Responsible breeders will always be willing to take back any dog that they have produced, if the owner is no longer able (or willing) to keep it. They normally include the stipulation that it must be returned to them in their contract and normally have a fairly long waiting list for their puppies.

The largest number of unwanted pets are the Bully Breeds, who are currently being produced as “muscle” dogs. Bully breeds most commonly seen in rescues/shelters are Pit Bulls, French Bulldogs, Exotic Bulldogs, American Bulldogs or mixes. These breeds, and crosses, are currently flooding the dog market and rescues/shelters due to excessive and irresponsible over-breeding.

The other group of dogs that is also a concern are the Hound and Hunting Breeds. These include Beagles for rabbit hunting, various Coonhound Breeds for Racoon hunting and Fox Hounds. Other Breeds and mixes for other game are Plot Hound, Mountain Cur, Terriers, Pointers and Bully Breeds. These breeds are often abandoned, or lost, by irresponsible hunters or breeders.

Though there are some poorly managed areas of the country, where large numbers of unwanted pets are a problem flooding local shelters, the number of pets produced are now equal to the number of wanted pets in this country. Many are still euthanized however due to poor temperament and inability to be compatible with a family as a companion.

Though no one wants unwanted puppies to be produced, it should not be a crutch that veterinarians continue to lean on to scare families into spaying their Beagle too early.

Reproductive Cancer -

Though testicular, ovarian, mammary and other “reproductive” cancers are a true concern they are mostly found in particular breeding lines of dogs that are genetically prone to it. I am not saying that a “clean” line of dogs can not suddenly produce a dog with reproductive cancer. There is always a chance of health issues when dealing with living animals. What I am saying is that if you know that your Beagle has been produced by a responsible breeder it significantly reduces the chance of these, or any, types of cancer. Breeders that actually care about their breed; the dogs in their program and the puppies they place, would take strong measures to exclude any cancer from their dogs and this mode of responsible breeding has been happening for hundreds of generations to this point. A veterinarian, knowing that you have purchased a well bred Beagle from a breeder that truly cares about the health, should not lean on this excuse as a reason to spay early either.

Research Confirms That Early Neutering Is Not Recommended -

Desexing removes hormone-producing organs (the ovaries or testicles) that researchers are now finding are actually quite important to overall health. Studies also indicate that the earlier a puppy is spayed or neutered, the greater the likelihood of health problems later in life.

Research confirms that gonad removal in male and female dogs can lead to life-altering issues. These include obesity, urinary incontinence, various more aggressive cancers, abnormal bone growth, hip and elbow dysplasia, ligament injuries, thyroid issues, immune related diseases, more aggressive cancers, adverse reactions to vaccines and even cognitive and behavioral issues.

One thing is clear – much of the spay/neuter information that is available to the public is unbalanced and contains claims that are exaggerated or unsupported by evidence.

The traditional spay/neuter age of six months as well as the modern practice of pediatric spay/neuter appear to predispose dogs to health risks that could otherwise be avoided by waiting until the dog is physically mature, or perhaps in the case of many male dogs, foregoing it altogether unless medically necessary.

So when do you neuter/spay?

It is recommended to neuter no sooner than 12 months of age. Most females from my breeding program line do not come into season any earlier than 12 months of age, and usually 14-16 months. The chances are that you will not have to live through a female estrus cycle and bleeding, but it still can happen.

Males will not, all of a sudden, turn into raging hormonal monsters. They won’t begin lifting their leg on everything in the house, fighting with other dogs or biting people. That doesn’t happen when properly socialized and trained. Some males can be a bit more protective over their property and people, but if your male does not have any breeding experience they do not suddenly change. The only exception to this rule of not neutering until the male is 12 months or older, is if your male puppy has a retained testicle and where that “lost” testicle is located. This will determine how old the puppy should be at the age of neuter, but both should be removed regardless of its location. I would not neuter any earlier than 8 months for any reason personally.