Why We Wait Until After Two Years to Spay or Neuter Our German Shepherds
What is the best age to spay or neuter a German Shepherd? This article reviews current research, including a large German Shepherd-specific study, and explains why we generally recommend waiting until physical maturity.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Citrus Grove Resources
5/8/20243 min read
Why We Wait Until After Two Years to Spay or Neuter Our German Shepherds
One of the most common questions we receive is why we recommend waiting until after two years of age before spaying or neutering a German Shepherd.
Our recommendation is based on a growing body of research suggesting that the timing of spay and neuter procedures may influence orthopedic development in some breeds, including German Shepherd Dogs.
What the Research Found
In 2016, researchers at the University of California, Davis reviewed veterinary records from 1,170 German Shepherd Dogs over a 14.5-year period.
The study found notable differences in orthopedic health depending on whether dogs remained intact or were spayed or neutered before maturity.
Males
Intact males had a 7% occurrence of one or more joint disorders.
Males neutered before one year of age had a 21% occurrence.
The most significant increase was associated with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries.
Females
Intact females had a 5% occurrence of one or more joint disorders.
Females spayed before one year of age had a 16% occurrence.
Females spayed before one year also showed an increased occurrence of urinary incontinence.
Researchers concluded that early spay and neuter procedures were associated with significantly higher rates of orthopedic disorders in German Shepherd Dogs compared with dogs left intact through maturity.
A later study examining 35 breeds of dogs expanded on this work and suggested delaying spay and neuter procedures beyond two years of age for German Shepherd Dogs because of the increased risks of joint disorders associated with earlier procedures.
Why Timing Matters
German Shepherds are a large, slow-maturing breed.
Hormones produced during normal development help regulate the closure of growth plates and contribute to proper skeletal development. When those hormones are removed early, the timing of growth may be altered, potentially affecting joint structure and increasing the risk of orthopedic issues.
Our Approach
At Citrus Grove German Shepherd Dogs, we generally recommend allowing our puppies to reach physical maturity before making permanent reproductive decisions.
This recommendation is based on current research, our own experiences with the breed, and our goal of supporting long-term structural health whenever possible.
A Note About Females
Historically, many owners have worried about pyometra and mammary cancer when considering whether to leave a female intact.
The German Shepherd-specific study found relatively low rates of these conditions and concluded that, when balancing those risks against orthopedic concerns, delaying spaying until after two years of age may be appropriate for many German Shepherd females.
Why We Chose to Wait
After reviewing the available research and discussing the information with our veterinarians, we chose to delay spay and neuter procedures in our own dogs until after physical maturity, whenever possible.
German Shepherds are a large, athletic breed that mature slowly. Because hormones play an important role in skeletal development and growth plate closure, we believe allowing dogs to fully mature before making permanent reproductive decisions is worth considering.
As every dog and family situation is unique, we encourage owners to discuss spay and neuter decisions with their veterinarian and to consider their dog's health, lifestyle, environment, and individual circumstances.
Disclaimer
We are not veterinarians. This article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Owners should consult with their veterinarian regarding decisions for their individual dog.
The recommendations discussed in this article are based largely on research conducted by Dr. Benjamin Hart and colleagues at the University of California, Davis, including both a German Shepherd-specific study published in 2016 and a larger breed comparison study published in 2020.
References
Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH. (2016). Neutering of German Shepherd Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers and Urinary Incontinence. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2(3), 191–199.
Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs (Hart et al., 2020)
Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH. (2020). Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 388.
