What age to neuter a sterile male?

[admin]

Growth zones in long bones (legs!) close at the onset of puberty. Wait as long as you dare (and if he spays once or twice that will stop with castation.
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Per..I guess vets are like docs...some agree on some things an not on others??? LOL!!!

 

[Pam Flachs]

I think Alisha answered...

Ooops...missed it :}

 

[Dantes]

Stuff like this is what has me scared:

" The researchers also found that complete penile extrusion was possible in all the control intact cats at 22 months of age. However, complete extrusion was possible in only 60% of the cats altered at 7 months and in none of the cats altered at 7 weeks. The balanopreputial fold is an androgen-dependent membrane that connects the preputial mucosa to the penile mucosa at birth. The longterm significance of incomplete penile extrusion is unknown."

My DSH had urinary tract issues resulting in PU surgery. Dante now has urinary tract issues. Their issue probably have nothing to do with the age they were neutered, but who knows? All I want is for him to be as healthy as possible.

 

[Dantes]

The earlier you neuter, the earlier the hormones are removed, so the growth plates don't necessarily fuse at the correct times which can in turn allow the bones to grow a little bit longer than if you had not neutered early. In dogs it is recommended to spay/neuter after the growth plates close unless there are marking issues that are untrainable. In cats I do not think we can train them not to spray, so most people do it before 6 months of age to prevent spraying.

Generally, animals that are s/n after growth plates close will have stockier bodies.

Both my cats were neutered very young. Solo around 10 weeks, Kronos at either 8 or 9 weeks.

According to the article, there wasn't much difference in fusion of growth plates for cats neutered at 7 weeks vs 7 months. Unless I read wrong. But what you said above is what I always thought.

 

[Wyldthingz]

I don't think earlier or later is really a big deal. My vet likes cats later. I don't think there has been much research done on the pros- and-cons with cats. More with dogs. A neuter is such a non-evasive procedure as they do not need general anesthetic like a spay would- it isn't a big change. I have mostly just brought them home and let them loose and they hardly know what hit them.

 

[Trish Allearz]

We neutered Simon the week after he came home- so probably around 16 weeks.

 

[Laura W]

My vet neuter before 6 months. Didn't ask why, maybe I should. I don't want Dolos (the Bengal) to spray, so I wanted to do it early as possible.

 

[Patti]

I neuter my male kittens that are going to pet homes before they leave, so between 12-14 weeks. I have never had an issue with any of them as far as early neuter. The rescue clinic will neuter and spay as early as five weeks or age or 2lbs weight.

 

[Laura W]

I neuter my male kittens that are going to pet homes before they leave, so between 12-14 weeks. I have never had an issue with any of them as far as early neuter. The rescue clinic will neuter and spay as early as five weeks or age or 2lbs weight.

Clinic is the route I plan to go since I know they will neuter earlier than vet.

 

[Patti]

My vet has actually neutered as early as 9 weeks, but I doubt he would spay that young since it is a much more invasive procedure.