When to Spay or Neuter Your Chihuahua
There is a big debate on when a dog should be spayed or neutered. It is becoming more popular for people to get their pets fixed at a very young age, some places even fix puppies as early as 6 weeks of age. Many believe that a female dog should be spayed before her first heat cycle and males should be neutered before 6 months of age. While others say that fixing a dog too early in age can cause behavioral and health problems.
The number one point to consider is: if you cannot keep your dog properly contained or away from intact dogs of the opposite sex, you should spay or neuter them as quickly as possible. If that is the case, ask yourself, are you responsible enough to own a dog? A dog, whether it's a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, is a living, breathing, big responsibility.
We at White Crest Chihuahuas recommend getting your dog fixed at 2 years old or later. Waiting can be very beneficial to the dog. Letting a dog keep their hormones longer allows them to physically and mentally mature. Fixing a dog too early has been shown to lead to aggression and other behavioral problems. There have also been studies done that show neutering before the age of 1 year old dramatically increases the risk of joint disorders, just waiting another year to spay/neuter can massively reduce the chance of joint problems and hip/elbow dysplasia.
Here is a link to some studies done and more information.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/early-neutering-poses-health-risks-german-shepherd-dogs-study-finds/
The number one point to consider is: if you cannot keep your dog properly contained or away from intact dogs of the opposite sex, you should spay or neuter them as quickly as possible. If that is the case, ask yourself, are you responsible enough to own a dog? A dog, whether it's a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, is a living, breathing, big responsibility.
We at White Crest Chihuahuas recommend getting your dog fixed at 2 years old or later. Waiting can be very beneficial to the dog. Letting a dog keep their hormones longer allows them to physically and mentally mature. Fixing a dog too early has been shown to lead to aggression and other behavioral problems. There have also been studies done that show neutering before the age of 1 year old dramatically increases the risk of joint disorders, just waiting another year to spay/neuter can massively reduce the chance of joint problems and hip/elbow dysplasia.
Here is a link to some studies done and more information.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/early-neutering-poses-health-risks-german-shepherd-dogs-study-finds/