It’s hard to know when to spay or neuter – or if you should at all. Here’s the best veterinary advice for your Irish Wolfhound.
So you’ve decided to spay or neuter your Irish Wolfhound? – but when?
Often called getting your dog Fixed or Done (nomenclature that bugs me, because, fixed, implies broken, which is kinda mean!), the majority of dogs have this minor procedure performed upon them at a young age. Usually on a veterinary recommendation.
I know when Indie was little, I was told: “Six months, on the dot” – which is common advice given across America and Europe. If you ask the Internet (i.e. Facebook) usually recommendations say later and say a minimum of twelve months.
But is that even right? Or is it founded in any sort of science?
With this conflicting information, how are you meant to know? Trust your vet? Do as your family has always done? Or trust the rando on the internet who appears to know it all.
None of that seems to be a good idea when the potential consequences of these procedures are rumoured to be some of the scariest diseases and ailments a dog can face… Cancer, Hip or Elbow Dysplasia, and other rotten afflictions like pyometra. All of this is the result of removing the availability of hormones…
Luckily, research has come forward which is not just size specific, but breed-specific for 35 breeds! So, here we’re going to discuss the ideal times for spaying or neutering your dog.
First, let’s do a little housekeeping…
Vigorous exercise is not really recommended straight after a spay or neuter surgery instead try Post-Surgery Recovery: 12 Ideas For Keeping Your Dog Happy And Entertained.
This is the surgical castration of a male dog – usually by the removal of his testicles (sorry for making you cringe, gents!). This process means that your male dog cannot breed and that they are no longer producing hormones that are important to your dogs’ development – both emotionally and physically.
Similar to neutering, spaying is a form of surgical castration that removes the ovaries and most often the fallopian tubes along with it. This means your girl cannot breed, but it also means she is missing some critical hormones.
This process can be done in a ‘keyhole’ surgery at extra cost, though it is much better for recovery times.
Male – After 2 years
Female – After 1 year
One of our small sample sizes, yes. So this information may not be our most reliable or info that you want to take as gospel.
The idea of this particular post in this instance is to act as a form of guidance, because whilst 86 wolfhounds is a small number, it’s also a number. A number that we have categorised and standardised.
With Wolfhounds, I’d strongly suggest that you look at their bloodline, look at what they’re thriving on and what your breeder (provided they’re a good breeder!) recommends.
The age of your pup is really important as a factor in their future health as you consider spay or neuter surgery. If you need more info on the process, head over to The Rebarkable Spay & Neuter Information Center!
Here’s a quick overview of what the study says the breed suffers from depending on when their surgical castration (Spay or Neuter) was performed. The aim of providing this information is about giving you all the information to make the best decision.
Disorders include – Cranial cruciate ligament tears or ruptures, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia
Cancers include – Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma, Mast Cell Tumours, Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma),
Comes from Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence (Hart et al, 2020) where 86 Irish Wolfhounds were monitored over the course of 15 years to collect this data.
This is a rotten sample, I won’t lie. I’ve actually put the sample size in the numbers above (which is unusual for me) to show you that these numbers are relative. The spikes in this? Could so easily be anomalies affected by lifestyle or genetics.
If you’re doing what I am doing and looking at this research and reconsidering? It’s good to know that there are other options available.
Yes! On the presumption that these issues are caused by the lack of hormones (which is almost certainly the issue!) – there are a couple of ways to keep hormones but not facilitate breeding.
This is the surgical removal of the uterus and only part of the fallopian tubes! The removal of these means that your girl is without the ability to breed – however – as she keeps her ovaries, hormones will still be produced and should mean that her risk levels are the same as an intact female – without the risk of pyometra! Though, there is a risk that the breeding instinct can remain? Which may be quite risky if a male tries to breed with her.
Need help with your
I’ve got you, I promise.
I’m here to give you
week by week guidance to make
raising your puppy super simple.
Help me!
The tubes that run from the testes are called the vas deferens – these are what get cut or removed in this instance – rendering your dog without the ability to impregnate a female. It leaves his hormones (and likely his desire to breed as a result) but also means that your dog should have the same risk factors as an entire male.
Did you know that surgical castration is not legal in Norway? Consequently what is common in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway is chemical castration which is an injection your dog will have to have every six months that drop the levels of testosterone by approximately half. Which is proven to be effective in temporary neuter for your dog. This means you can actually test what castration might do to your dog and is often how it’s used in the UK and America – but it’s also a fantastic way of not putting your dog through surgical procedures.
2 Irish Wolfhounds learning to socialise. Before and after a spay or neuter surgery, socialisation is so important for your pup.
The study “Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence” (Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH) was released in July 2020 – it covers 35 different breeds – and a separate scientific paper for mixed breeds. The study followed a total of 15,414 dogs over 15 years of recording;
So you’ve decided to spay or neuter your Irish Wolfhound? – but when?
Often called getting your dog Fixed or Done (nomenclature that bugs me, because, fixed, implies broken, which is kinda mean!), the majority of dogs have this minor procedure performed upon them at a young age. Usually on a veterinary recommendation.
I know when Indie was little, I was told: “Six months, on the dot” – which is common advice given across America and Europe. If you ask the Internet (i.e. Facebook) usually recommendations say later and say a minimum of twelve months.
But is that even right? Or is it founded in any sort of science?
With this conflicting information, how are you meant to know? Trust your vet? Do as your family has always done? Or trust the rando on the internet who appears to know it all.
None of that seems to be a good idea when the potential consequences of these procedures are rumoured to be some of the scariest diseases and ailments a dog can face… Cancer, Hip or Elbow Dysplasia, and other rotten afflictions like pyometra. All of this is the result of removing the availability of hormones…
Luckily, research has come forward which is not just size specific, but breed-specific for 35 breeds! So, here we’re going to discuss the ideal times for spaying or neutering your dog.
First, let’s do a little housekeeping…
Vigorous exercise is not really recommended straight after a spay or neuter surgery instead try Post-Surgery Recovery: 12 Ideas For Keeping Your Dog Happy And Entertained.
What is Neutering?
This is the surgical castration of a male dog – usually by the removal of his testicles (sorry for making you cringe, gents!). This process means that your male dog cannot breed and that they are no longer producing hormones that are important to your dogs’ development – both emotionally and physically.
What is Spaying?
Similar to neutering, spaying is a form of surgical castration that removes the ovaries and most often the fallopian tubes along with it. This means your girl cannot breed, but it also means she is missing some critical hormones.
This process can be done in a ‘keyhole’ surgery at extra cost, though it is much better for recovery times.
So when is the best time for my Irish Wolfhound?
Recommended age:
Male – After 2 years
Female – After 1 year
One of our small sample sizes, yes. So this information may not be our most reliable or info that you want to take as gospel.
The idea of this particular post in this instance is to act as a form of guidance, because whilst 86 wolfhounds is a small number, it’s also a number. A number that we have categorised and standardised.
With Wolfhounds, I’d strongly suggest that you look at their bloodline, look at what they’re thriving on and what your breeder (provided they’re a good breeder!) recommends.
The age of your pup is really important as a factor in their future health as you consider spay or neuter surgery. If you need more info on the process, head over to The Rebarkable Spay & Neuter Information Center!
What Are The Risks?
Here’s a quick overview of what the study says the breed suffers from depending on when their surgical castration (Spay or Neuter) was performed. The aim of providing this information is about giving you all the information to make the best decision.
Disorders include – Cranial cruciate ligament tears or ruptures, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia
Cancers include – Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma, Mast Cell Tumours, Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma),
| Gender | Age of Surgical Castration | Sample Size | Disorder risk | Cancer Risk |
| Male | Under 6 months | 3 | 0% | 0% |
| Male | 6 to 11 months | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Male | 12 to 23 months | 8 | 0% | 25% |
| Male | 2 years to 8 years | 6 | 0% | 17% |
| Male | Intact | 26 | 9% | 8% |
| Female | Under 6 months | 1 | 0% | 0% |
| Female | 6 to 11 months | 3 | 0% | 33% |
| Female | 12 to 23 months | 1 | 0% | 0% |
| Female | 2 years to 8 years | 8 | 0% | 13% |
| Female | Intact | 19 | 0% | 21% |
- For intact females, 5% reported Pyometra
- Urinary Incontinence was 0% for both spayed or intact females
- Mammary cancer was reported at 0% in intact or late spayed females
This is a rotten sample, I won’t lie. I’ve actually put the sample size in the numbers above (which is unusual for me) to show you that these numbers are relative. The spikes in this? Could so easily be anomalies affected by lifestyle or genetics.
Are there other options?
If you’re doing what I am doing and looking at this research and reconsidering? It’s good to know that there are other options available.
Yes! On the presumption that these issues are caused by the lack of hormones (which is almost certainly the issue!) – there are a couple of ways to keep hormones but not facilitate breeding.
For Girls
Hysterectomy
This is the surgical removal of the uterus and only part of the fallopian tubes! The removal of these means that your girl is without the ability to breed – however – as she keeps her ovaries, hormones will still be produced and should mean that her risk levels are the same as an intact female – without the risk of pyometra! Though, there is a risk that the breeding instinct can remain? Which may be quite risky if a male tries to breed with her.
Need help with your
Wolfie pup?
I’ve got you, I promise.
I’m here to give you
week by week guidance to make
raising your puppy super simple.
Help me!
For Boys
Vasectomy
The tubes that run from the testes are called the vas deferens – these are what get cut or removed in this instance – rendering your dog without the ability to impregnate a female. It leaves his hormones (and likely his desire to breed as a result) but also means that your dog should have the same risk factors as an entire male.
Chemical Castration
Did you know that surgical castration is not legal in Norway? Consequently what is common in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway is chemical castration which is an injection your dog will have to have every six months that drop the levels of testosterone by approximately half. Which is proven to be effective in temporary neuter for your dog. This means you can actually test what castration might do to your dog and is often how it’s used in the UK and America – but it’s also a fantastic way of not putting your dog through surgical procedures.
2 Irish Wolfhounds learning to socialise. Before and after a spay or neuter surgery, socialisation is so important for your pup.
About the Study
The study “Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence” (Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH) was released in July 2020 – it covers 35 different breeds – and a separate scientific paper for mixed breeds. The study followed a total of 15,414 dogs over 15 years of recording;
- The age of the dog when neutered or spayed
- Breed
- Disorders including: