{"id":32540,"date":"2021-09-20T11:43:01","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T10:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/?p=32540"},"modified":"2025-06-19T14:44:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T13:44:35","slug":"pros-and-cons-of-neutering-a-labrador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/pros-and-cons-of-neutering-a-labrador\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros And Cons Of Neutering A Labrador"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article we present all the scientific research on the pros and cons of neutering a Labrador, to help you make the right choice for your boy.<\/p>\n

Neutering your male dog is a very personal decision. Whilst there are only two options in the end – do it or don\u2019t do it – the decision making process for each dog owner is completely unique to them. And for people who are still undecided, there are a couple of alternatives, if you have the budget for them.<\/p>\n

Neutering Your Labrador<\/h2>\n

Neutering a dog means surgically removing the testes where sperm are produced. The primary purpose is birth control – dogs who don\u2019t produce sperm can\u2019t make puppies!<\/p>\n

When it comes to neutering, there\u2019s no right or wrong answer. At least, not in countries without laws requiring or prohibiting neuter procedures for dogs. For example in Norway, neutering dogs is illegal unless a veterinarian deems it medically necessary. In America, where neutering is a matter of owner choice, the proportion of neutered males is 64% – but this includes rescue dogs who were neutered as a matter of routine before being rehomed. In the United Kingdom, a study specifically of Labrador Retrievers revealed that 55% of male dogs were neutered. Which clearly illustrates how equally split dog owners are about the right decision for them.<\/p>\n

The Pros And Cons Of Neutering A Lab<\/h2>\n

To reach the right decision for you and your Lab, you’ll need to decide how much weight each of the advantage and disadvantages of neutering has for you. And whether the overall balance or risk vs benefit is tipped in either direction. To help you, there has been lots of research into the effects of neutering. And we’re going to sum it up now.<\/p>\n

\"pros<\/p>\n

PRO: Neutering prevents unwanted pregnancies<\/h2>\n

This is the big one for most people. Neutering is a permanent, reliable way to prevent your dog from fathering unwanted litters. Which in turn, means fewer dogs in the world that need homing, and fewer homeless dogs in shelters or being euthanized.<\/p>\n

This advantage of neutering is especially pertinent if you also own a female dog. Non-neutered male dogs and females in season will go to extreme lengths to get to each other. They will cry and bark and generally make a racket for several days, and jump, climb, or dig their way past obstacles to get at each other. You male Lab will do the same if he can smell a female dog in season nearby. So if your neighbors have unspayed female dogs, an intact male Labrador will go to desperate lengths to gain access to them too. Neutering doesn\u2019t just make conceiving puppies impossible, it kills dogs\u2019 instinct to even try, so you don\u2019t have to deal with these behaviors.<\/p>\n

PRO: Neutering prevents testicular cancer and several prostate diseases<\/h2>\n

Testicular cancer is relatively uncommon in dogs, but by definition, dogs without testicles can\u2019t get it at all.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, several prostate diseases, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis are<\/em> quite common. BPH affects up to 40% of intact dogs under 7 yrs old, and over 60% of intact dogs over 7 years old. Prostate diseases can make peeing difficult or painful for dogs, and cause bleeding from the prepuce surrounding their penis. Neutering is an effective cure for both BPH and prostatitis, and neutered dogs rarely develop either condition in the first place.<\/p>\n

PRO: It might<\/em> improve trainability<\/h2>\n

Data from a study of Shetland Sheepdogs has suggested that neutering may improve trainability. However, the number of dogs included in the study was small, and at the time of writing, no one has tried to replicate the same result with a larger sample size, or a variety of different breeds. Labradors are also very trainable dogs anyway – especially those from working lines – so it\u2019s impossible to say how much really stands to be gained by neutering. On balance, we\u2019re not convinced that this is a compelling reason to neuter a dog at the moment. But it is an interesting prospect, which we hope will generate more research in time.<\/p>\n

Next, let\u2019s move on to the disadvantages of neutering.<\/p>\n

CON: Neutering can increase the risk of joint disorders<\/h2>\n

Labradors are a large breed with a high frequency of hip dysplasia – approximately 1 in 8 Labs are affected. In addition, 1 in 10 Labs have elbow dysplasia, 1 in 33 have problems with their shoulder joints, and 1 in 50 have problems with their knees. In one study of Labrador Retrievers, neutering at less than 6 months old doubled the incidence of one or more joint disorders, including hip dysplasia.<\/p>\n

This is because testosterone produced in the testes plays an important role in skeletal growth. It is one of the signals that tells the growth plates at the ends of dogs\u2019 bones when to close, and stop growing. If dogs are neutered before they finish growing, they grow taller than they would have otherwise, and the extra bone growth can put stress on the surrounding tissues (such as ligaments and tendons) and increase the risk of joint injury, and also progressive joint diseases like those above.<\/p>\n

This can be largely avoided by waiting until after a dog has finished growing before neutering them.<\/p>\n

CON: Neutering increases the likelihood of obesity<\/h2>\n

Approximately 20% of neutered dogs are overweight, compared to 10% of intact dogs.<\/p>\n

Obesity also puts extra strain on dogs\u2019 joints, as well as their internal organs, such as their heart and liver. Overweight dogs also have shorter lifespans overall than dogs kept at a healthy weight. Neutered dogs can be kept at a healthy weight through diet and exercise, but it\u2019s clear that a lot of Lab owners struggle to find that balance. Probably because a Lab will try to have you believe they are eternally starving!<\/p>\n

CON: Increased risk of atopic dermatitis<\/h2>\n

Atopic dermatitis is when a dog\u2019s skin becomes inflamed and itchy due as a result of eating, breathing, or touching something which should normally be harmless. For example, eating chicken, inhaling their owner\u2019s aftershave, or sleeping on bedding washed with a detergent they\u2019re allergic to. The inflamed and itchy skin is painful in itself. But if dogs scratch it too much, it can also become a place where infections enter the body.<\/p>\n

Atopic dermatitis has a strong hereditary component, so affected dogs should never be used for breeding. But neutering is also associated with an increased risk of atopic dermatitis in Labradors.<\/p>\n

CON: Neutering shortens the life expectancy of epileptic dogs<\/h2>\n

One study into the health outcomes of dogs diagnosed with epilepsy found that intact\u00a0 males lived for longer after an epilepsy diagnosis that neutered dogs. On average, intact dogs survived for 3 years and 11 months after an epilepsy diagnosis, whilst neutered males survived for 3 years and 4 months. It’s important to bear in mind though, that a fairly small number of Labradors will develop epilepsy in the first case (around 3%). And there’s no evidence that being neutered makes a Lab more likely to get epilepsy in the first place.<\/p>\n

CON: May increase the risk of some cancers<\/h2>\n

There is some evidence that neutering may increase the risk of some cancers, including<\/p>\n