When to Spay or Neuter an Australian Mountain Doodle, Aussiedoodle, or Bernedoodle?

Australian Mountain Doodle at 6 months

Recent research indicates that neutering (including spaying) dogs within the first year of birth may lead to increased risks of joint disorders and certain cancers in some breeds. These joint disorders include hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament issues, and elbow dysplasia, while the cancers involve lymphoma, mast cell tumors, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Neutering before one year of age, especially by six months, was linked to higher risks of these conditions in Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherd Dogs.

A new study expanded this research to cover 29 additional breeds and three Poodle varieties, revealing significant breed variations in vulnerability to neutering. In most cases, pet owners can choose the age of neutering without increasing the risks of joint disorders or cancers. Small-dog breeds generally showed no increased risk of joint disorders, and only two small breeds (Boston Terrier and Shih Tzu) had a notable increase in cancers. Guidelines have been established to assist pet owners and veterinarians in determining the appropriate age for neutering dogs, taking breed and sex into account to mitigate the risk of joint disorders and cancers.

Poodles

Poodles, specifically the Toy variety, are among the small-dog breeds that do not seem to have an increased risk of joint disorders associated with neutering, in contrast to larger breeds. However, it's important to note that the occurrence of certain cancers (MC) in female dogs was lower than the actual lifetime incidence, and the data on older dogs is limited.

Poodle, Toy

In this study of 238 dogs, we looked at different groups: intact males, neutered males, intact females, and spayed females of the Toy Poodle variety. We found that intact males had a 4 percent chance of joint disorders, while intact females didn't have any. Neutered males and females didn't have a higher risk of joint disorders. Intact males had a 2 percent chance of cancers, but intact females had none. Neutered males and females didn't show significant cancer risks. Only one intact female had mammary cancer, and no intact females had pyometra or spayed females had urinary incontinence. Since there were no clear increases in joint disorders or cancers in neutered dogs, owners can decide when to neuter their dogs.

Poodle, Miniature

This analysis focused on Miniature Poodles. We studied 199 dogs, including 41 males who weren't neutered, 60 males who were neutered, 30 females who weren't spayed, and 69 females who were spayed. The dogs that weren't neutered or spayed didn't have any joint disorders. However, males neutered when they were 6-11 months old had a 9 percent chance of getting joint disorders, which was significant. Female dogs that were spayed didn't have any joint disorders. The dogs that weren't neutered or spayed had a 5 percent and zero percent chance of getting cancer, respectively. Neutering didn't increase the risk of cancer in either males or females. Only one female dog that was spayed at 2-8 years old had mammary cancer. Six percent of the female dogs that weren't spayed got pyometra. Only one female dog that was spayed before 6 months old had urinary incontinence. For males, it is recommended to wait until they are one year old to neuter them because of the significant risk of joint disorders with neutering at 6-11 months old. There were no significant increases in joint disorders or cancers in spayed females, so they can choose the appropriate age to spay their dogs if they want to.

Poodle, Standard

This study on Standard Poodles looked at 275 cases, including 47 intact males, 88 neutered males, 53 intact females, and 87 spayed females.
Intact males and females had a 2% chance of joint disorders. Males neutered before 6 months had a slightly higher occurrence of 8%, but it wasn't important. Spayed females had no joint disorders.
Cancers occurred in 4% of intact males and 2% of intact females. However, males neutered at one year had a significant increase to 27%, mainly due to the higher risk of lymphosarcoma. There was no significant increase in cancer occurrences in spayed females.
Four percent of intact females developed mammary cancer, and 2% had pyometra. Only one female spayed after 2 years later had urinary incontinence.
The suggested guideline for males is to delay neutering until 2 years old because there is a higher cancer risk with neutering at 1 year. For neutered females, there was no significant increase in joint disorders or cancers, so the owner can decide the appropriate neutering age.

Australian Shepherd

A study of 440 Australian Shepherds found that neutering didn't increase the risk of joint disorders for males or females. Intact males had a 3% diagnosis rate for joint disorders, while intact females had a 4% rate. There was no significant increase in cancer risk for neutered males, but intact males had a 9% occurrence compared to 1% for intact females. Spaying females between 6-11 months and 2-8 years had a 7-8% risk of cancer. Intact females had no cases of mammary cancer, but the risk was 8% for females spayed between 2-8 years. 5% of intact females had pyometra, and 1% of early-spayed females had urinary incontinence. In conclusion, neutering didn't increase joint disorder or cancer risk for male Australian Shepherds. Owners should decide when to neuter, and for females, vigilance is needed for cancer, especially if spaying is delayed beyond 6 months, or if leaving the female intact and watching for mammary cancer.

Bernese Mountain Dog

A study on Bernese Mountain Dogs found that intact males had a 4% chance of joint disorders, while intact females had an 11% chance. Neutering males before age 2 increased the chance of joint disorders to 23-24%, about 6 times more than intact males. Spaying females before 6 months also increased the chance of joint disorders, but not significantly.
In terms of cancers, both intact males and females had a 9% chance. Neutering males didn't increase the cancer risk, but spaying females before 6 months doubled the risk compared to intact females. No cases of mammary cancer were observed in females, regardless of being intact or neutered. Intact females had a 5% chance of pyometra, but there were no reports of urinary incontinence in intact or spayed females.
Based on the increased risk of joint disorders in neutered males, it is suggested to delay neutering until well beyond 2 years of age. As for females, neutering does not significantly increase the risk of joint disorders or cancers, so the appropriate age for neutering can be determined based on other factors.

Conclusion:

For our Stokeshire Designer Doodles puppy parents, we would like to offer some guidance based on the detailed information provided. When it comes to deciding when to spay or neuter your Aussiedoodle, Bernedoodle, or Australian Mountain Doodle (a mix of Poodle, Australian Shepherd, and Bernese Mountain Dog), we recommend a thoughtful and personalized approach. Here are the key considerations to keep in mind:

Timing is crucial: research suggests that early spaying/neutering of puppies (especially within the first 6 months) may increase the risk of joint disorders, including hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament issues, and elbow dysplasia. For Australian Shepherds and Bernese Mountain Dogs, it's wise to consider delaying the procedure until they are over two years old. A study on Bernese Mountain Dogs supports this cautious approach to reducing joint disorder risks.

Certain dog breeds, like Australian Shepherds, have an increased risk of developing specific types of cancer, such as lymphoma, mast cell tumors, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma, if they are spayed or neutered when young. If your Australian Mountain Doodle has a significant mix of Australian Shepherd, it's crucial to consider this when deciding the appropriate time to spay your pet. We suggest discussing with your veterinarian to determine the optimal timing for spaying, especially if you have concerns about cancer.

The mix of breeds in your dog (Aussiedoodle, Bernedoodle, or Australian Mountain Doodle) can affect when to spay or neuter. Each breed has its own vulnerabilities, so it's important to think about the different components and associated health risks.

Your vet is the best person to help you decide. They know about puppies, health, and breeds. Share this info with them as part of your care plan.

Consider your puppy's overall health, existing health issues, and individual lifestyle when deciding when to spay or neuter. These factors can influence the best timing for the procedure.

Think about how your puppy's behavior may be affected and the risks associated with keeping them intact. This can be an important factor in your decision, especially if you don't plan on breeding your dog.

In the end, the decision of when to spay or neuter your Aussiedoodle, Bernedoodle, or Australian Mountain Doodle should be guided by a comprehensive assessment of your puppy's individual health and risk factors. Collaborate closely with your veterinarian to make the best choice for your dog's well-being and long-term health. Your puppy's health and happiness are our top priorities.

SOURCE:

Hart, B. L., Hart, L. A., Thigpen, A. P., & Willits, N. H. (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, 548304. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388