07/04/2026
We need to talk about early castration
Six to seven months old. I still see it regularly - intact male dogs castrated at or before sexual maturity, on veterinary advice, as routine practice.
This is not supported by the largest bodies of research produced over the last two decades. Numerous studies have linked gonadectomy (particularly early) to increased rates of joint disease, certain cancers, and behavioural problems including anxiety and increased fear-based concerns - with some breeds at more of a health risk than others.
The evidence has become substantial enough that Stefano Romagnoli, then World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Reproduction Control Chair, stated: “For many years, our default advice has been that dogs should be neutered and bi***es spayed - but, in the light of new scientific evidence, it’s time for a paradigm shift in our thinking.”
The 2024 WSAVA Guidelines go further, expressing concern about “increasing moves to early neutering or for neutering to be used as a method of behavioural control,” and advising that “for clients who are responsible pet owners, it may be advisable to leave dogs intact, particularly in breeds prone to health detriments associated with gonadectomy.”
This is not a fringe position. This is the WSAVA - a global community of more than 390,000 veterinarians worldwide drawn from 113 national member associations. Routinely recommending early castration without discussing the risks, the alternatives, or the current evidence base is no longer defensible. Guardians deserve informed consent.
If your vet or behaviour professional recommends castration for your young male dog, it is essential to ask what the evidence base for that recommendation is, and then do your own research.
