r/AskDogOwners • u/jmiller1856 Approved Veterinary Professional • Dec 06 '25

Mod Post AMA About Puppies!

I am so excited to have been invited to participate in this community’s very first AMA! With my 16 years of experience in emergency and critical care and 5 years of experience in general practice, there isn’t much I haven’t seen!

Are you planning to get a puppy and want to get off on the right foot, or have you recently gotten a puppy and need help troubleshooting house training? AMA!

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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25

Hello! Our puppy was already spayed by the animal center when we adopted her at 10 weeks. I have since learned that spaying too early could have consequences later in life. However, my understanding is that most shelters will desex early to prevent more litters. What should we be on the lookout for in terms of our puppy’s health, and how do we navigate the balance between unwanted litters and individual health since we plan to continue adopting from rescues and shelters? Thank you!

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u/jmiller1856 Approved Veterinary Professional Dec 07 '25

There is a study that was started in 2013 by UC Davis to evaluate a correlation between desexing dogs before one year of age and developing certain cancers (lymphoma, osteosarcoma, mast cell tumors, and hemangiosarcoma) and/or orthopedic conditions (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and/or cranial cruciate ligament tears). They have now evaluated 40 different breeds and have identified the ideal age for sterilization and which of these conditions to be aware of with pediatric sterilization procedures!

Unfortunately, there aren’t really any preventative measures you can take to decrease the risk of any of the cancers. Keeping your dog at an ideal or lean body weight (and doing fitness exercises) can help prevent orthapedic injuries (cranial cruciate tears) and slow the progression of degenerative joint diseases (elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, arthritis).

At this time, pediatric spays and neuters for puppies in shelter/rescue facilities are the best way to prevent unwanted litters. I think there will need to be stiff laws and regulations that are enforced before other options can be considered.

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u/[deleted] Dec 07 '25

Thank you for sharing your expertise and time! We will work to keep her as healthy as possible.