Interesting. Well, I know one thing - I'm 110% against "pediatric sterilization" (where the dgo/cat is spayed/neutered VERY young). Our local SPCA does this as policy.
Story - we adopted a female pit bull mix puppy at 9 weeks old. She was perfectly 100% healthy when we adopted her. They spayed her the next day, we were called to pick her up two days later. When we picked her up she had green nasal discharge. The vet I worked for at the time put her on an antibiotic, she got better right away. Well, 1 week later she was playing with our beagle and all of a sudden her nose started to bleed and she got lethargic. Rushed her to the ER clinic, 1/2 hour after we got there she was in an oxygen cage gagging on her own blood barely able to breath. Hysterically, I had no choice but to agree with the Dr. and Euthanize her right away
. Soooo, did a healthy puppy die a week and a half later because she went through the trama of a spay at only 9 weeks old?? I'll never know, but I do know I'll never ever get a pet from that shelter again unless they changed their policy. When I called to tell them what happened, the manager said we could come choose another dog and they'd waive a second adoption/spay fee. I said no way, forget it, I couldn't go through that heartbreak again.
6 months vs. two yrs. or not at all? Idk cause here's the thing - there are more issues to think about than just the health benefits/risks. An intact adult male dog is going to territory mark, hump people, try to roam etc. A female will go into heat - bleeding, behvioral changes, trying to roam, attract male dogs to your house and of course, chance of getting pregnant. Even if the owner is keeping her away from males - if she's determined and gets loose, finds a intact male, that's it.
I personaly like to wait until just about 1 yr. old and with large breed dogs, I think it should be closer to 2 only because they grow slower and that's were those "bone desease" issues come up - I believe they need to be intact until they're fully grown. I plan on spaying Alice when she's about 10 - 13 months old. I honesly think doing it at about 1 yr. - depending on breed and size- is kind of reaping the benefits of both ideas, but that's JMHO
