Should You Neuter Your Dachshund?

Deciding whether to neuter your dachshund can be surprisingly complicated.

When we first got Rocky, neutering felt like one of those routine decisions we’d simply make at the appropriate age. Once we started looking into it properly, particularly in relation to dachshunds and their risk of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), it became clear that there wasn’t one straightforward answer.

So should you neuter your dachshund?

Possibly – but the decision, and particularly the timing, should be discussed with your vet based on your individual dog.

Their sex, age, health, behaviour, lifestyle and whether there’s any possibility of breeding all matter.

 

What does neutering mean?

Neutering is the general term for surgically preventing a dog from reproducing.

For male dogs, this usually means castration, where the testicles are removed.

For female dogs, spaying involves removing the ovaries, usually with either part or all of the uterus depending on the surgical technique used.

There are also alternatives in some circumstances, so if you’re considering neutering it’s worth discussing exactly what your vet is recommending rather than treating “neutering” as one single procedure.

Why do owners neuter their dachshunds?

Preventing unwanted puppies is the most obvious reason.

Neutering also has health implications that differ between males and females.

Spaying prevents pyometra, a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus, and prevents pregnancy. Removing the ovaries also affects the risk of some reproductive and hormone-related conditions.

Castration removes the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce the likelihood of some other conditions associated with testosterone.

But those benefits need to be considered alongside the potential disadvantages and the individual dog.

That’s why I wouldn’t make the decision based on a generic list of “pros of neutering”.

When should a dachshund be neutered?

This is probably the biggest question for dachshund owners – and it’s one where I’d be wary of giving a universal age.

Historically, owners were often given a fairly standard recommendation about when to neuter a dog.

More recent research has encouraged a more individual approach, taking breed, sex and age into account.

For dachshunds, this is particularly interesting because research has investigated whether neutering at a younger age is associated with an increased risk of IVDD.

That doesn’t mean neutering causes IVDD or that leaving every dachshund entire will prevent it.

It does mean timing is worth discussing properly with your vet rather than automatically booking the procedure at a particular age because that’s what you’ve always heard dogs should have done.

Neutering and IVDD in dachshunds

Intervertebral disc disease is understandably one of the biggest health concerns for dachshund owners.

A 2018 study using data from thousands of dachshunds found an association between neutering and IVDD, with the association particularly notable among dogs neutered before six months of age.

There are important limitations to what we can conclude from observational research like this. An association doesn’t prove that neutering itself directly caused those dogs to develop IVDD, and decisions about an individual dog’s healthcare shouldn’t be based on a single study.

But it is enough that I’d specifically raise breed, IVDD and timing when discussing neutering with a vet.

Will neutering calm my dachshund down?

Don’t assume it will.

Neutering changes the hormones associated with reproductive behaviour, so it can affect some sexually driven behaviours.

But barking, reactivity, separation anxiety, resource guarding and fear aren’t simply caused by a dog having reproductive hormones.

We’ve dealt with behavioural issues with Rocky ourselves, and I wouldn’t view neutering as a shortcut for behaviour training or addressing anxiety.

If behaviour is the main reason you’re considering the procedure, I’d discuss the specific behaviour with your vet and, where appropriate, a qualified behaviour professional.

Understanding why the behaviour is happening is much more useful than assuming neutering will make it disappear.

Should a female dachshund be spayed?

There are some considerations specific to female dogs.

One of the clearest benefits of spaying is preventing pyometra, a serious infection of the uterus that can occur in unspayed females and can become life-threatening.

Spaying also prevents pregnancy and removes the risk of ovarian disease.

There are other potential health effects associated with the timing of spaying, however, which is another reason I’d make the decision with your vet rather than relying on a universal age recommendation online.

If you don’t intend to breed from your female dachshund, ask your vet to talk you through the benefits and risks of spaying and when they recommend doing it for your particular dog.

Should a male dachshund be castrated?

The balance is slightly different for males.

Castration prevents reproduction and testicular disease and may affect some hormone-driven behaviours.

But again, I wouldn’t assume every male dachshund needs to be castrated at the same age – or that castration will fix general behavioural problems.

Your vet can help you weigh up the benefits and disadvantages based on your dog’s age, health, behaviour and lifestyle.

Are there alternatives to surgical castration?

For male dogs, there can be circumstances where a vet may discuss temporary medical castration, using a hormone implant rather than immediately proceeding with permanent surgery.

This won’t be appropriate or necessary for every dog.

But if the main reason you’re considering castration is behavioural, asking your vet whether there are alternatives that allow the effects to be assessed before making a permanent decision may be worthwhile.

What are the risks of neutering?

Neutering is a very common veterinary procedure, but it is still surgery.

There are risks associated with anaesthesia and the operation itself, although your vet can explain these in relation to your dog’s individual health.

Longer term, neutering changes a dog’s hormonal environment and can affect things such as energy requirements and body weight.

After neutering, keeping a close eye on your dachshund’s weight is particularly important. Their food requirements may change, and excess weight is something we’d want to avoid in a breed already predisposed to spinal problems.

What did we decide for Rocky?

Our own decision was based on Rocky as an individual rather than believing there was one correct answer for every dachshund.

And that’s really the point of this article.

I’d be uncomfortable telling another owner “you should neuter your dachshund” or “you should never neuter a dachshund” based solely on their breed.

There’s more nuance to the decision than either of those statements suggests.

Questions to ask your vet

If you’re discussing neutering your dachshund, I’d go into the appointment with a few specific questions:

• What are the benefits of neutering for my dog?
• Are there particular disadvantages or risks in their case?
• Does being a dachshund affect your recommendation?
• What age would you recommend and why?
• How does IVDD research affect your advice?
• If behaviour is part of the reason, is that behaviour actually likely to be hormone-related?
• Are there alternatives worth considering?

A good conversation should leave you understanding why your vet is recommending a particular option rather than simply giving you an age to put in the diary.

So, should you neuter your dachshund?

There isn’t a single answer that applies to every dachshund.

Neutering has genuine benefits, but the balance differs depending on whether your dog is male or female, their health, lifestyle and individual circumstances. For dachshunds, the question of when to neuter also deserves particular consideration because of research into the relationship between neutering age and IVDD.

Read the evidence, but don’t try to make the decision from internet articles alone – including this one.

Use them to work out what you want to ask.

Then have the conversation with your vet and make the decision that’s appropriate for the dog actually sitting in front of you.