The traditional advice for Australian pet families is to desex their pet dog around 6 months of age. Recent research has shown that this is not in the interest of the dog’s long-term health, and can increase the risk of many disease conditions, including hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament ruptures, immune system dysfunction and allergies, cancers of the spleen, lymph and bone, and lead to behavioural issues like fears and phobias.

Desexing is necessary in most environments, but it is important to get the timing right to prevent the potential for significant issues associated with early desexing down the track. This podcast discusses why it is better to delay desexing, the benefits of desexing, and when is the right time to desex your dog.