My first Dachshund Chester wasn’t actually mine at first. He belonged to my roommate, but I helped raise him. I was there for the walks, the training, and the everyday care.
When he was around six months old, my roommate had him neutered. That seemed to be common practice at the time, or at least I was not aware of any conflicting advice… not that I had a say in the decision anyway.
Years later, with much more Dachshund experience and far more breed-specific research available, I made a different choice with my current male, Otter.
I’ve chosen not to neuter him yet. I may still do it in the future, but I wanted him to retain his hormones through maturity to support his growth and development.
If you’re trying to decide when to neuter your male Dachshund, or to even do it at all, it’s good that you are taking the decision seriously. It might be one of the biggest long-term health decisions you’ll make, and the answer isn’t as automatic as it used to be.
Let’s look at some of the new information calmly and realistically.
Why Neutering is a Bigger Decision Than You Think
Neutering is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testicles. That eliminates sperm production and significantly reduces testosterone.
Testosterone affects reproduction, but it also influences:
- Bone development
- Muscle tone
- Growth plate closure
- Metabolism
- Brain development
- Certain behavior patterns
When you neuter a male Dachshund, you permanently alter his hormonal profile. That isn’t inherently good or bad. It just means timing matters.
If you remove growth hormones before a dog is mature (typically 12 months for small dogs), it may alter their cognitive and physical development and have long-term health consequences.
What the Research Says About Neutering Dachshunds
Neutering and IVDD
Dachshunds are chondrodystrophic – a genetic condition that causes dwarfism – which results in abnormal cartilage development and skeletal growth. Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) has been linked to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).
I wrote a very thorough article explaining the genetics behind IVDD and disk issues so I won’t go details about that here. In short though (no pun intended), one of the genes (CDDY – a mutation on chromosome 18) is currently thought to be the primary cause of IVDD, which can case disk degeneration, calcification and ultimately rupture (herniation).
In the last 10 years, studies have been published that highlight a correlation between early neuter and disk herniations (due to IVDD).
The Dachshund Health UK DachsLife 2018 (owner) survey found, for male Dachshunds aged 3-10, those neutered under 24 months were twice as likely to have reported an IVDD incident.
While while the results are reliant on the quality of the study questions, and the accuracy of owner answers, The results do clearly indicate there is correlation between IVDD and neuter status. A correlation does not mean that one causes the other, but it shows there is an association that warrants further study.
Still, I’ve seen the results of this study perpetuated by the general public until this simple correlation has been translated into, basically, it’s very dangerous to neuter your Dachshund before they’re 2 years old.
The things is, there has been a more recent study that didn’t have the same results. In a 2020 study by Hart & Hart of UC Davis evaluating 35 breeds, including 658 Dachshunds, 53% of intact male Dachshunds were diagnosed with a form of IVDD. Researchers found no evident increase in IVDD associated with neutering in males.
That’s significant. Based on this dataset, neutering male Dachshunds did not measurably increase IVDD rates compared to leaving them intact.
Bottom line: The most recent, large-scale, multi-year study on the issue does not show that neutering male Dachshunds dramatically increases IVDD risk.
Neutering and orthopedic issues
There is some information out there linking age of neuter to other orthopedic issues. For example, early spaying and neutering in dogs has been linked to a significantly higher risk of orthopedic issues like cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears and hip dysplasia, likely due to delayed growth plate closure caused by hormone removal.
These studies were done on large breed dogs. When we zoom in to look at orthopedic issues in small breeds breeds, this information becomes less relevant. UC Davis researchers found that smaller breeds did not show the increased joint disorder risks associated with early neutering that were seen in many larger breeds.
Dachshunds fall into that smaller breed category, which is reassuring from a general orthopedic perspective. Still, testosterone plays a role in bone density, muscle development, and structural maturation of all dogs regardless of the size.
Even when statistical risk increases are not dramatic, some veterinarians recommend allowing full physical maturity before neutering, especially in breeds already prone to spinal disease.
Bottom line: Small breeds overall do not appear to experience the orthopedic risk patterns seen in larger breeds when neutered early.
Neutering and behavior
This is one of the biggest reasons people consider neutering a male Dachshund.
Hormones influence more than bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues. Testosterone also influences brain development and behavioral maturation. Early removal of hormones during key developmental stages is still an area where timing is being more carefully considered than it was 20 years ago.
A 2022 study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) compared behavior in intact vs neutered dogs and found that longer exposure to gonadal hormones was associated with reduced odds of problematic and nuisance behaviors.
Specific findings include:
- Neutered dogs may become more “shy” or “skittish” (retreating from new people or situations) rather than calmer.
- Neutered dogs, especially males, may exhibit higher levels of noise phobias, nervousness, and fear of unfamiliar situations.
- If a dog’s aggression is rooted in fear rather than dominance, removing testosterone can make them more fearful and more likely to react aggressively.
However, neutering can reduce certain hormonally driven behaviors, especially roaming and some types of marking. However, given the potential negative effects on behavior, and the fact that these issues can be addressed through training, enrichment, or teaching a dog how to self-regulate their nervous system, one may want to think twice about neutering as a knee-jerk reaction to behavior issues.
Neutering and Cognitive Decline
In another study done by Hart at UC Davis, results suggest that the presence of circulating testosterone in aging sexually intact male dogs may slow the progression of cognitive impairment, at least among dogs that already have signs of mild impairment.
Neutering and cancer
As for cancer risk in Dachshunds, the 2020 breed study referenced above reported that cancers followed in male Dachshunds occurred in less than 1% of cases, with no indication of increased cancer risk associated with neutering.
Other Things To Consider
There are some clear positives to neutering your male Dachshund. By physically removing the testicles (and thus hormones), obviously, it will be impossible for certain health issues to occur. In fact, neutering is considered a cure for some afflictions.
These include:
- Eliminating risk of testicular cancer
- Reducing risk of certain prostate diseases
- Preventing unwanted breeding
Besides the “biggie” considerations I listed above, there are other more minor potential negative consequences too. These include:
The Bottom Line: When Should You Neuter a Male Dachshund?
Historically, six months of age was the standard recommendation to neither a dog, but this belief is changing.
While many vets focused on reducing “oops” pregnancies still push neutering, reproductive veterinarians like Michelle Kutzler from Oregon State University, and those who are up-to-date on this research, are encouraging people to hold off.
Dr. B. Hart, lead author of the UC Davis study above, in a response to the report shared by the Dachshund Health UK, suggested considering neutering after 12 months of age when possible based on the broader understanding that sex hormones influence skeletal development and growth plate closure.
The recommendations now is:
- Avoid neutering before 6 months
- Consider waiting until around 12 months for small dogs
- Wait 24+ months if your situation allows
By 12 months, most miniature Dachshunds have completed the majority of skeletal development and puberty. However, the brain continues to mature.
This isn’t a rigid rule. If you have an intact female in the home, cannot reliably prevent accidental breeding, or want to see if neutering will minimize hormonally-driven behavior issues, earlier neutering may be the responsible choice.
The key is understanding the tradeoffs rather than following a default timeline.
Vasectomy: An Alternative to Traditional Neutering?
In the United States, vasectomy for dogs is an option. A vasectomy sterilizes a dog testosterone production remains intact.
Note: Chemical castration by implant is available in some European countries, but it’s not yet available in the US.
While a vasectomy prevents reproduction, the male will still behave the same as an intact male. This means a vasectomy won’t reduce, roaming, prostate risk or the manic behavior when around females in heat.
The upside though is that a dog retains it’s growth hormones.
Access to the procedure is still limited. As with an ovary sparing spay for females, it’s difficult to find a vet that wants to do it or knows how to properly.
If you’re interested in this alternative to traditional neuter for your dog, check out the Parsemus Foundation veterinarian directory listing providers of hormone-sparing sterilization.
My Balanced Perspective
I’ve lived with neutered males and intact males.
The six-month neuter that happened with my roommate’s Dachshund wasn’t wrong. It was the standard advice at the time. Generally, he lived a long, healthy life and never had a back issue.
However, he did develop dementia in his senior years. At the time, I didn’t suspect it was related to the age he was neutered. However, based on recent studies on neutering and brain health, now I am not so sure.
Dr. Peter Tobias says that research done by Dr. Michelle Kutzler and the Parsemus Foundation shows that luteinizing hormone elevates after neutering, which can cause inflammatory changes that can affect the brain. I don’t have enough information to definitively speak to that here though.
Unlike with Chester, I got to decide when my boy Otter would be neutered, if he would be at all. Now I have more breed-specific information about the effects of neutering and more experience managing intact dogs (which is not for the faint of heart when your male is around a female in heat!)
Neutering a male Dachshund is not automatically harmful. Leaving one intact is not automatically irresponsible.
The right decision depends on:
- Your management ability
- Your living situation
- Your dog’s temperament
- Your comfort level
- Your long-term welfare goals
I think that if you can responsibly manage an intact male and prevent accidental breeding, waiting until your Dachshund 12 months or older is a reasonable, research-supported approach.
If you cannot reliably prevent breeding or manage hormonally driven behaviors, neutering is a responsible and appropriate choice.
Final Thoughts
The decision about when to neuter your Dachshund doesn’t need to be rushed even if you feel pressured by your vet to do it. It also doesn’t need to become a source of guilt or anxiety.
Your male Dachshund doesn’t need a perfect choice. He needs an informed one, made with his long-term health and welfare in mind. There are so many factors to weigh and the decision is up to you, not other people.
Do your research, discuss your questions with your veterinarian, consider your capacity to manage and intact male, remember that hormones are part of development, not just reproduction, and make the best choice you can at the time.
In the end, a dog’s health primarily boils down to genetics. Some get lucky and some get unlucky. The truth is, no matter when you choose to do it, it’s unlikely to “ruin” your dog.
