At Above and Beyond Standards, we require waiting until 18 months of age and after the females first heat cycle for spay/neuter surgery. The choice is yours to spay/neuter early, but it does void our Health Guarantee. We have made this decision based on the research that exists regarding spay/neuter and how the effects of early spay/neuter impact health outcomes.

For our Health Guarantee, we require waiting until at least 18 months of age for spay/neuter as early spay/neuter has been found to increase the risks of joint disorders, impact urinary health, and increase cancer among other things. Females, in addition to being at least 18 months of age must have gone through at least one heat cycle. The heat cycle for females releases hormones that are beneficial for bladder maturity as well as joint health and overall development. Early spay/neuter before 18 months of age (both males and females) & prior to females first heat voids Health Guarantee.

Sex hormones are critical for proper maturity in your dog. Some reasons to wait to spay/neuter until maturity occurs are as follows:

• Joint maturity & decreased risk of obesity - lowers the risk of joint disease/hip dysplasia.

• Decreased rates of untreatable cancers such as hemangiosarcoma & mast cell tumors.

• Decreases risk of urinary incontinence - For females waiting until after the dogs first heat cycle is important to prevent urinary incontinence issues for life!

• Decreases temperament issues as sex hormones are critical for proper maturity.