When to neuter, spay, or breed your Cane Corso is a critical decision for all owners. It should be remembered that several issues may develop if you neuter or spay a Cane Corso at an inappropriate time frame.
As a result, the time of neutering and spaying is important to know for all Cane Corso parents. We may disagree on this matter, but I’m here to express my views based on research and personal experience as I am a registered vet.
Recent research has shown that the usual recommendation for spay and neuter at six months may no longer be appropriate.
There are health hazards for dogs treated at this early age—increased risk of various malignancies or cancer and joint disorders. Spaying or neutering your Cane Corso at 18 months or two years of age is probably a preferable option.
Table of Contents
What is neuter? (Male)
Male animals are unable to reproduce due to neutering.
The surgical removal of the male testicles is known as neutering. The testicles are the body’s principal source of testosterone; therefore, removing them leads to variation in sex desire, hormone-related actions, and hormone-related health issues.
At what age of life should you neuter a Cane Corso?
The testicles of a male dog are removed during neutering. And there is no real agreement on the solution to the timeframe when it comes to neutering.
The common recommendation is to neuter your Cane Corso at six to nine months old.
Some breeders do recommend the male Corsos be neutered at around six months since they may suffer from diseases and different disorders like bone cancer or obesity.
There is no mention of how old a dog should be before undergoing the neutering procedure in medical publications. Still, after the dog is six months to a year old and has entered maturity, the pup should be neutered to prevent the unwanted attention of female canines.
Some sources state that you should neuter a Cane Corso between the ages of 12 and 18 months after the pup is fully grown.
Each situation is different based on when your dog reaches puberty and its personality. Cane Corso puppies should be neutered according to your veterinarian’s suggestions.
What are the health benefits of neuter?
Some of the health advantages of neutering are listed below:
- Lessens the possibility of spraying and marking
- Less drive to wander, hence less likely to get hurt in fights or car accidents.
- The risk of testicular cancer is removed, and the incidence of prostate illness is reduced.
- Reduces the number of unwanted dogs, and puppies
- Reduces aggressive behavior, such as dog bites
- Assists dogs and cats in living longer, healthier lives
What are the risks of neutering your Cane Corso?
As previously stated, the key advantages of having your male dog neutered include a reduced risk of developing a variety of canine cancers.
While neutered male dogs exhibit aggressive behavior immediately after the surgery, neutering may make them significantly less aggressive over time.
The breed of your male dog is a key indicator of whether or not he will become more aggressive after getting neutered.
Certain dog breeds are inherently more aggressive than others; therefore, the temporary hormonal imbalance caused by neutering might increase aggressive behavior in male dog breeds that are inclined to aggressive tendencies in the first place.
- Increased aggression
- Hormonal imbalance
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hunger or thirst
- Even clinginess;
When should you not neuter your Cane Corso?
• Osteosarcoma is a prevalent malignancy with a poor prognosis in medium/large and bigger breeds.
• When there is a risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma.
• Overweight dogs are more prone to a variety of additional health issues.
• In case of prostate and urinary tract infections
• Negative reactions to vaccinations
• Fearful behaviors
• Noise phobias
• Aggression
• Undesirable sexual behaviors.
• When male dogs don’t have enough time to develop and build strong bones properly hormonally, they’re more likely to suffer hip dysplasia and cruciate rupture.
In all these issues, neutering is prohibited otherwise your furry friend’s life may be at risk.
What is a spay? (Female)
Ovariohysterectomy, sometimes known as a “spay,” is the surgical removal of a female dog or cat’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus.
Once spayed, dogs become infertile and diminish or eliminate male breeding activities.
At what age should you spay a Cane Corso?
Female Cane Corsos, like male Cane Corsos, should not be spayed until they are six months old. However, since there are higher health hazards associated with spaying female dogs than with neutering male dogs, there is an age at which it is too late to spay dogs, which is approximately two and a half years.
Female dogs above that age may still develop cancer or other disorders, even if spayed at a later age.
On the other hand, spaying your Cane Corso might help avoid false pregnancy signs such as their nipples producing milk after being in heat, leading to health concerns later on.
There are numerous opinions on when your female Corso should be spayed.
Some veterinarians advise against waiting until her first heat to neuter her since it may create behavioral issues. However, science does not support the fact.
What are the health benefits of spay?
Some of the health benefits of spay are listed below:
- There are no heat cycles, and males will not be attracted.
- Less desire to move freely
- The danger of mammary gland tumors in ovarian and uterine cancer is lowered or eliminated, mainly if performed before the first heat cycle.
- Reduces the number of unwanted cats, dogs, and puppies
- Assists dogs and cats in living longer, healthier lives.
What are the risks of spaying your Cane Corso?
The hormones in Cane Corso’s body alter as she goes into heat. This fluctuation may make some dogs angry or nervous, and she may behave out as a result.
When a female is spayed, her behavior becomes more even and constant. Hormones in an unspayed female Cane Corso may also lead her to exhibit guarding behavior.
- Mast cell cancer
- Lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
- Higher incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs
When should you not spay your Cane Corso?
It is recommended that females not be spayed beyond the age of two due to the higher cancer risk associated with early female spaying.
You should also take into consideration of below before you spay your Cane Corso
• The chance of a urinary tract tumour
• Vulva injury
• vaginal dermatitis
• Vaginitis
• Orthopedic disorders
• Adverse reactions to vaccinations
• Pyometra
Spaying should not be done in these situations.
Is it true that spaying and neutering increase the risk of joint disease?
Yes, spaying or neutering your Cane Corso increases their incidence of joint illness. Cane Corso hip dysplasia is increased by early spaying or neutering.
Small dogs and larger dogs are treated differently. Unneutered dogs above 43 pounds may suffer from joint issues.
Before 12 months of age, Cane Corsos are more prone to hip dysplasia and ligament disorders.
- Hip Dysplasia
This condition occurs when the hip joint is not appropriately developed in dogs. This may cause mobility issues and, in extreme circumstances, surgery. Spaying or neutering your Cane Corso may raise the risk of hip dysplasia.
- Ligament Issues
Damaged ligaments may cause joint difficulties. This might result in joint dislocation and discomfort. The Cane Corso breed is prone to ligament issues, and spaying or neutering increases the risk.
How long does a Cane Corso need to recover after neutering and spaying?
Spaying and neutering your dog will take at least two weeks to recover completely. Many pet owners believe that neutering male dogs is easier and faster.
The male incision is roughly the same size as the female incision; thus, the recovery duration is the same.
During the first two weeks of healing, consider planning a holiday or hiring a pet sitter. It’s not cool to leave your dog alone for eight hours or more during this first healing phase.
What changes should you expect after you neuter or spay your Cane Corso?
Although spay or neuter has previously been associated with cognitive impairment and even a threefold incidence of hypothyroidism, which may lead to behavioral problems, research shed some new light on this connection.
Spayed and neutered canines were also more likely than intact canines to have behavior issues in the research.
This includes the following:
- Separation anxiety afraid of storms
- Noise phobia
- Fear of biting is associated with shyness
- Excitability
- Aggressiveness
- Hyperactivity
Another research showed that neutered dogs were more likely to:
- Aggressive
- Fearful
- Excitable
Canines that have been neutered are less trainable than dogs who have not been neutered.
Breeding of Cane Corso
Cane Corso breeding is not simple, and here is some background information to help you get started with these magnificent dogs. Majestic. Powerful. Intelligent. Three adjectives sum up the Cane Corso, commonly known as the Italian Mastiff’s uniqueness.
The Cane Corso is an old Italian guard dog breed. These famous working dogs have grown in popularity in recent years, yet obtaining pups remains a challenge for many people.
You’ll need a healthy breeding partner for your Cane Corso if you want to start breeding him. For dogs, pregnancy usually lasts 63 days.
Both the mother and the pups will need extra attention after that. You may, however, be able to produce a healthy and powerful litter of new Cane Corso pups under veterinarian care.
Breeding should be suggested to evaluate the breed as a whole. The increased popularity of the Cane Corso has resulted in an influx of new breeders who are misled into believing that breeding is a successful business when it is not.
Breeding is a challenging and lonely process that usually leads to financial and emotional losses.
Short-term thinking and a desire to profit, along with a lack of knowledge of the breed, the many lines, and fundamental anatomy and genetics, can cause breeders to take shortcuts based on common misunderstandings.
“SINCE I OWN IT, I SHOULD BREED IT”
Despite its beauty, temperament, or health, every Corso is frequently improperly bred by breeders. Corso breeding quality is commonly misunderstood, and the belief that “if I have it, therefore it must be good,” right?
The goal is often financial. Ownership may lead to breeding, mainly if the breeder bought the dog and put money into it. In breeding, the aim for a “good return on investment” does not apply. A breeder will be rated based on the quality of his or her breeding stock.
What should you need to know before breeding your Cane Corso?
1. Find a mate for your Cane Corso.
You’ll need to hire or recruit a buddy if you have one Cane Corso. Check the Cane Corso Association of America (CCAA) to discover if anybody wants to breed their dog with yours.
You may need to pay for a male stud if you have a female dog (or dam). Fees may be greater if the stud has a good pedigree or prizes. Before breeding, female dogs should be at minimum eighteen months old.
Remember that the dam’s owner usually keeps the pups with a male dog. If you want a few pups, you may negotiate a deal with your stud to employ him for free in return for puppies.
2. Bring both pets to the veterinarian.
Before the canine friend mate, they must undergo a thorough health assessment. This enhances the chances of a successful pregnancy and a healthy litter of pups.
3. Progesterone level of females.
The female’s progesterone levels should be checked. Progesterone is a hormone that might signify whether or not your female dog is ready to mate. Your veterinarian can recommend you the optimal time to breed your dog by evaluating progesterone levels.
4. Both parents should be tested genetically.
Cane Corso is a classically healthy breed of dog. They, like other dogs, are prone to hip and elbow disorders.
A DNA test might help determine how likely your pups are to have issues. Do not breed the dogs if the likelihood is high. Some health problems in Cane Corso are listed below:
- Dysplasia of the hips and elbows
- Epilepsy
- Ectropion (folding out of the eyelid) and entropion (folding in of the eyelid) are two different conditions (eyelid folded inward)
- Allergies to the skin
Mating the dogs
Begin compiling a list of potential donors. Try to find a few potential donors for the pups even before your dog becomes pregnant. Announce that you’ll be having a puppy litter and compile a list of interested individuals.
Inform your friends, veterinarian, and social media networks about your intentions to breed the Cane Corso. Request that they suggest you to anybody interested in adopting one.
You may also contact the CCAA to find the best breeder. People looking for Cane Corso pups will often begin their search there.
Wait till the female is in heat before approaching her. Cane Corso goes into heat every six months on average.
When your dam is in heat, she may begin to urinate more often. The urine may have a faint rosy tint to it. Nervousness is a common occurrence.
The dam may elevate its rear end and hold its tail off to the side to male dogs. It’s ready to mate if it’s doing this.
To mate, take the dam to the stud. Allow the dogs to mate by leaving them alone. The stud will mount the dam, and they will be held in place for fifteen to thirty minutes. Separate the dogs as much as possible to avoid injuring them.
Try mating the dogs two or three times for the most significant results. Once every two days, let them breed.
You’ll usually transport the dam to the stud’s location. This is because male dogs are more frightened in unknown areas than female dogs.
Artificial insemination in Cane Corso
- If all other methods have failed, try artificial insemination. If you can’t locate a local stud or the dam is having trouble conceiving naturally, artificial insemination may help. Many veterinary clinics now provide it, although it is a costly procedure.
- The vet will keep an eye on the dam’s progesterone levels to inject the sperm at the most fertile moment.
- If you can’t locate a stud in your neighborhood, you can receive frozen donor sperm from a stud.
- If you have a stud, you may harvest his sperm by introducing him to a female who is in heat. When the male dog attempts to mount the female, the vet will take sperm from an artificial vagina.
After breeding of Cane Corso
Keep a close eye for signs of pregnancy. Take the dam to the vet 28 days after the last mating to see whether she is pregnant.
The vet will palpate the stomach region with their fingers to see whether the dog is pregnant or use ultrasound to see if the dog is pregnant.
A pregnant dog’s nipples may begin to swell, and she may gain weight. These indications may also be seen in dogs that have had false pregnancies.
At what age should you breed a Cane Corso?
When does female Cane Corsos start coming into the season? While she may start having heat cycles at a younger age (10-12 months), you should not breed your Cane Corso until she is at least 18 months old.
What should you do to prepare for breeding a Cane Corso? any special diet etc
Preventing malnutrition in a bitch from pre-breeding through parturition benefits both the bitch and her puppies.
We all know that adequate diet and prenatal care are crucial factors in guaranteeing healthy human births. Our canine companions’ health begins at conception.
Breeding males and females need to be well-cared for and well-nourished even before being bred.
A comprehensive medical assessment reveals that she is in excellent health and devoid of any physical defects that may risk pregnancy or whelping, as well as any potentially harmful inheritable illnesses, so the real job starts.
She should be tested for and treated for internal and external parasites that might harm her or her progeny. She should also get all recommended vaccines from her veterinarian.
Weigh the potential breeding female to assess her overall nutritional health. Amount or kind of meals should be adjusted to obtain appropriate body weight. Obese or underweight females have lower reproductive success.
Recommended articles:
Best supplements and vitamins for Cane Corsos
Cane Corso health problems that are common
Cane Corso feeding guide you should read
Best treats for your Cane Corso
Should you dock tail or crop ear?
How Fast can a Cane Corso Run?
Author Bio
Dr. Adnan is a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine who loves all animals. He shares his home with two dogs and three cats and spends most of the time with them when he is not busy treating the animals.
