VERY interesting article on early spay/neuter
Submitted by CathyandAudrey on September 10, 2011 - 4:08pmhttp://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
I know we just had a discussion about this, and this article has some GREAT information about the results of studies on timing of altering and health AND behavioral issues. It has refreneces to all the studies mentioned too.
It is written from a canine athlete perspective, but the information is relevant to all dogs.
It is especially interesting I think for breeders, because it talks about the increased risks for things like hip displasia and CCL ruptures. If a breeder has some of the dogs they produce develop these and they use it to consider future breedings, it is helpful for them to know if the dog was altered or not, and at what age. It may be NOT as much a genetic issue as a lack of sex hormones causing the injury issue.
Interesting reading for sure......
Cathy and Audrey 
Here's another study which
Here's another study which says essentially the same things:
Long Term Health Effects of Spay/Neuter in Dogs
And the debate goes on.
I know a lot of shelters will spay/neuter puppies as young as 10 weeks before allowing adoption. Would be interesting to know what if any impact it has on long term health. There are so many variables to consider for these studies, I wonder how they even know where to begin.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
these articles are dated 2005 and 2007
perhaps there is newer data. I would be interested.
the research goes back MUCH further
in the Laura Sanborn study there is data collected from the 70's. Both these research papers are a compilation of the results of 40 different sources/studies, in several countries, over the span of several decades.
The evidence very strongly supports that there ARE long term negative health and behavioral effects on altering, and especially altering before puberty.
It is difficult to judge with shelter animals, because their actual full grown size and genetics are not usually known. That's why the studies on purebred dogs, and especially the contrast between European dogs, who are not systematically altered, vs US dogs, that ARE systematically altered, are beneficial.
In the Laura Sanborn study the precis by the chair of animal sciences at Rutgers University, Larry Katz, sums it up nicely.
He says that in light of the evidence, the veterinary profession and pet owners need to weigh in the health concerns before they alter their pets. There is not ONE standard that fits all dogs, and each dog, owner, and vet should treat that dog as an indivudal when making long term health decisions.
Cathy and Audrey
I have no doubt that early spay/neuter
has long term health implications, especially when done before 5 1/2 months of age. But, I also have no doubt that spaying/neutering pet dogs has a positive impact on their long term social skills. I've never had an average pet owner call me because their dogs legs grew longer then expected or their head isn't as developed as they wanted but I have had plenty of owners tell me that they are having problems with their dog, it could no longer play with other dogs without bullying/fighting.
I don't know of any vet that spays/neuters at 5 1/2 months, unless at the owners insistence. Does seem terribly young in their development.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
That is contrary to what these studies have found
There are MORE reported negative behavioral issues, especially with females, when altered. Do Eurpoean dogs collectively have more behavioral problems than US dogs because they do not routinely alter their dogs?
The average pet owner does not have a conclusive way to tell if their pet dog grew unnaturally. That is why studies of purebred dogs are so important. What the average pet owner will know is if their dog gets bone cancer. Hip displasia. CCL injury. Heart disease. Thyroid problems.
The purebred show dogs will have their body size and proportion routinely examined in the show ring, and by people knowledgable with the breed standard. If a show dog grows outside the norm of the standard, it's not going to get very far in the show world, and HOPEFULLY will not be bred to further his/her poor conformation.
A pet purebred dog will not have that peer reviewed examination of his overall body structure. It would be extremely difficult to know with any kind of certainty that an altered pet purebred was outside the norm of typical conformation for the breed because of a lack of sex hormones causing abnormal growth or because they just have poor conformation.
If the issue was stricly cosmetic it wouldn't be worth it to many to even consider. But it is not a cosmetic issue, wether or not the dogs' legs are breed standard length or their head breed standard size.
It is a health issue. The bones not getting a signal to stop increases that dog's risk for bone cancer. Bone cancer is almost always fatal. There is an increased risk for hip displasia, ccl injuries, pattellar injuries, cardiac hemangiosarcoma. These are not cosmetic or trivial ssues.
The veterinary world is not advocating stopping all altering. They are saying that the evidence should not be ignored. These health issues are REAL, they must be considered, and that each dog should be treated as an individual instead of making blanket recomendations that all dogs should follow.
Even if I knew with 100% certainty that Audrey's problems were related to the age she was spayed, and I could go back and have a second chance, I would STILL put her long term health before any other consideration. I would choose to take the chance that she would be an only dog for a very long life vs taking the chance she would be able to live with other dogs but die earlier because of cancer, (or ANY disease that spaying her too young increases the risks for).
I am not wrong for choosing the risks I deem acceptable for my dog, just like someone who chooses the exact opposite of me isn't wrong either. There IS no one correct answer for all.
Cathy and Audrey
I don't think that the health risks are trivial
not sure what you're saying.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
Oh no, I should not have neutered at 6 months
I was pushed into it by my vet clinic for health reasons. I really wonder if the luxating patella may not have happened if he remained intact. I know the thought is that it is present a birth, but perhaps not? I wonder if Mr. Higgins could have been spared 3 patella surgeries and now has no patella on one side and now I see arthritis. Maybe?
I neutered my last bully at 14 months and no orthopaedic issues at all. This is an interesting thought.
hormones are needed ....
i have two sb dogs not neutered...becasue they lift their legs to pee thus emptying their bladder....dogs need those hormones to boost immune system..its a part of the dog.....now with my two sb girls they are spayed...due to the fact that a pyo is very high in unspayed bitches....if i had a bitch i would spay at two years the risk of infection is to great....
so iguess what we really need like in humans is a hormone replacement....at one time any women could have their uterus removed..now you cant....becasue they have seen the increase in cancer in women with no uterus or who at a young age had them removed....
i believe in as late as possible neuter or spay.....and if you dont neuter you better train....
having three intact males is not easy....