That said, it's wise to let your dog go through one heat cycle so she can get those hormones running through her system. The dogs continue to grow and wind up with abnormal growth patterns and bone structure, which can result in irregular body proportions. Please support the hard working holistic vets who make this information possible. Early spaying causes the leg bones to grow unevenly. Over the years, I’ve changed my view on spaying and neutering dogs, based on emerging research, and also on the health challenges faced by so many of my canine patients after I spayed or neutered them. Topics: Hernia. And while large breed dogs had more CCL injuries, sterilized dogs of all breeds and sizes had increased rupture rates. Laparoscopic neutering is less invasive than traditional spaying and only involves the removal of the ovaries instead of a full hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). Early spaying triples the risk of bone cancer, a deadly cancer that mostly occurs in large and giant dogs. Often, tradition holds Aggression. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. As compared to your male dogs, female dogs spayed too soon are 6.5 times more likely to develop cancer whereas the risk to males is 3.6 times greater after the procedure. Here at Intermountain Veterinary Hospital, we offer the traditional procedure (what requires the cone of shame), but we also offer an alternative method using laparoscopy. An objective reading of the veterinary medical literature reveals a complex situation with respect to the long- termhealth risks and benefits associated with spay/neuter in dogs. For both male and female Rotties spayed or neutered before one year of age, there was a one-in-four lifetime risk of bone cancer, and the desexed animals were significantly more likely to develop the disease than intact dogs of the same breed. According to a 2001 paper on the subject, “Early-age neutering does not stunt growth in dogs or cats (a once-held belief), but may alter metabolic rates in cats. For some pet owners, spaying is an overwhelming decision they know they’ll have to make at some point, but put off because the research seems daunting. There are too many measures for me to report in detail, however, the main results were the same across all three samples of dogs. To learn more about spaying your dog, contact us today. Among the reports and studies pointing to health concerns associated with early spaying and neutering, you can also find mention of increased incidence of: Adverse reactions to vaccines. Certainly older dogs can still get pregnant... Mammary cancer. The anaesthetic and surgical procedures are apparently safe for young puppies and kittens; morbidity is … That is puppy like behaviours in adult dogs, which we believe could be related to the incidence of early spaying and neutering. Dogs who are spayed/neutered too early have an increased chance of developing undesirable behavioral issues such as phobias, fear aggression and reactivity. These days I work with each pet owner to make decisions that will provide the most health benefits for the dog. However, if you spay her too early – or too late – it can in fact be counter-productive. Pregnancy risk. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. You can change your mind and unsubscribe anytime. Only 1 in 200 dogs spayed before their first season will develop mammary cancer. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. This can mean you either do it too early or too late. Consider the circumstances carefully before you choose to breed your dog. 1. Risk for certain cancers seems to decrease when sterilization occurs prior to sexual maturity, but risk for other cancers seems to increase when sterilization occurs prior to sexual maturity, especially in certain large breed dogs. December 14, 2017 at 11:11 AM by Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. Studies also indicate that the earlier a puppy is spayed or neutered, the greater the likelihood of health problems later in life. 4,7 Female golden retrievers spayed at an early age have a higher incidence of mast cell tumor, for example, and neutered male golden retrievers have a higher incidence of lymphosarcoma. In addition, during puberty and into the third decade, estrogen has an anabolic effect on the osteoblast and an apoptotic effect on the osteoclast, increasing bone mineral acquisition in axial and appendicular bone. She also completed exotic animal internships in California and at the Berlin Zoo, Germany, and is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture and Homeopathy. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. Now that we’ve established how important it is to spay your female dog, we should discuss how to time the procedure. Is it too late to spay an old dog? The content on this website is not meant to replace veterinary advice. These were primarily irreversible metabolic diseases that appeared within a few years of a dog’s surgery. Cancer. A 1998 study published in the Veterinary Journal using data from the Veterinary Medical Database for the period 1980 through 1994 concluded that the risk for bone cancer in large breed, purebred dogs increased twofold for spayed or neutered dogs. Spaying is the only way to ensure a dog does not develop a uterus infection (pyometra) during their lifetime. But these are actually desexing procedures that go well beyond simply sterilizing a dog so that he or she can no longer reproduce. If the spay happens between the third and fourth heat, female dogs have a 26% risk, compared to intact dogs. It is well documented in the literature that by removing the gonads in developing animals you certainly prevent the possible occurrence of … But most importantly, your pooch will avoid the cone-of-shame. 4 Another study showed an increase in several types of cancer in … Nikki Wardle. For example, in this data set, neutering increases the risk of having at least one of the studied orthopedic diseases in several breeds: that risk increases five times in a Golden Retriever neutered before six months of age, and doubles if the dog is a Labrador Retriever. In a study of Rottweilers published in 2002, it was established that the risk for bone sarcoma was significantly influenced by the age at which the dogs were desexed. Your dog’s ideal time to spay will also be based on her breed and size, so it’s best to work closely with a veterinarian to determine when is the right time. The evidence shows that spay/neuter correlates with both positive AND adverse health effects in dogs. That said, it's wise to let your dog go through one heat cycle so she can get those hormones running through her system. A dog that is spayed too young might not produce the necessary hormones that will be needed later in her life, so having the procedure performed at the right age is very important. Reduction of certain health risks. Undesirable sexual behaviors. These concerns might seem valid, but the reasons to spay or neuter far outweigh the risks of not doing so. The decision on when to neuter your dog depends on their sex and breed. However, most experts agree that, while risk factors for some conditions may increase due to neutering, some (such as mammary cancer and prostate cancer) decrease. Many of the decisions you make over the next few months will affect your dog for a lifetime: the diet you choose, the vaccine protocol, socialization and training, and decisions about when to sterilize. Fish and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate injured and orphaned endangered species through her non-profit organization, Covenant Wildlife. That said, there’s always the risk of spaying or neutering your Belgian Malinois at the wrong time. Some pet owners consider having at least one litter of puppies before spaying their female dog, but we don’t recommend this. The study revealed that dogs that typically weigh upwards of 40 pounds are at the biggest risk of health complications following an early neuter or spay procedure. It also suggests how much we really do not yet understand about this subject. Risks of Early Spay and Neutering of Dogs Besides the reduction of pet over-population, other benefits of fixing our dogs include less wandering, less marking, a decrease in aggressive behavior, and reduced risk of mammary cancer. We have also observed that bitches spayed too early may be far more interesting to intact males; unwanted male attention may cause the female to become aggressive and protective of this attention in adulthood. She adds, “Very few dogs are truly in this situation, such as those who live in the midst of lots of completely unvaccinated dogs and … If a dog is truly at a high risk of infectious disease, revaccination might be a safer bet than relying on the results of an antibody titer test. In a retrospective cohort study conducted at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and published over 10 years ago in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, results showed that both male and female dogs desexed at an early age were more prone to hip dysplasia. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. Spayed and neutered Golden Retrievers are more likely to develop hypothyroidism. Early spaying causes urinary incontinence in … © 2020 Dogs Naturally Magazine Inc. Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs Laura J. Sanborn, M.S. If you’re thinking about adding a puppy to the family, in addition to deciding what type of dog is right for you, you’ll also be making lots of lifestyle choices for the long-term health and happiness of your new best furry friend. The greatest cancer for your female dogs is hemangiosarcoma. Neutering Pets. Waiting to spay means an increased risk of tumor development. Other studies have linked early spaying and neutering to certain cancers, joint disorders, and urinary incontinence—though the risks tend to vary by sex, breed, and living circumstances. This study raises concerns about neutering in dogs and especially early neutering. This practice was embraced by … There's also less benefit for a reduction in mammary tumors in older female dogs. That appeared within a few years of a dog does not develop a uterus infection pyometra... Like behaviours in adult dogs, which can result in health problems later in life yet understand this! 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