[src="https://a.omappapi.com/users/3d3cb4d2c858/images/d5ebc782e5241584136416-Ear-Drops.png"], [src="https://a.omappapi.com/users/3d3cb4d2c858/images/50c975d7b7d11585953588-d5ebc782e5241584136416-Ear-Drops.png"], The Invisible Slimy Monster in Your Dog’s Water Bowl, Why Adding “Human Food” To Your Dog’s Diet Is So Important. Most people in the US are familiar with just one type of sterilization for dogs: spaying or neutering. Sign up for the Dogs Naturally Newsletter and get over 200 FREE Health Plans and Guides in 2020. To find a holistic or homeopathic vet near you or to find one who will do phone consultations, visit The Academy Of Veterinary Homeopathy. 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. 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. Spaying and neutering do have some clear health benefits for dogs. But most importantly, your pooch will avoid the cone-of-shame. Now that we’ve established how important it is to spay your female dog, we should discuss how to time the procedure. Your dog's reproductive hormones help his bones and joints develop properly. 4 Another study showed an increase in several types of cancer in … Noise phobias. December 14, 2017 at 11:11 AM by Removing Hormones can be of Risk. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. Here’s everything you need to know about spaying your dog, including when you should do it and what the best method is. Dr. Becker often lectures about species appropriate nutrition and has co-authored the Whole Dog Journal’s Best Homemade Diet Book of All Time award, “Real Food for Healthy Pets.” Dr. Becker is also the veterinary consultant for Mercola Healthy Pets, the largest pet wellness website on the internet, with over a million monthly visitors. The risks of early spay and neutering of dogs include: Hernia. The content on this website is not meant to replace veterinary advice. Nikki is the marketing manager for IPH and has been writing for Intermountain Pet Hospital since 2014. Pregnancy and birth also come with health implications that could put your dog at risk of injury or even death. 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. 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. 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. Spayed and neutered Golden Retrievers are more likely to develop hypothyroidism. Mammary Cancer & Spaying. Neutering Pets. Desexing removes hormone-producing organs (the ovaries or testicles) that researchers are now finding are actually quite important to overall health. Some pet owners consider having at least one litter of puppies before spaying their female dog, but we don’t recommend this. With client education and marketing, our profession has succeeded in making early spay-neuter programs our national custom, primarily for control of the population explosion. Studies also indicate that the earlier a puppy is spayed or neutered, the greater the likelihood of health problems later in life. Yes, I want to get emails from Dogs Naturally. Spaying or neutering are invasive procedures and only a certified medical professional should be allowed to perform it. 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. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. Early spay/neuter triples the risk of developing hypothyroidism and becoming obese. These days I work with each pet owner to make decisions that will provide the most health benefits for the dog. It also suggests how much we really do not yet understand about this subject. That is puppy like behaviours in adult dogs, which we believe could be related to the incidence of early spaying and neutering. The objective of the study was to evaluate the evidence that spaying, or the age at which a dog is spayed, has an effect on the risk of mammary tumors. Fearful behavior. 1. And the earlier the spay/neuter procedure, the taller the dog. Neutering before 1 year of age triples risk of some joint disorders Urinary incontinence risks elevated in female dogs spayed before age 1 Previous studies also found early neutering risks for golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers There is most certainly such a thing as spaying your dog at the wrong time—in particular, too early while she’s too young—and it’s something that you should work to avoid at all costs. 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. Unspayed females can develop a … News Flash: You CAN Spay your dog too early. When it comes to spaying your female dog, you probably have plenty of questions. The removal of estrogen-producing organs in immature dogs can cause growth plates to remain open. A hernia will look like a lump protruding from the abdomen near the incision site. If the spay happens between the first and second heats, female dogs still have quite a bit of protection, with only an 8% risk, compared to their intact sisters. Early spaying causes the leg bones to grow unevenly. I understand why veterinarians want all dogs to be fixed by 6 months of age. © 2020 Dogs Naturally Magazine Inc. Nikki Wardle. 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. Back in the 1990s, studies showed that dogs spayed or neutered before one year of age grew significantly taller than dogs not spayed/neutered until after puberty. Spaying is the only way to ensure a dog does not develop a uterus infection (pyometra) during their lifetime. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. We tend to believe... Pyometra. 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. This leaves your dog more vulnerable to hip dysplasia and torn ligaments. Clearly, spaying a female dog reduces her risk of mammary cancer. According to studies, Golden Retrievers are at the greatest risk if spayed or neutered early. You can change your mind and unsubscribe anytime. 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. If you’d like more on how we use your information, just check out our Privacy Policy. It is well documented in the literature that by removing the gonads in developing animals you certainly prevent the possible occurrence of … Spaying or neutering can lead to a reduction in certain health risks for both female and male dogs. 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. Many spay-and-neuter clinics are low-cost and anesthesia in veterinary medicine now is on par with human medicine. Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. For many pet owners, managing their dog’s pregnancy and puppies means a significant time and money commitment they’re not prepared for. A cohort study of shelter dogs conducted by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University concluded that infectious diseases were more common in dogs that were desexed at less than 24 weeks of age. With respect to cancer, cases of lymphoma were 3 … If neutering is done too early or too late, the risks get higher and the benefits lower. This study raises concerns about neutering in dogs and especially early neutering. Certainly older dogs can still get pregnant... Mammary cancer. Early spaying causes urinary incontinence in … On balance, it appears that no compelling case can be made for neutering most male dogs, especially immature male dogs, in order to prevent future health pr… The Royal Veterinary College researchers concluded: Due to the limited evidence available and the risk of bias in the published results, the evidence that neutering reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia, and the evidence that age at neutering has an effect, are judged to be weak and are not a sound basis for firm recommendations. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. Shelter medicine experts developed the concept of ultra-early neutering of kittens and puppies before adoption. Early neutering causes the leg bones to grow unevenly. First, we’ll answer the simplest question: should female dogs be spayed? 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. Pregnancy risk. 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. The dogs continue to grow and wind up with abnormal growth patterns and bone structure, which can result in irregular body proportions. In almost all cases, the answer is yes. IF DONE AT THE WRONG AGE, neutering increases the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, and bone cancer. 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 study published in 2000 in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism explains: At puberty, estrogen promotes skeletal maturation and the gradual, progressive closure of the epiphyseal growth plate, possibly as a consequence of both estrogen-induced vascular and osteoblastic invasion and the termination of chondrogenesis. 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. Aggression. And while large breed dogs had more CCL injuries, sterilized dogs of all breeds and sizes had increased rupture rates. 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. Now at 8 ½ years old, a dog is less likely to get pregnant. Sterilization is what I want to discuss today. Early spaying triples the risk of bone cancer, a deadly cancer that mostly occurs in large and giant dogs. For the past 30 years, our profession has urged the public to spay and neuter dogs and cats for a host of beneficial reasons, including population control and the avoidance of breast and testicular cancer. May 14, 2007 Precis At some point, most of us with an interest in dogs will have to consider whether or not to spay / neuter our pet. 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. Tradition holds that the benefits of doing so at an early age outweigh the risks. Cancer. 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. 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. The evidence shows that spay/neuter correlates with both positive AND adverse health effects in dogs. Risks Associated with Spaying/Neutering Too Early or Too Late. Karen Shaw Becker received her degree in veterinary medicine from the Iowa State School of Veterinary Medicine. 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. Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs Laura J. Sanborn, M.S. Only 1 in 200 dogs spayed before their first season will develop mammary cancer. To learn more about spaying your dog, contact us today. If you remove those hormones too early, they don't have enough time to complete their valuable work. Waiting to spay means an increased risk of tumor development. If the spay happens between the third and fourth heat, female dogs have a 26% risk, compared to intact dogs. There are too many measures for me to report in detail, however, the main results were the same across all three samples of dogs. Early gonad removal is commonly associated with urinary incontinence in female dogs and has been linked to increased incidence of urethral sphincter incontinence in males. If a hernia … These concerns might seem valid, but the reasons to spay or neuter far outweigh the risks of not doing so. That said, it's wise to let your dog go through one heat cycle so she can get those hormones running through her system. This practice was embraced by … This is because orthopedic diseases are usually young to middle age dog problems and all the dogs in the studies would be equally susceptible to developing orthopedic disease. These were primarily irreversible metabolic diseases that appeared within a few years of a dog’s surgery. While it’s not clear at what age the dogs were desexed, a study conducted at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center on canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries concluded that spayed and neutered dogs had a significantly higher incidence of CCL rupture than their intact counterparts. This can mean you either do it too early or too late. Is it too late to spay an old dog? Please support the hard working holistic vets who make this information possible. Undesirable sexual behaviors. Translation: The hormone estrogen, which is no longer produced in spayed or neutered dogs, plays a crucial role in bone growth and development. 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. Often, tradition holds That said, there’s always the risk of spaying or neutering your Belgian Malinois at the wrong time. Here are examples of studies evidencing some of these potential issues. Fish and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate injured and orphaned endangered species through her non-profit organization, Covenant Wildlife. Among the reports and studies pointing to health concerns associated with early spaying and neutering, you can also find mention of increased incidence of: Results of a UK study published in 2012 in the Journal of Small Animal Practice were unable to validate the theory – a theory that is widely assumed to be a fact – that early spaying protects female dogs from mammary neoplasia. Reduction of certain health risks. 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. 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's also less benefit for a reduction in mammary tumors in older female dogs. Translation: The idea that spaying, and early spaying of a female dog before her first estrus cycle, removes or reduces her risk of breast cancer is at the present time a theory rather than a fact. Older show or breeding pets who are spayed or neutered can avoid various cancers and infections. 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. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. THE SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF DOG NEUTERING BEFORE SEXUALLY MATURE. Dr Becker is also licensed by the U.S. In my opinion, the orthopedic risks from early spaying and neutering are clear while the cancer risks are less clear. Topics: Dogs who are spayed/neutered too early have an increased chance of developing undesirable behavioral issues such as phobias, fear aggression and reactivity. During an analysis of medical data that was recorded from 1982 to 1995, it was found that cardiac tumors were found… As long as you choose the right time to neuter your dog, the benefits outweigh the risk. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. Over the past decade several other untoward health events related to juvenile spay/neuter surgery have come to light, including cancer and behavioral problems. Consider the circumstances carefully before you choose to breed your dog. Many articles have been recently written about the best time to neuter. The decision on when to neuter your dog depends on their sex and breed. 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 … Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. 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). In early-neutered dogs, the incidence of CCL was 5.1 percent in males and 7.7 percent in females, suggesting that neutering prior to sexual maturity significantly increases a dog’s risk of developing CCL disease. Recent studies have linked early spay and neuter to a bevy of health risks: increased incidence of cranial cruciate ligament disease, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, or lymphomas in dogs that were spayed or neutered before sexual maturity. 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. 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.
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