Young dog and neutering

And on that note....I agree and
Nuff said!

 

so because a vet is allowed to do something or even them being adament about it makes it correct? Yeah, ok and dont forget your science diet when picking up your 5mo pup from neuturing because the all knowing vets claim its a healthy feed, they know eveyrthing and have your pets best interest in mind at all times.

and game_test stated the obvious IMO

I could care less if you neuter your puppies, go for it. The thread was made and I gave my opinion

 

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I respect most of them, right or wrong. The fact is, I HAVE had altered dogs, male and female, that were altered at a young age, has any opposers to young neutering had problems? If so, I am all ears, and will apologize if shown proof. I like to stick by the facts, not rumors or theories.

 

*<!-- google_ad_section_start -->I thought it was common sense that any mammal including dogs needs thier hormonal system to grow properly but here you go*

my last post on this ridiculous debate



Early Spay-Neuter Considerations
for the Canine Athlete
<blocked:http://www.caninesports.com/biograph.html> C 2005 Chris Zink DVM,
PhD



To neuter or not to neuter...


There are a number of studies that suggest that those of us with canine
athletes should be carefully considering our current recommendations to spay
or neuter all dogs at 6 months of age or earlier. A study by Salmeri et al
in 1991 (Salmeri et al JAVMA 1991;198:1193-1203) found that bitches spayed
at 7 weeks were significantly taller than those spayed at 7 months, and that
those spayed at at 7 months had significantly delayed closure of the growth
plates than those not spayed (or presumably spayed after the growth plates
had closed). The sex hormones close the growth plates, so the bones of dogs
or bitches neutered or spayed before puberty continue to grow. This growth
frequently results in a dog that does not have the same body proportions as
he/she was genetically meant to. For example, if the femur is normal length
at 8 months when a dog gets spayed or neutered, but the tibia, which
normally stops growing at 12 to 14 months of age continues to grow, then an
abnormal angle may develop at the stifle. In addition, with the extra
growth, the lower leg below the stifle becomes heavier (because it is
longer), causing increased stresses on the cranial cruciate ligament. This
is confirmed by a recent study showing that spayed and neutered dogs have a
higher incidence of CCL rupture (Slauterbeck JR, Pankratz K, Xu KT, Bozeman
SC, Hardy DM. Canine ovariohysterectomy and orchiectomy increases the
prevalence of ACL injury. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004 Dec;(429):301-5).


In addition, a study in 2004 in JAVMA (Spain et al. JAVMA 2004;224:380-387)
showed that dogs spayed or neutered before 5 1/2 months had a significantly
higher incidence of hip dysplasia than dogs spayed or neutered after 5 1/2
months of age. If I were a breeder, I would be very concerned about this,
because it would mean that I might be making incorrect breeding decisions if
I were considering the hip status of pups I sold that were spayed or
neutered early. Interestingly, this same author also identified an increased
incidence of sexual behaviors in males and females that were neutered early.


A number of studies, including the one by Spain referenced above, have shown
that there is an increase in the incidence of female urinary incontinence in
dogs spayed early. This problem is an inconvenience, and not usually
life-threatening, but nonetheless one that requires the dog to be medicated
for life.


Yes, there is the concern that there is an increased risk of mammary cancer
if a dog has a heat cycle. But it is my observation that fewer canine
athletes develop mammary cancer as compared to the number that damage their
cranial cruciate ligaments. In addition, only about 50 % of mammary tumors
are malignant, and those that are malignant don't metastasize very often,
particularly in these days when there is early identification and removal of
lumps found on our dogs.


In addition, when considering cancer, there is another study of 3218 dogs
that showed that dogs that were neutered before a year of age had a
significantly increased chance of developing bone cancer (Cooley DM, Beranek
BC, Schlittler DL, Glickman NW, Glickman LT, Waters D, Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev. 2002 Nov;11(11):1434-40), a cancer that is much more
life-threatening than mammary cancer, and which affects both genders.


Finally, in another study, unneutered males were significantly less likely
than neutered males to suffer cognitive impairment when they were older
(Hart BL. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001 Jul 1;219(1):51-6). Females were not
evaluated in that study.


For these reasons, I have significant concerns with spaying or neutering
dogs before puberty, particularly for the canine athlete. And frankly, if
something is more healthy for the canine athlete, would we not also want
that for pet dogs as well? I think it is important, therefore, that we
assess each situation individually. If a pet dog is going to live with an
intelligent, well-informed family that understands the problem of pet
overpopulation and can be trusted to keep their dogs under their control at
all times and to not breed them, I do not recommend spaying or neutering
before 14 months of age.


This article is available for download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format Early
<blocked:http://www.caninesports.com/EarlySpayConsiderations.pdf> Spay
Considerations (pdf).
<blocked:http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html>
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html




</blocked:</blocked:</blocked:

 

I'm glad somebody posted that study. The short version of my beliefs on spay/neuter is basically: If you aren't up to the challenge of handling an intact dog, get 'em chopped early. If you aren't afraid, and you want the dog to get the maximum benefit of hormones in their development, wait. But be honest with yourself, and call it what it is. It is largely a surgery of convenience, and while it has some health/behavioral benefits, it also has drawbacks. It will not cure any behavioral problems that have already begun. Only a smart owner can do that.

I will admit that the last spay I had done was partly out of being nervous at having an intact bitch around, and also long-standing belief that girls should all be spayed, so I had it done before she ever came in heat. If I'd known then what I know now, I would've waited.

 

I am a man of my word, I appologize. I had never seen this study before, thanks. I have had experience with dogs altered at a young age, and noticed no difference, but this makes me double think about the next dog I might get. It would explain why some of the ones altered young end up bigger. Again thanks for showing me proof.

 

Good posts everyone, thanks