When should you neuter your dog to avoid health risks?
Comprehensive study lays out guidelines for 35 dog breeds

Date:
July 15, 2020
Source:
University of California - Davis
Summary:
A new, 10-year study by researchers at the University of California,
Davis, examined 35 dog breeds and found vulnerability from
neutering, and the age at which they are neutered, varies greatly
depending on the breed.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Some dog breeds have higher risk of developing certain cancers and joint disorders if neutered or spayed within their first year of life. Until
now, studies had only assessed that risk in a few breeds. A new,
10-year study by researchers at the University of California, Davis,
examined 35 dog breeds and found vulnerability from neutering varies
greatly depending on the breed. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.


========================================================================== "There is a huge disparity among different breeds," said lead author
Benjamin Hart, distinguished professor emeritus at the UC Davis School
of Veterinary Medicine. Hart said there is no "one size fits all" when
it comes to health risks and the age at which a dog is neutered. "Some
breeds developed problems, others didn't. Some may have developed joint disorders but not cancer or the other way around." Researchers analyzed
15 years of data from thousands of dogs examined each year at the UC
Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to try to understand whether neutering, the age of neutering, or differences in sex when neutered
affect certain cancers and joint disorders across breeds. The joint
disorders examined include hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tears
and elbow dysplasia. Cancers examined include lymphoma; hemangiosarcoma,
or cancer of the blood vessel walls; mast cell tumors; and osteosarcoma,
or bone cancer.

In most breeds examined, the risk of developing problems was not affected
by age of neutering.

BREED DIFFERENCES BY SIZE AND SEX Researchers found that vulnerability
to joint disorders was related to body size.



==========================================================================
"The smaller breeds don't have these problems, while a majority of the
larger breeds tend to have joint disorders," said co-author Lynette Hart, professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

One of the surprising exceptions to this was among the two giant breeds -
- great Danes and Irish wolfhounds -- which showed no increased risk to
joint disorders when neutered at any age.

Researchers also found the occurrence of cancers in smaller dogs was
low, whether neutered or kept intact. In two breeds of smaller dogs,
the Boston terrier and the shih tzu, there was a significant increase
in cancers with neutering.

Another important finding was that the sex of the dog sometimes made a difference in health risks when neutered. Female Boston terriers neutered
at the standard six months of age, for example, had no increased risk
of joint disorders or cancers compared with intact dogs, but male Boston terriers neutered before a year of age had significantly increased risks.

Previous studies have found that neutering or spaying female golden
retrievers at any age increases the risk of one or more of the cancers
from 5 percent to up to 15 percent.



========================================================================== DISCUSS CHOICES WITH VETERINARIANS Dog owners in the United States are overwhelmingly choosing to neuter their dogs, in large part to prevent
pet overpopulation, euthanasia or reduce shelter intake. In the U.S.,
surgical neutering is usually carried out by six months of age.

This study suggests that dog owners should carefully consider when and
if they should have their dog neutered.

"We think it's the decision of the pet owner, in consultation with
their veterinarian, not society's expectations that should dictate
when to neuter," said Benjamin Hart. "This is a paradigm shift for the
most commonly performed operation in veterinary practice." The study
lays out guidelines for pet owners and veterinarians for each of 35
breeds to assist in making a neutering decision. See details in journal publication below.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
University_of_California_-_Davis. Original written by Amy Quinton. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Benjamin L. Hart, Lynette A. Hart, Abigail P. Thigpen, Neil
H. Willits.

Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds
of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary
Incontinence. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2020; 7 DOI:
10.3389/fvets.2020.00388 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200715160008.htm

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