Even more dramatically, there was a 100 percent increase in hip dysplasia among
early neutered males.
Large animal practitioners have long
practiced early neutering on their livestock and consider it not only acceptable, but desirable in many cases.
Our hospital
supports early neutering but prefers that kittens presented for neutering weigh at least 3 lbs so that the tissues are not too difficult to manipulate.
The issue
with early neutering is the fact that the growth plates do not close, that the hormones involved are not available as the dog gets older, and yes weight.
Male dogs rely on testosterone to stop bone growth and
early neutered males will grow taller as their bones are grow for a longer period if testosterone is removed early.
Indeed, one investigator points out that many veterinarians have been
practicing early neutering for years, since there is an incredible range of ages when puppies and kittens reach sexual maturity.
However, the wide difference in MCT occurrence between intact and lateneutered females was meaningful, given that the MCT occurrence in late neutered females and
early neutered females was significant (RR = 4.46, 95 % CI = 1.11, 17.82).
Perhaps best known for his anaesthesia and
early neutering work, David has also made huge contributions to feral cat neutering programmes in Manchester where he is hospital director of the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
Concerns have also been raised as to the effect of
early neutering on behavior, food consumption and dietary requirements, etc..
Please download the self - recording card after completion of Cat's Protection's free CPD opportunities - Understanding Feline Origins (UFO) our free online feline behaviour course or watching A guide to pre-pubertal neutering - our veterinary
earlier neutering video.
There is a lot of controversy
regarding early neutering of large breeds as some believe it hinders growth and causes certain health problems so get as much information as possible from the breeder and your local vet.
Other organizations involved in
early neuter programs include the Denver Dumb Friends League in Colorado, the Miami Humane Society and Alachua County Animal Control in Florida, The Humane Society of Austin and Travis County in Texas, the Chicago Animal Control in Illinois, the King County Animal Control in Washington state, the Vancouver SPCA in British Columbia and the Southern Oregon Humane Society in Oregon.
The American Humane Association has
endorsed early neutering prior to adoption as a «feasible solution to decreasing pet overpopulation and the tragedy of resulting deaths.»
There is some speculation that factors such
as early neutering, over-vaccinating and poor diet may contribute to bone cancer.
Although early neutering may result in the pet developing fewer secondary sex characteristics traits, such as a more muscular body frame, your dog or cat will still grow and develop into a happy, healthy pet.
For females, the timing of neutering is more problematical
because early neutering significantly increases the incidence rate of CCL from near zero to almost 8 percent, and late neutering increases the rates of HSA to 4 times that of the 1.6 percent rate for intact females and to 5.7 percent for MCT, which was not diagnosed in intact females.»
Some sources may tout the medical benefits of
early neutering while others may caution you to wait until your dog's first heat or some other time marker.
Unfortunately, she may not derive the health benefits of
early neutering if she has already had more than two estrus periods or is over 2 years old before being spayed.
Given the widespread practice of neutering in the U.S., especially with public campaigns
promoting early neutering, and the contrast with neutering practices in other developed countries, the objective of this project was to retrospectively examine the effects of neutering on the risks of several diseases in the same breed, distinguishing between males and females and early or late neutering versus remaining intact using a single hospital database.
However, the wide difference in MCT occurrence between intact and late - neutered females was meaningful, given that the MCT occurrence in late neutered females and
early neutered females was significant (RR = 4.46, 95 % CI = 1.11, 17.82).
Do nt confuse aggressiveness with protectiveness; a neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog, and many aggression problems can be avoided
by early neutering.
The Dekalb Humane Society in Decatur, Collie Rescue of Metro Atlanta, the Georgia Alliance of Purebred Canine Rescuers, The Haven (dog rescue) and Dog River Sanctuary in Douglasville are among the Georgia organizations working with
early neuter in dogs and cats, as well as exotic species.
The most frequently mentioned advantage
of early neutering of female dogs is protection against mammary cancer (MC)[12].
Cats Protection has produced «A Guide to
Early Neutering»; an online video that explains why cats should be neutered at four months of age or...
There are other health problems potentially associated with
early neutering that I have not included in the scope of this article: prostate cancer, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, obesity (and its sequellae: osteoarthritis, diabetes), urinary incontinence and hypothyroidism.
As more research is being done, there is increasing evidence pointing to health problems that
early neutering may play a part in.
According to the charity,
early neutering is the most effective method of...
The study indicates that
early neutering (before 12 months of age) was associated with an increase in the occurrence of hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear and lymphosarcoma in male dogs.
And we didn't have any little Lenny's due to
this early neutering.