Scientists have updated guidelines on when to neuter your dog in light of increasing evidence that doing it too early can cause health issues.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis, published the new guidance in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science. It adds to research started in 2013 that indicated neutering golden retrievers too early increases the risk of certain joint disorders and cancers. And now, five more breeds have been added under this umbrella.
Lead authors Lynette Hart and Benjamin Hart of the School of Veterinary Medicine analyzed over a decade of data on dogs treated at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
They focused on five dog breeds in particular, analyzing the effects of neutering and spaying a dog before it is a year old: German Short/Wirehaired Pointer, mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Siberian husky.
They found that early neutering increases the risk of joint disorders in all German Short/Wirehaired Pointer dogs. This was also the case in just males for mastiff dogs. Newfoundland females also had an increased risk of joint disorders with early neutering.
Early neutering in female Rhodesian Ridgebacks also increased the risk of cell tumors.
There were no significant risks noted for the Siberian husky, however, there was an indication of disorders in females that were neutered early.
"It's always complicated to consider an alternate paradigm," Lynette Hart, department vice-chair and professor, said in a statement. "This is a shift from a long-standing model of early spay/neuter practices in the U.S. and much of Europe to neuter by 6 months of age, but important to consider as we see the connections between gonadal hormone withdrawal from early spay/neuter and potential health concerns."
The authors urge the need for personalized decisions when it comes to neutering and spaying. Owners should consider the breed, sex and age of their pets before booking the procedure.
The most common cancers linked to early neutering included those of the lymph nodes, blood vessels or mast cell tumors.
The link between cancers and joint disorders, and the procedure, comes down to the removal of sex hormones in the pet. These hormones play roles in the closing of bone growth plates, the study notes.
Despite these findings, neutering your dog at the right time can drastically reduce the risks of other health issues in the future, such as prostate disease and uterine infections
It is also a recommended procedure for other reasons relating to behavior and the welfare of the community. Behaviorally, neutered dogs are less likely to roam, exhibit aggression, or engage in problematic behaviors like marking territory. This also helps control the pet population, reducing the number of stray and unwanted animals, which can lead to lower euthanasia rates in shelters.
"We're invested in making contributions to people's relationship with their animals," said Benjamin Hart, distinguished professor emeritus. "This guidance provides information and options for veterinarians to give pet owners, who should have the final decision-making role for the health and well-being of their animal."
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about dogs? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
