Interesting article on Health Consequences of Spaying/Neutering or Not...

[Adina P]

This was posted on a different forum and it is an article I hadn't read before.  It does NOT cover the effect on population control, only health risks from the choice to spay/neuter or not.  I thought it brought up some interesting data:

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInD...

What was most interesting was that, from how I read it, there was little positive health benefit from neutering males.  And for females the only real big plus was lower risk of mammary cancer.  Otherwise, from a health standpoint, there seemed little good data to promote spaying/neutering.  And there seemed to be more benefits to keeping dogs intact at least through puberty.

Now, of course there are other ramifications...but the health aspect was interesting.  IF anyone has newer data...feel free to share!

(I have categorized this in the Discussing Doodley Things category because it does affect doodles)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You know, it occurs to me that for small breeds, this is really a non-issue. Putting aside what most of us think of as ESN, that is, spay/neuter done < 2 months old, before a puppy goes home, most small breed dogs reach full physical and reproductive maturity at 6-7 months of age. I always had small dogs before Jack, and they were always spayed at that age, after the growth plates were closed and after the first estrus. So this is really much more of an issue for large breed dogs.

[Lee Seidman]

We have two rescued Doodles, a Male named Billy, 7 1/2 months and a female named Lexi, 22 months. Lexi was spayed at six months and billy was neutered yesterday at seven and a half months.
I firmly believe that in addition to removing some potential health problems, it gives them a more mellow loving temperment, and most important is the population control. There are so many unwanted pets in shelters, and on the street. Why take a chance on contributing to that over population.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am swamped by paperwork so I am not able to devote too much time to this topic. And maybe I am reluctant also because both my dogs had ESN. But here goes my quick thoughts based on the assumption that the author is accurate, not always a good assumption. Much of the information is breed specific. We know that purebred dogs may have been bred in some instances in ways which increased the risk of some of these disorders. Doodles may be somewhat protected by being hybrids so to speak.
Some of the conditions are readily treatable like hypothyroidism and obesity. Some of the problems like cruciate ligament tears may be related to obesity, which can be controlled.The incidence of some of the tumors is extremely low and the increases with ESN don't change that incidence much. So that leaves reduction of mammary gland tumors and the elimination of pyometra as a big plus in the ESN column. The incidence of osteosarcoma, in Rottweilers who have had ESN is astounding. Do labs, poodles and goldens have incidences that are high or low? I don't know but maybe someone will look this up. But certainly this is something that in certain breeds at least, may be a big negative in the ESN column.
I think it's really interesting that tumors which are uncommon in humans, such as osteosarcoma and cardiac hemangioma are much more common in some breeds of dogs.
The geriatric cognitive problems are an interesting complication. It seems that some of the surgical problems could be reduced, perhaps, with better techniques. And chewing out of sutures is hardly life threatening. In fact the death rate is very low from spay/neuter surgery.
Lastly, those of us who bought doodles from the majority of breeders don't have a choice about when to spay or neuter since the breeders won't sell the dogs intact. Unless pressure is brought upon the breeders by either market factors, strong evidence from the veterinary community or something like that, that fact is unlikely to change. But from a purely personal medical point of view, and really just my thinking without any scientific backing, I don't think it is a good idea to so drastically change and animal's hormonal status before puberty.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Labs and Goldens are represented among the breeds most often affected by osteosarcoma, but not poodles. I was also surprised that Rottweilers are so heavily represented. I knew Irish Wolfhounds were at highest risk, but I would have thought more of the truly giant breeds would be affected than apparently is the case.
Here's a chart of the most frequently affected breeds & percentages:

Breeds % Incidence for the breed
Irish Wolfhound 4.88
Rottweiler 4.80
Greyhound 4.27
Great Dane 4.26
Irish Setter 3.95
Samoyed 3.39
Akita 1.57
Doberman Pinscher 1.47
Siberian Husky 1.38
Golden Retriever 1.11
Labrador Retriever 0.94
Basset Hound 0.79
Australian Shepherd Dog 0.46
Mixed Breed 0.44
Boxer 0.32

In beginning to research this, I also came across the interesting information that there can be many factors affecting the develop of osteosarcoma, including flouride in the drinking water.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That is an interesting list. Flouride, another controversial topic, or are there any other kinds of topics : ) Just checked in people. There are only 900 cases diagnosed a year in people in the US and 400 are in people under 20 years old.

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

Well....this has been a lively discussion. A bit hard for me to follow after working a full day and caring for my 10 week old puppy so I only skimmed the article and extracted some of the points by what others have summarized in various capacities here.

This was a timely discussion for me, as a new owner of an ALD obtained from a breeder after attempting the rescue route, as I've been curious about why most breeders do neuter the dogs before sending them home. Even my vet was surprised when I had Bosco in for his initial check. I offered that this is a way to ensure the original Australian bloodlines - am I correct in that assumption?

Also, while the article is a comprehensive overview of all breeds, I'd be curious to read about the impact of ESN that is more breed-specific, if indeed such research/studies have been conducted and papers published.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I believe that the breeders do ESN as a way to prevent haphazard, poorly planned breeding. In part to help the breed but I also think to help control the numbers of dogs, thereby protecting the market. I know the breeders may take offense to my opinion but I do not mean to offend, just stating my opinion. It is difficult to enforce spay/neuter contracts once the dogs are sold..

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

My mother was a respected breeder of English Labrador Retrievers for years in the 1970's .....She did not believe in early spay neuter for developmental reasons. She also did not sell her puppies to any schmuck with the money to pay for one. She was VERY careful with home selection whether the puppy was show quality or pet quality.

She took additional deposits that she refunded when presented with proof of altering from a veterinarian.She followed up on every placement. Every puppy was placed in a responsible loving home...Every puppy was altered...She never had to "enforce" a contract.....

[Holly St Pierre]

Jacquie-Lanky couldn’t be further from what Gunner is, as well as many other dogs I know who were spayed/neutered early. This may be a general term, however I hope you aren’t saying that it’s factual for all dogs who are neutered early, because it isn’t.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's what I took away from reading this article...
-"Across-the-board recommendations for all dogs do not appear to be supportable from findings in the veterinary medical literature". There is no sweeping recommendation that can be developed from this study.
-There does not appear to be conclusive differentiation in most of the data between the 6 - 8 week vs 6 month spay/neuter. That is something I've wondered about because of the current practice of so many Doodle breeders. It appears they are both considered early spay/neuters for most parts of this study.
-The risks for each individual dog are critical in applying the data. If, for example, I had a beagle with hip dysplasia in his lineage, I would probably want to wait to spay/neuter until my dog was over 6 months.
-The rate of complications from the procedure itself was higher than I would have expected. This points to the need "do your homework" in selecting your vet and asking the right questions before the surgery. It also reinforces the need to proper, diligent post op care when we bring our dogs home.

There is nothing here that is compelling enough for me to wish I had delayed neutering until my dogs had completed puberty (or not to neuter at all). My Vet recommended neutering Murphy when he was just over four months because he was already beginning to display some inappropriate "behaviors" which she felt were attributed to his rise in testosterone levels. My trainer has two intact breeding Golden Retrievers, and when they're around they change the whole dynamic of the other dogs in the training class (and not in a good way). I think there are many "down sides" to getting through puberty with an intact dog, and it would take more that what I read here to make me want to do that (for MY Doodles with MY lifestyle).

[Adina P]

I agree and I also do NOT wish I had kept Rosco intact.  He would have been MORE than a handful given what a mounter he was with Thule anyway!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good point Jane about the lack of data/differentiation between 6-8 weeks and 6 months in this study. And I agree that we all have to make the best decisions we can for ourselves and pets based on what we know or can find out at the time.