Health Benefits & Risks of Early Age Sterilization Article

[GSDAlphaMom]

I often seen questions on here about if/when to spay/neuter so I thought I would share some highlights from an article in the Jan/Feb 2012 AKC Family Dog mag. Article written by Claudia Gray, DVM and former associate news editor of Journal of the American Medical Association.

Health Benefits & Risks of Early-Age Sterilization

Benefits
Male & Females
Surgery and anesthesia times are shorter
Faster recover from anethesia and healing
Fewer surgical complications

Females
Reduces risks of mammary cancer, especially when spayed before 2nd heat cycle

Risks
Males & Females
3-4 times higher risk of bone cancer if sterilized before maturity
Greater risk of hip dysplasia if sterilized before 5 months
Greater risk of ACL ruptures if sterilized before maturity
Risk of uneven bone growth that may lead to altered conformation and increased stress on bones and joints if sterilized before maturity

Females
2-5 times greater risk of blood-vessel cancer of heart or spleen (hemangiosarcoma)
Greater risk of urinary-track infections caused by immature genitlia
Greater risk of urinary incontinence, especially if spayed before 3 months

Males
Nearly doubles risk of blood-vessel cancer of heart (hemangiosarcoma)

The full article is titled When to Neuter.

There's also an article (I have not read it yet) on Trakr (gsd), one of the 9/11 SAR dogs that died in 09 at the age of 16. Apparently they have cloned him. Article is titled Canine Copycats, Scientists revive a 9/11 hero through cloning.

[msvette2u]

What studies did they use to compile the info?

http://www.columbusdogconnection.com...ebuttal%20.pdf If you can read this you'll see some of those studies were quite misinterpreted.

In another thread titled "calling all experts(?)" or something similar, there was a statement indicating that many of the issues brought up here were disproven by different studies (such as "immature genitalia").

[GSDAlphaMom]

Good question. I didn't notice on my original read but went back after your inquiry.

Risks and benefits com from summaries of published research provided by the American College of Theriogenologists, the National Animal Interest Alliance, the Third International Symposium on Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods for Control, the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Assocation and the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals.