Researchers from the University of California, Davis, have updated their guidelines on when to neuter 40 different dog breeds, categorized by breed and sex.
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A new article, recently published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, adds five breeds to a line of research that began in 2013 with a study suggesting that early neutering of golden retrievers puts them at higher risk of joint diseases and certain types of cancer.
This study sparked a debate on the best age to neuter other popular breeds. With this in mind, the lead authors of the study, professors Lynette Hart and Benjamin Hart from the School of Veterinary Medicine, decided to add more studies on different breeds.
The researchers examined more than a decade of data from thousands of dogs treated at the UC Davis veterinary hospital with the aim of providing more information to owners to make the best decision for their pets.
They specifically analyzed the correlation between neutering a dog before 1 year of age and the risk of a dog developing certain types of cancer. With data collected from the records of the UC Davis veterinary hospital, they focused on specific breeds such as the German Shorthaired Pointer, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Siberian Husky.
The data, which included more than 200 cases for each of these five breeds weighing over 20 kg, covered the period from January 2000 to December 2020 and revealed significant differences between these breeds in the development of joint diseases and cancer when neutered early.
They found that German Shorthaired Pointers, both males and females, exhibited elevated joint disorders and increased cancers when neutered early. Male Mastiffs showed an increase in cranial cruciate ligament ruptures and lymphoma.
Meanwhile, female Newfoundlands showed increased risks of joint disorders, female Rhodesian Ridgebacks showed increased risks of mast cell tumors, and Siberian Huskies showed no significant effects on joint diseases or cancer.
“It’s always complicated to consider an alternate paradigm. 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,” Professor Lynette Hart told the UC Davis website.
“But important to consider as we see the connections between gonadal hormone withdrawal from early spay/neuter and potential health concerns,” she added.
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