Big Dogs Face More Joint Problems if Neutered Early:
It's standard practice in the U.S. and much of Europe to neuter dogs by 6 months of age. This study, which analyzed 15 years of data from thousands of dogs at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, suggests dog owners should consider their options carefully.
"Most dogs are mixed breeds," said lead author Benjamin Hart, distinguished professor emeritus at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
[...] Researchers examined common joint disorders including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament tears, a knee injury, in five weight categories.
[...] The risk of joint disorders for heavier dogs can be up to a few times higher compared to dogs left intact. This was true for large mixed-breed dogs. For example, for female dogs over 43 pounds, the risk jumped from 4 percent for intact dogs to 10-12 percent if spayed before a year of age.
"The study raises unique challenges," noted co-author Lynette Hart, professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "People like to adopt puppies from shelters, but with mixed breeds it may be difficult to determine just how big the dog will become if you don't know anything about the dog's parents."
Neutering prior to adoption is a common requirement or policy of humane societies, animal shelters and breeders. [...] Shelters, breeders and humane societies should consider adopting a standard of neutering at over a year of age for dogs that will grow into large sizes.
Journal Reference:
Hart, Benjamin L., Hart, Lynette A., Thigpen, Abigail P., et al. Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for Mixed Breed Dogs of Five Weight Categories: Associated Joint Disorders and Cancers, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00472)
(Score: 0, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 14 2020, @08:24AM (3 children)
What's happening to you, Fatty? You're manifesting quite a few, not including zero, accesses of pedantry lately.
Not finding anything of value to say? Then say nothing. Or join the #FreeAristarchus protest.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday August 14 2020, @08:38AM (2 children)
Excesses, you illiterate AC! "Accesses" of pedantry would make no sense. Even if you did start with 0, which would be accessive and have no effect.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 14 2020, @08:59AM (1 child)
Learn literal English, you paroxystically ebullient decrepit greek.
As for "excessive", I covered that by quite a few
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday August 14 2020, @09:06AM
Magister, if the literal one doesn't help, maybe you can try the numerical English?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford