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posted by martyb on Friday August 14 2020, @07:48AM   Printer-friendly
from the how-much^W-big-is-that-doggie-in-the-window? dept.

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)


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 14 2020, @03:17PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 14 2020, @03:17PM (#1036558)

    Do your female dogs leave the house?
    The males?

  • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Friday August 14 2020, @05:28PM (1 child)

    by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Friday August 14 2020, @05:28PM (#1036618) Journal
    None of my dogs ever leaves the house without me, holding their leash, attached to their collars.

    We have skunks in the area. For some stupid reason they want to chase the "cats". They also like squirrels, etc. I have no desire to see my dog sprayed by a skunk or run over by a car. Dogs CAN get loose - but that's not something dog owners should do. Even in rural areas, porcupines and skunks and groundhogs are a risk. I live in the city and one night a groundhog went after one of my dogs at night, while on a leash. The Jack Russell attacked it, and when I mentioned it to my sister she told me a few of her neighbours had similar experiences - and we're all in the suburbs. Not the sticks.

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    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 14 2020, @06:12PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 14 2020, @06:12PM (#1036644)

      I have a pretty big housecat that likes to come on the porch when I go out to smoke at night. The groundhogs are terrified of him. I've had to stop him from chasing them into their burrows a few times.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @12:17AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @12:17AM (#1036841)

    You can cut the tubes instead of removing the organs. It's just as effective as neutering/spaying and doesn't have hormonal side effects.

    • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Saturday August 15 2020, @02:14AM

      by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Saturday August 15 2020, @02:14AM (#1036897) Journal
      And the males can still lick their balls - you don't have to pay big bucks to get them "neuticles - fake balls. And yes, some people do get their neutered male dogs implants.
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