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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)
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Friday August 14 2020, @05:14PM (1 child)
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(Score: 2) by Reziac on Saturday August 15 2020, @02:45AM
Actually, no. Nothing to do with load. Has to do with the fact that the long bones' growth plates depend on testosterone to tell them when to close. Without enough testosterone, the long bones just keep on growing for some time after they were intended to stop. The result is that everything is pulled out of alignment, and there is excess leverage against the ligaments and joints of the long bones, most notably the femur and second thigh. So you get more hip dysplasia and more ruptured cruciate ligaments.
And you get messed-up rear ends like this extreme case (this is also why he got so tall, and why he died so young):
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2014/09/zeus_worlds_tallest_dog_dies_j.html [mlive.com]
There are photos of him at 5 months showing that he was already neutered.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.