Neutering is a very complex topic, one of those that raise a lot of emotions. It happened to me many times I needed to discuss with clients how unhealthy it could be to neuter their dogs in a certain moment of their life, and un-useful, especially when made with the outdated belief that it could make the dog calmer. Anyway, I don’t even dive into the latter aspect for it would be way to complex to discuss here. Let’s just discuss about health, and let’s go straight to the point: large and mixed-breed dogs present a higher risk of health complications if neutered or spayed early.

New insights

A new study by researchers at University of California, Davis (UC Davis) at the university’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital analyzed 15 years of data from thousands of dogs. Mixed-breed canines weighing more than 44 lbs. (19.9 kg) as adults were more exposed to the present one or more joint disorders if neutered before the age of one.

Examinations targeted some common joint disorders, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cranial cruciate ligament tears, in five weight categories. Those risks of were found a few times higher in large breed mixed dogs compared to those dogs left intact.

The standard practice in many places around the world, including North America and much of Europe, prescribes spaying/neutering dogs by six months of age. In some cases dogs are neutered even earlier. I have seen with my eyes dogs being neutered at barely 2 months, in places like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Mexico. Why so? Well, neutering/spaying prior to adoption is a common requirement or policy of humane societies, animal shelters, breeders, rescue centers. Do we want dogs adopted? Yes of course we do! But we also want dogs healthy, right?

Anyway…

Time To Consider

This study fosters reflection and the need to review and modify both policies and common practices, particularly for young mixed-breed dogs that will grow large in size for those are the dogs targeted in the study, however, that may apply to every dog, including also free-ranging dogs. This study also reminds us to not being stuck in old beliefs and to change the perspective on the neutering practice. It is not always for your dog’s health.

The study has been published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. For more, click here.

So… what do you think? What is your opinion, your story, your experience? Let me know in a comment down below.

Photo Credit: Marco Adda / AEDC Archive 2016