Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs

[Janneke]

@lvoss:

When I read the above statement, I did take it to mean that if someone chooses to neuter then they are a bad owner.

I hope not everybody chooses to neuter their dog because they might behave badly… That would make me very itchy..
There are more reasons to neuter, so I'm not saying ppl are bad owners because of neutering their dog. And even if they did it only because the dog might have a change in behaviour, I'm not saying they are bad owners. I said it makes me itchy, and it wouldn't be my choice.
Tillo is intact and he is lovely, sweet etc. An hour ago he played with 2 intact bitches and another intact male.. (all pet dogs btw) no problem.. If their is a bitch in heat, he reacts on it, of course.. but not in such a way that I find it annoying.. for me or for him. (or for the bitch in heat ;)) I know there are more dogs who won't change in behaviour that much.. So why spay/neuter them all? That's my question.. If it would only be because of the behaviour change.. you can also do it after you have noticed that change.. Like Ninabeana26 said.

@lvoss:

As for the works cited, I did go and read through them which is why I know that the works cited about Obesity all have to do with observations made by practicing veterinarians about their clients. I do not have online access to get the actual written articles to check the specifics of their experimental design and data analysis without actually going to the University library so had to go by the titles of the articles.

I have online access.. so if you want me to find an article.. please tell me

[Janneke]

@sharronhurlbut:

So, pet dogs should be fixed. IMO.

I understand that you feel that way because you see a lot of rescue dogs.. unwanted mixes.. It would make me sad too..

But isn't it true a lot of these dogs come from BYB? And not from 'normal' pet owners? They breed for the money.. are 'breeders'.. maybe not responsible ones.. but by saying 'pet dogs should be fixed' your not including them.

I don't understand why a responsible pet owner (not only breeders can be responsible.. pet owners can be as well) can't make the decision of letting their dogs unfixed, because it is not a problem to them..

I'm a pet owner as well.. so should Tillo be fixed? Why? He's not bothering anyone.. (and he's very attached to his balls.. (in more ways than one :eek: ) ;))

I have to say.. In the Netherlands it's quite different..

[Janneke]

@snorky998:

Great article. Thank you for the post. Just a few questions….

page 2 of PDF: "for female dogs spayed before puberty". Am I interpreting this correctly when I infer they mean 'before the first heat cycle' ?

I think you are interpreting it correctly, yes

@snorky998:

Also, am I off base to wonder why many of these bitch studies, that relate to estrogen levels of female based malady's :
A) are based on estrogen levels (parameters) that seem absent in the study?
are at times, breed specific?
C) don't contain any relative studies (cross-referenced) done in our national zoo's on the canines that now are not spayed, but implanted with birth control?
It would seem to me, these dogs, who's records are impeccable, could provide some sort of a base line.

Please, not trying to agitate, just asking. Thanks!

Your not agitating.. haha..
This is 'just' a review article.. the writer uses otherones research to draw conclusions. So for example research only done at Golden Retrievers (your 'B')
I don't know about your 'C'. Has there been any research? Maybe the writer of this article didn't want to look at birth control in other ways than neutering, because it hasn't anything to do with the pros and cons of neutering it self..?
Just a thought..

I don't understand your 'A' (sorry..)

[lvoss]

@Janneke:

But isn't it true a lot of these dogs come from BYB? And not from 'normal' pet owners? They breed for the money.. are 'breeders'.. maybe not responsible ones.. but by saying 'pet dogs should be fixed' your not including them.

This is not true. BYBs and puppymills are what produce the majority of the purebreds in rescue and shelters but the shelters are full of mutts that were born because the owners of the parents refused to get them spayed/neutered and did nothing to keep away from the opposite sex when in season. Many of these dogs are second, third or more generation mutt.

Here are the dogs that are currently homeless in my county
http://www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet.Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=&pet.Age=&pet.Size=&pet.Sex=&location=95776

[lvoss]

@Janneke:

I'm a pet owner as well.. so should Tillo be fixed? Why? He's not bothering anyone.. (and he's very attached to his balls.. (in more ways than one :eek: ) ;))

You show Tillo, right? When Pat and I say pet owner, we are not talking about people who show their dogs or even people who do performance events with their dogs like agility, lure coursing, racing on a regular basis. Both Pat and I expect that our puppies will all be first and foremost companions so when we talk about pet and show homes, they are all companions but pet homes are not active with their dogs in dog sports.

I am glad that Tillo is mellow and that you have not had any problems with him when rut hits, some never do, some get worse each year. I am not saying every dog has to be neutered but owners should not feel bad if that is the choice they make.

You didn't end you sentence with it makes you itchy to talk about neutering for behavioral reasons you said that those owners should own stuffed pets. That is a very different tone.

[Janneke]

@lvoss:

This is not true. BYBs and puppymills are what produce the majority of the purebreds in rescue and shelters but the shelters are full of mutts that were born because the owners of the parents refused to get them spayed/neutered and did nothing to keep away from the opposite sex when in season. Many of these dogs are second, third or more generation mutt.

Here are the dogs that are currently homeless in my county
http://www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet.Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=&pet.Age=&pet.Size=&pet.Sex=&location=95776

Ok, I didn't know. It was also a question, not a statement.

[Janneke]

@lvoss:

I am not saying every dog has to be neutered but owners should not feel bad if that is the choice they make.

No they shouldn't feel bad. And I think it's helping ppl not to feel bad when they can make a decision for their own. When they know the pros and cons. That's why I posted that article.

@lvoss:

You didn't end you sentence with it makes you itchy to talk about neutering for behavioral reasons you said that those owners should own stuffed pets. That is a very different tone.

Well.. tone is always a bit difficult on the internet..
And 'behavioral reasons' for me sounds like difficulties/problems. Tanza's words for me sounded like the normal changes in a bitch/dog during breeding season. And I do think that if somebody can't live with the normal behaviour of a dog.. they shouldn't get one.. I'm including barking.. peeing in the house when still a pup etc.. normal behaviour.. (that can still be quite annoying sometimes..)

[etzbseder]

Something that also makes a big difference, is that for some of you, English is not your first language. There are also much different terms used in the states than overseas, and differences is slang/local terms.

[tanza]

However, Janneke thing like barking and peeing are training issues and they are In my opinion totally different then having an intact dog or bitch. Again I think we will have to agree to disagree, but I do not believe there is any reason to leave a dog or bitch in-tact if you never have the intention of breeding them. To me you are setting yourself and the dog up for problems. Why would you want an intact dog that will never be used to go through the fustrations of having a bitch in sesaon either in the house or in the area? Many bitches have horrible mood swings when in season and many bitches think they are with whelp after a season, again I see no reason to put them through that when it is not necessary. As you have pointed out, each dog is different and you are lucky that your boy has no problems being in tact… however for the average pet owner, this is not the case, nor is it a pleasant experience many times.

And Lisa's statement about our pups being first and formost family companions is totally correct and in homes that is what the family wanted...

[JazzysMom]

@Janneke:

I don't understand why a responsible pet owner (not only breeders can be responsible.. pet owners can be as well) can't make the decision of letting their dogs unfixed, because it is not a problem to them..

I'm a pet owner as well.. so should Tillo be fixed? Why? He's not bothering anyone.. (and he's very attached to his balls.. (in more ways than one :eek: ) ;))

To ensure against an accidental breeding with an unknown bitch should he ever escape your home/yard.

For me the question is why NOT fix him if you don't plan to breed. That is the only way to ensure there's no litter produced accidentally. Esp. for the owner of a male dog,who could get out and impregnate an unknown bitch. You would not have a clue nor any say in the outcome - what happens to the puppies, etc.

Even the most responsible pet owner has the potential for a pet getting out the door, out of the car, under a fence, etc.

Not saying YOU should neuter him if you don't want to, I just don't understand the mindset for taking that risk.

[Janneke]

@etzbseder:

Something that also makes a big difference, is that for some of you, English is not your first language. There are also much different terms used in the states than overseas, and differences is slang/local terms.

Well.. that's very true.. talking and writing in English is one thing.. but trying to say exactly that what you want to say…... pff... very hard..
Maybe we should all try to speak Dutch

What's also very very different is the 'public opinion' towards neutering in your and our country.. If you would discuss this subject on a Dutch forum.. well.. I wouldn't stand alone.. And I'm very mild in my opinion..

I think even 25 % of the Dutch dog forum visiters blames vet's for cutting in healthy animals and advising neutering that quickly.
I hope there will be a lot of research (good research) on this subject!

[tanza]

@Janneke:

Well.. that's very true.. talking and writing in English is one thing.. but trying to say exactly that what you want to say…... pff... very hard..
Maybe we should all try to speak Dutch

What's also very very different is the 'public opinion' towards neutering in your and our country.. If you would discuss this subject on a Dutch forum.. well.. I wouldn't stand alone.. And I'm very mild in my opinion..

I think even 25 % of the Dutch dog forum visiters blames vet's for cutting in healthy animals and advising neutering that quickly.
I hope there will be a lot of research (good research) on this subject!

Exactly Janneke… there is a big cultural difference in Europe compared to the US regarding Spay/Neuter... both sides have good and bad points. But in the US we certainly encourage spay/neuter for a number of reasons and consider it the responsible thing to do for our pets and I can tell you that all the responsible breeders in the US require spay/neuter in all of our puppy sale contracts, which I am sure that not the case on your side of the "pond".

By the way, I think that your english writing is excellent

[tanza]

By the way, Janneke, I think that your english (writing) is excellent

[Janneke]

@tanza:

By the way, Janneke, I think that your english (writing) is excellent

Thank you very much. I'm always thinking about wether or not to respond, because when someone reacts to me I want to be able to react in a normal (readable and understandable) way

But yes, things are different here. No puppy contracts with the words spaying/neutering in them.. (they aren't even binding here without a lawyer etc involved..)

[lvoss]

Janneke, I also think you english writing is excellent. Better than many of my native speaking high school students.

I also think most here also agree that spay/neutering is best done after a dog has finished growing but disagree about keeping them intact indefinitely.