Dangers of Spaying and Neutering Too Early
Many pet owners choose to spay or neuter their pets to prevent them from reproducing. However, recent studies now suggest that spaying or neutering your dog too early in their life can lead to higher chances of their having some serious health issues later in life.
Many of these studies seem to suggest that the consequences of spaying or neutering too early are more likely to be seen in large dog breeds like Labradors, which grow more slowly than smaller dog breeds. This has led some experts to suggest waiting until a larger breed of dog is at least 12 months old and possibly as old as 18 months before spaying or neutering.
Bone Abnormalities
The reproductive organs that are removed while spaying and neutering produce hormones that impact the growth of a dog’s bones. Early spaying or neutering can lead to a dog’s bones growing for a longer period than they would have without that alteration. In some cases, this seems to lead to abnormal bone growth that can actually change a dog’s proportions, potentially leading to discomfort if those changes are extreme enough.
Bone Cancer
Another impact related to the changes in bones seems to be a higher incidence of bone cancer. Some studies compared dogs that were spayed or neutered early vs dogs that were either unaltered or altered later in life. While there are treatments for cancer in dogs, which includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, bone cancer, in general, is associated with a reduced life expectancy.
Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Injuries
The CCL is a ligament that is part of a dog’s stifle. The stifle joint in dogs is the equivalent of a human’s knee joint. An injury to this ligament, such as a tear or rupture, can cause long-lasting issues that hurt the dog’s mobility, causing the joint to become arthritic. There seems to be a connection between spaying or neutering and dogs having this type of injury. Depending on the severity of the CCL injury, medication and physical therapy, or in some cases surgery, may be needed to help a dog to recover.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a condition where the two parts of the hip joint do not fit together properly, or they fail to move smoothly. This condition can be extremely painful for dogs as it progresses. It both hinders and hurts their ability to be active. There are medications, however, to help dogs be more comfortable. There are also surgeries to modify or replace the hip joint, which may be the only option in specific cases.
Urinary Incontinence
Both male and female dogs can have trouble with urinary incontinence as a result of spaying and neutering. This is one of the more easily treatable issues on this list. Fortunately, there are a number of dog incontinence medications available. However, incontinence can be stressful to your dog. A well-trained and house-broken dog does not want to have accidents since they are naturally fastidious animals. Likewise, it is inconvenient for the pet's owners having to systematically clean up the dog’s accidents.
Making Choices for Your Dog
Your dog is an important part of your family. Staying informed will help you make the best choices regarding both their health and their future. As with any decision regarding the health and wellbeing of your dog, and especially regarding the best time to spay or neuter, this should be discussed with your veterinarian.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12433723/
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0102241
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vms3.34
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.224.380
