At the onset of Covid 19, most veterinary hospitals delayed elective surgical procedures. We postponed many procedures, under orders of the Governor of Pennsylvania, so we could conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for our human counterparts. This led to a lot of angst among pet owners. Many worried about having a young female pet go through a heat cycle or having a young male dog or cat start urine marking his territory. However, delaying spay and neuter procedures may not be all that bad, at least for certain purebred dogs.
A few years ago, a study of golden retrievers indicated that early spay and neuter may predispose them toward certain cancers and orthopedic problems. European dogs, more often left intact, develop fewer of these related health problems. Interestingly, studies on other breeds did not always yield the same results. Confusion ensued. Veterinarians were left with an unclear picture of when to recommend these life altering procedures.
What Are the Advantages of Having Your Pet Spayed or Neutered?
Traditionally, in the United States, population control of unwanted pets drives early spay neuter programs. Shelters and rescues often alter pets as early as 8 weeks of age. This way the shelters eliminate concerns that new rescue owners would ignore getting their adopted pet spayed or neutered. Spaying a female dog before her first estrus cycle, can effectively prevent the development of breast cancer later in life. Neutering males dogs can prevent benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland, also common in older men.
What Is It Like to Keep Your Pet Sexually Intact?
Keeping pets sexually intact is not necessarily an easy route. Living with a female dog in heat can be a messy proposition. The typical bloody discharge can last for 3 weeks, and the cycle repeats every 6 months. Male dogs may come calling, and she will be doing all she can to attract their attention. There is always the risk of an unwanted litter. Besides territorial marking, unneutered males are more prone to wander and show more dominant and aggressive behaviors.
Should We Spay and Neuter Our Pets, and at What Age?
The question of when is the best time to spay or neuter remains to be determined. For now, it appears that many dog breeds have their own unique best spay/neuter time. Researchers at the University of California Davis began compiling data from large populations of dogs over a ten year period. They recently published a retrospective study on 35 dog breeds. The study includes a chart of optimal spay neuter times for various breeds.
Know that there is no one right answer for every situation. Talk with your veterinarian, not only about your pet’s health, but also about how delaying a spay or neuter will impact the household and your lifestyle. Understand that the UCDavis study looked at a number of orthopedic problems and cancers in dogs, but that all spayed and neutered dogs did not develop these health problems. An increased risk does not always mean the problem will occur, especially if the risk was low to start with.