Comments on: Spaying a Female Dog or Cat: The Basic Facts Pet Owners Need to Know

By: Lorie Huston

Lorie Huston — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:37:23 +0000

I know this subject is controversial and not all agree. However, it is my belief that the benefits of spaying a dog before the first heat cycle outweigh any potential risks, including the bone risks. In my veterinary practice, I see many more cases of mammary tumors in unspayed female dogs than I do cases of bone cancer. I also believe that a proper diet, adequate exercise and keeping your dog lean is much more likely to have a positive effect on her joints than the age at which she is spayed.

Thank you though for sharing your thoughts. You’re certainly not alone in your beliefs.

By: MsCynic

MsCynic — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:17:53 +0000

You did not note the serious bone risks with spaying/neutering large breed dogs before their growth plates close (increase in hip displaysia, ligament surgeries, etc). You also didn’t note the documented risks increased bone cancer (particularly in the Rottweiler), if they are altered prior to 2 years of age. I understand the concern of pet overpopulation, but we are causing a great deal of problems by pushing the altering earlier and earlier (particuarly in large breed and performance dogs). I advocate spaying/neutering for any ‘pet’ dog, but I also think we should ‘rethink’ this push about spaying/neutering (particularly early)

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/longtermhealtheffectsofspayneuterindogs.pdf

By: bisleshan@Natural dogs supplement

bisleshan@Natural dogs supplement — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:04:40 +0000

Okay, thank you for the information.. IF I EVER HAVE A FEMALE DOG, I SHALL BE SURE TO SPAY THEM. We have 2 male dogs right now.

By: emt training

emt training — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:33:44 +0000

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By: animalartist

animalartist — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:27:53 +0000

This is wonderful information to have as we approach Spay Day and the beginning of heat cycles for dogs and cats. Every year at this time I write a column on feline breast cancer and the importance of spaying before the first heat to dramatically reduce the risk, and also to let those who have rescue kitties who had a few litters out on the street to look for the symptoms. Good friends just lost such a kitty to breast cancer so it’s especially important to us. I know that mammary cancer is much more common in dogs, and now that I know a little more about dogs in particular I can include this information in this year’s article, and I can link to this explanation of the article.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:37:46 +0000

Laura Sanborn,

Thank you very much for your comments. I appreciate that you took the time to read and share your perspective.

Lorie Huston

By: Laura Sanborn

Laura Sanborn — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:17:40 +0000

I appreciate that this topic is being discussed and that my paper has been mentioned. I too encourage people to read the referenced research papers in the veterinary medical journals. But I am puzzled by statements such as this about my paper:

“However, I, like many of my colleagues, do not consider the paper to be strong support that spaying should not be performed on dogs or that the procedure is unhealthy for most dogs”

My paper doesn’t make either of those assertions.

Also:

“In my opinion, this paper ignores or seriously downplays many of the problems which are associated with intact animals, especially female dogs. For instance, the incidence of mammary tumors in intact females is far higher than the incidence of osteosarcomas in my experience. Spaying at an early age can almost completely remove the chance of mammary tumor development.”

I neither ignored nor downplayed the risk of mammary tumors. Among other things I wrote:

“Mammary tumors are by far the most common tumors in intact female dogs, constituting some 53% of all malignant tumors in female dogs in a study of dogs in Norway where spaying is much less common than in
the USA.”
“50-60% of mammary tumors are malignant, for which there is a significant risk of metastasis.”

The risk of mammary tumors in older intact female dogs is relatively high but research finds a 70% risk reduction for spaying even at 2.6-5.0 years of age.* Presumably the risk reduction is more than 70% in the low end of that range and less than 70% in the high end of the range.

* Sonnenschein EG, Glickman LT, Goldschmidt MH, McKee LJ, “Body Conformation, Diet, and Risk of Breast Cancer in Pet Dogs: A Case-Control Study”, American Journal of Epidemiology, 1991, Vol 133, No 7, 694-703