Deciphering the Current Neuter Debate
Have you heard the buzz about spaying and neutering dogs? There is a lot of talk out there about how spaying/neutering dogs may increase their risk of certain bone diseases like hip and elbow dysplasia and even certain cancers. Likely because of this, we have seen an increase in the number of our clients who have questions about when is the best time to spay or neuter their dog. Until now, we at the Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic have felt that there was a lack of strong scientific research that would allow us to act upon these concerns. As such, we have previously continued to promote a relatively early spay/neuter age for our canine patients of anytime after 6 months.
However, July 2020 research from the University of California - Davis has filled in some of these gaps. We now have stronger, more specific information which indicates that spaying/neutering can increase a dog’s risk for several specific cancers and bone disorders. These risks, however, are not cut-and-dried. For example, in male Labrador Retrievers neutering at any age had no effect on their cancer risk. This included neutering them at younger than 6 months old. However, for a male Boston Terrier neutering before 1 year of age did significantly increase their cancer risk. To give another example, neutering a male German Shepherd before 2 years of age significantly increased their risk for bone disorders like elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia, but had no such effect on those same bone disorders for Great Danes.
As you can see, this issue is very complex with huge variation depending on what breed, age, and gender of dog we are talking about. It can be extremely difficult to make sense of what is best for you and your dog. We want to help! In preparation for Spay and Neuter Awareness Month in January, we have started offering Spay and Neuter Consultation appointments in the clinic and recommend them for all dogs before scheduling their spay/neuter. During this appointment, your dog will receive a full physical examination to look for any abnormalities that may impact their surgery or need to be addressed either before or at the time of surgery. You will be asked to verify their breed and age and to let us know if there is any familial history of bone disease or cancer (if you know). Based on the exam, the history we know, and your dog’s breed and gender, the doctor will talk you through the pros and cons and what we know about when it might be best to spay/neuter your dog.
Ultimately, the decision of when to spay/neuter your dog is up to you and we respect that decision. We will continue to spay/neuter dogs any time after 6 months of age, if that is your desire. We also want to be a source of good, reliable information in this confusing matter and hope the Spay and Neuter Consultations will offer owners the opportunity to learn more about why it might or might not be better to wait a little longer. The consult cost is the same as a routine wellness exam visit. If you’re calling to schedule a spay or neuter for your dog, don’t be surprised if our staff ask you about scheduling a consultation first. We do recommend them for every dog, they are also optional and you are free to decline them.
This may leave you asking, “What about my cat?” or “What about my horse/cow, etc.?” As we have no research indicating similar risks in cats and cats are much more prolific reproducers than dogs, we continue to recommend all cats be spayed/neutered once they are 4 months old and weigh at least 4 pounds. If you have questions regarding other species, please don’t hesitate to give us a call so we can answer them for you.
We’re excited to be leaning into the new science of spaying/neutering dogs. If you’re looking to have your dog spayed or neutered, we look forward to the opportunity to chat more during a Spay and Neuter Consultation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or to schedule a visit!
