Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

On this page I take a very serious look at both the benefits and the risks posed by the spaying or neutering practice so that you can decide what is best for your dog.

Many organizations view spaying or neutering as the "right thing to do" in order to prevent the wave of dogs overflowing our shelters. I think there are many factors of concern for dog owners regarding this decision and therefore find that unwanted pregnancies are no longer the main criteria for a decision about whether or not to spay or neuter your dog. Instead I will reach for a balanced approach providing you with all the facts (from a long-term health prospective) that you'll require in order to make a decision based on your dog's sex, age and breed.

What are the most important criteria for deciding whether or not to spay or neuter my dog?

Do you intend to breed your dog?

Professional dog breeders will often spay or neuter their dogs when they no longer wish to breed them. Until that time, they follow a strict breeding procedure to ensure the best health of the animals in their care.

Do you own a large or sporting breed dog?

Large and sporting breeds that are spayed or neutered before one year of age are at a much higher risk of developing bone cancer, hip dysplasia and other bone and joint disorders.

Is your dog a male or female?

The long-term health of male dogs is more negatively impacted by the procedure than are females, especially if done at an early age.

Do you own one of these breeds?

Akitas, American Eskimo Dogs, American Pit Bulls, Basset Hounds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boxers, Bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Irish Setters, Lhasa Apsos, Labrador Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, Terriers, Weimaraners and Welsh Corgis (for various reasons you will learn about below) are at higher risk of developing long term health complications as a result of spaying or neutering.

Why Would I Want to Spay or Neuter?

There are several reasons for spaying or neutering your dog however the most compelling is that most dog owners will experience or encounter a time when their dog runs off, escapes or otherwise is not within their direct control. These periods of being unattended put them at risk for many things (being hit by a car and entanglements with other animals to name a few). They are less likely to exhibit this behavior if spayed or neutered as much of this is driven by the biological need to mate. By spaying or neutering your dog, you limit their chance encounters with potentially dangerous situations. On a side note, raising puppies is a lot of work and a huge responsibility. Most people do not have the time to invest in properly socializing a litter of pups let alone to be of support to the puppy's new families as they transition them into their permanent homes...so spaying or neutering can be a good way to make sure that you as a dog owner, don't end up in a negative and stressful situation.

There are also a lot of fears that are unfounded about the procedure. Spaying or neutering your dog at or around 1 year of age does not:

Decrease the life quality of your dog (they do not need to mate and/or have puppies to feel fulfilled)
Feminize your dog if male or make your dog less family oriented if female
Inhibit your dog's breed tendencies such as; tracking, hunting, pointing, retrieving, herding, coursing or protecting livestock or property

What are the Surgical Risks of the Procedure?

Spaying or Neutering does have its associated risks or complications, which include adverse reactions to anesthesia, hemorrhage, inflammation, infection, abscesses, rupture of the surgical wound, chewed out sutures, etc. The surgical complication risk percentages lie at around 22% for females and 19% for males. Mortality rate due to complications of the spaying/neutering procedure is very low, at around 0.1%.

What are the Benefits Associated with the Procedure?

Primarily the largest benefit to both sexes is that the procedure greatly reduces the desire to roam. Below you will find and detailed list of the benefits broken out by each sex.

Benefits for females include:

No messy heat cycle for females
Reduces the risk of mammary tumors if done before 2.5 years of age
Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra which affects about 23% of intact females and of that number kills 1% of the dogs that contract it; Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rottwielers, Rough Haired Collies, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Golden Retrievers are at the greatest risk of contracting pyometra
Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas (chronic and progressive lesions that develop around the anus of dogs; German Shepherds and Irish Setters are more susceptible with males being twice as likely as females to develop)
Removes the risk of uterine, cervical and ovarian tumors (less than .5% of intact dogs develop these tumors)
No unplanned puppies to find homes for

Benefits for males include:

Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer (in tact males are at less then 1% mortality rate from the disease)
Reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas (chronic and progressive lesions that develop around the anus of dogs); males are twice as likely to develop than are females especially German Shepherds and Irish Setters
May possibly reduce the risk of diabetes however the data is still inconclusive on this
Neutered males tend to be less territorial and more congenial (with training)
Reduces male dog's need to roam
Reduces male hormone-based aggression (with training)

What are the Risks Associated with the Procedure?

The risks associated with the procedure are long-term health conditions which many people do not associate with getting their dog spayed or neutered, fortunately some of these risks can be avoided by simply adjusting the age at which the procedure is performed, others are so small in nature that they do not pose a real threat.

Risks for Females Include:

If performed before one year of age, significantly increased risk of developing bone cancer (Rottweilers are at 25% risk and it is the third most common cause of death in Golden Retrievers)
Increased risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma (tumors that show up in the major organs especially the spleen and heart) by a factor of 2.2
Triples the risk of hypothroidism
Increases risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6
Causes urinary spay incontinence in 4-20% of female dogs, usually but not always responds to medical treatment that must be continued for the duration of the dog's life
Increases the risk of urinary track infections by a factor of 3-4, especially if spayed before 5 1/2 months of age
Increases the risk of developing a recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis and vaginitus, especially in young females who undergo the procedure before puberty
Doubles the already small risk (less than 1%) of urinary tract tumors
Increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
Increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations by 30%

Risks for Males Include:

If performed before one year of age, significantly increased risk of developing bone cancer (Rottweilers are at 28% risk and it is the third most common cause of death in Golden Retrievers)
Increased risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma (tumors that show up in the major organs especially the spleen and heart) by a factor of 1.6
Triples the risk of hypothroidism
Increases the risk of progressive geriatric cognitive impairment
Increases risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6
Quadruples the very small risk (less than 1%) of prostate cancer
Doubles the already small risk (less than 1%) of urinary tract tumors
Increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
Increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations by 27%

How Can I Reduce the Risks for My Dog?

To combat obesity be mindful of how much you are feeding your dog after spaying or neutering. Keep your dog well exercised and give measured portions of food (do not give them access to an always full bowl) and have your dog's thyroid checked if they appear to be gaining weight despite your efforts. Castration increases the risk of thyroiditis in mice and so it is reasonable to assume the sex hormones may play a role in dogs as well. Watch for the signs of hypothyroidism; obesity, lethargy and hair loss. If you own a Golden Retriever or an Akita really be on the watch as these breeds have a 1 in 4 and 1 and 3 chance of developing hypothyroidism. Great Danes are 1 in 13.
If you have a large breed dog already prone to disorders such as hip dysplasia you may want to forgo this procedure or at the very least wait until your dog is two years old before going forward with spaying or neutering in order to give the growth plates in the bones that are still growing significant time to close. Spaying or neutering dogs before 5 1/2 months of age is associated with a 70% increased risk of hip dysplasia as compared to those who are spayed after.
The risk of urinary track tumors and prostate cancer are so low that you don't really need to consider them in your decision making process.
If you manage your dog's weight properly urinary tracts infections are usually not a problem.
Toy and smaller breeds are at elevated risk for adverse vaccine reactions as are: Boxers, Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, Weimaraners, American Eskimos, Golden Retrievers, Basset Hounds, Welsh Corgis, Siberian Huskies, Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, American Pit Bulls, Terriers and Akitas (mixed breeds were found to be at lower risk) it is advisable to wait until they've had their first year of shots and their second year boosters (as to give them time to develop the appropriate immune system response) before removing the hormones that play a role in the body's ability to launch a proper antibody response to vaccination by spaying or neutering too early.

Conclusions

After conducting this research I feel that there is much evidence supporting a practice of delayed sterilization to ensure the best overall chances of long-term health. Dogs should not be spayed or neutered before six months of age and for those who are at risk of developing adverse long-term health complications due to size, breed and sex, waiting until they are 1 - 2 1/2 years old is actually ideal.

Reccomendations for High Risk Dogs

If your dog is high risk for developing several adverse long-term health complications from the spaying or neutering practice, it would be prudent to wait until all first and second year vaccines have been administered as well as the 3-yr rabies booster. Most dogs have finished these vaccine protocols by the time they are 2 1/2 years old. If you must spay or neuter earlier, wait until the first year's shots are complete with a few months in-between to allow the dog's system to fully respond to the vaccines.

Alternatives to Spaying or Neutering

There are several alternatives to spaying or neutering your dog. For females you could try; Ovaban, Cheque Drops (mibolerone), having her wear protective undergarments until her cycle completes, boarding her until her cycle completes, securing your yard or constructing a dog run to prevent possible pregnancies.

Ovaban is a doggie version of the progesterone pill that will stop her cycle if you give it to her once she starts (to be used only after her first cycle).
Cheque Drops (mibolerone) inhibits the luteinizing hormone and are given a month prior to the cycle beginning (most females cycle twice a year), these also, are only to be used after the her first cycle completes. Ovaban and Cheque Drops are not recommended if you later intend to breed your dog.
Doggie undergarments are another solution, the main difficulty most owners experience is with them is the garment getting removed. This can be done by the dog wearing them or another dog that decides to help out.
Some pet owners also choose to board their females during heat cycles in order to prevent pregnancy.
Of course having a secure yard or dog run can make all the difference, however this only works if you ensure that no dogs can get out of or into your secured area.

For males containment is your best defense; invisible fence, a secure traditional fence or a dog run are the best ways to keep him from roaming unsupervised.

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