the importance of spaying & neutering
When it comes to spaying and neutering our rescue pups, MUTTS has often been asked to address the reasons behind our mandates. The main goal of our rescue is to place dogs that do not have a home with forever families. Leaving the spay or neuter dates past sexual maturity enables the problem of homeless dogs to persist. Although precautions could be taken to avoid unwanted pregnancies, things can happen quickly and are not worth the risk. We are invested in helping to control the pet population, and the number one way to do this is to ensure our dogs are spayed or neutered as quickly as possible.
We are aware that many vets are recommending that the spay or neuter of a dog should be done at the 12-to-18-month mark as a way of reducing risks of joint issues or certain cancers. There was a popular study published by Frontiers ^1 explaining why this is beneficial to dogs. In doing a deeper dive, however, we noted that they only studied three pure breeds: golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and German shepherds, all three of which are highly prone to elbow, hip and joint issues. In expanding the testing, researchers found that there was no correlation with joint disorders and cancers and the age of neutering. Even looking at the “Suggested guidelines of age of neutering: 35 breeds” appendix, the correlation between size and suggested timeline of neutering was inconclusive (the expanded testing was also done on purebred dogs). We believe more research is needed, especially around mixed breed dogs, where DNA is much more varied and less likely to be prone to genetic issues. In female dogs specifically, waiting to do the spay after heat(s) will greatly increase the chance of mammary tumors and pyometra. The Canadian Veterinarians Medical Association also presented their thoughts^2, stating they advocate for pre-pubertal neuter/spay in dogs.
In addition to the health risks associated with a delayed spay or neuter, behaviour changes related to unfixed dogs, such as aggression and dominance, can mean that these dogs are more difficult to handle, train and have in a home with other dogs, and potentially limits their opportunities for socialization. These behaviours can be difficult to fix once developed and can increase the chances of a dog needing to be rehomed.
If you are concerned about joint issues with your dog, there are several options available to mitigate the risk. Review papers by ^3 and ^4 provide a thorough outline of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs. To summarize, typically, when purchasing a dog from a reputable breeder, they will conduct joint evaluations to assess the likelihood that the dog will develop joint issues, such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Your vet is also able to conduct these tests even in older dogs. Regardless of the outcome, glucosamine supplementation can be helpful and has positive effects on improving joints. Many vets also carry medicated diets that are specifically formulated for joints (such as Hills J/D diet). Lastly, you need to consider your pup’s activity level and intensity. With puppies, running for extended periods of time can be harmful to their developing joints. Some breeds have been bred for prolonged periods of exercise, such as huskies, cattle dogs or border collies. If you are looking for your pup to be a trail dog or running buddy, certain breeds, like mastiffs or pugs, will not be up for that task. Although many of the dogs that we rescue are mutts, we are typically able to tell some of the breeds that likely make up the dog. Additionally, it is well known that overweight dogs are at a much higher risk of hip dysplasia than those of a healthy weight.
Taking all of the research findings, gathering common practice among fellow dog rescuers and shelters, and in consultation with our veterinary team at Southdown Animal Hospital, we have concluded that six months of age is the ideal age for spaying and neutering our puppies. This policy is non-negotiable.
1 Hart, B. L., L. A. Hart, A. P. Thigpen, and N. H. Willits. 2020. Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence. Front Vet Sci. 7:388. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00388.
2 Neutering of dogs and cats. 2019. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Available from: https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/policy-and-outreach/position-statements/statements/neutering-of-dogs-and-cats/
3 Bland, S. D. 2015. Canine osteoarthritis and treatments: a review. Vet Sci Develop. 5. doi:10.4081/vsd.2015.5931.
4 Schachner, E. R., and M. J. Lopez. 2015. Diagnosis, prevention, and management of canine hip dysplasia: a review. Vet Med (Auckl). 6:181–192. doi:10.2147/VMRR.S53266