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I have always been against pediatric spay and neuter. But the more research I do and the more dogs I experience who are allowed to grow to their full potential without altering, the more I question how to judge when a dog is fully finished developing, due to the fact that it varies greatly between breeds, certain lines, and individuals. I understand there are risks associated with keeping intact dogs. The most obvious of these being unplanned pregnancies but spay and neuter also: • Eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer • Reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders • Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas • Reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs • Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs • Removes the very small risk (≤0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors And these are the risks we face associated with spay and neuter, namely early spay and neuter: • Abnormal Bone Growth • Hip Dysplasia • Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Injuries • Bone Cancers, like osteosarcoma • Cancerous heart tumors • Cancerous spleen tumors • Prostate cancer • Bladder cancer • Urinary incontinence in female dogs • Urethral sphincter incontinence in males • Persistent or recurring urinary tract infections • Increased risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis • Hypothyroidism • Diabetes • Obesity • Progressive geriatric cognitive impairment • Adverse reactions to vaccines • Noise phobias • Fearful behavior • Aggression • Undesirable sexual behaviors • Unmanageable coat In my puppy contracts, it used to state that to spay or neuter before 18 months is considered a breach of contract and it voids the health guarantee. But as I've seen more and more of the changes dogs (and dogs in my lines, especially) continue to have in their growth and overall physical and mental development after 2 years old, I have updated that clause to state 24 months minimum age for spay/neuter. And I understand that keeping an intact dog isn't in the cards for everyone! That is completely valid. But I do wish people would at least let their dogs finish growing up before making that decision. It really isn't as difficult as it's sometimes made out to be. You can keep your dog from mating through management and with females, they can only get pregnant for a few days each year. It's not a constant thing! Take the time to learn how to identify the signs of your dog going into heat. And for both males and females, train your dogs! It's a common concern that if you don't neuter your male dog, that they will become aggressive or develop other undesirable behavior issues, but these things are more linked to a lack of training rather than being intact or altered, and altering dogs actually increases the risk of aggressive and fearful behavior. In the below photos, you can see two of my personal dogs and the changes they have undergone during their development. The massive difference between Abigail at 2 years old vs 4 years old leads me to believe I will continue to see more changes in Calypso over the next few years as well, paired with the fact that her breeder informed me her lines are slow to mature. But even still, you can already see big changes in one years time and even in just one heat cycle. I had a male dog with a phenomenal temperament, excellent dog etiquette, and no physical issues who I neutered and immediately watched become dog selective and develop joint pain. I don't think I'll be altering any more of my personal dogs and if so it will be late in their lives and quite probably Ovary Sparing Spays or Vasectomy. I encourage everyone to do the research and form your own opinion on the subject. Don't just blindly follow what the first vet you meet tells you. There are an ever increasing number of veterinarians who are becoming more "progressive" and forward thinking about spay and neuter, but that's another topic! Sources and more information on health and consequences from surgical alteration:
• Females spayed at 12 months or younger, and both genders neutered or spayed at over 12 months had significantly increased odds of developing hemangiosarcoma, compared with intact dogs. • Dogs of both genders neutered or spayed at 6 months or younger had significantly increased odds of developing a behavioral disorder, including separation anxiety, noise phobia, timidity, excitability, submissive urination, aggression, hyperactivity, and/or fear biting. When it came to thunderstorm phobia, all neutered or spayed Vizslas were at greater risk than intact Vizslas, regardless of age at neutering. • The younger the age at neutering, the earlier the age at diagnosis with mast cell cancer, cancers other than mast cell, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, all cancers combined, a behavioral disorder, or fear of storms. • Compared to intact dogs, neutered and spayed dogs had a 3.5 times higher risk of developing mast cell cancer, regardless of what age they were neutered. • Spayed females had nine times higher incidence of hemangiosarcoma compared to intact females, regardless of when spaying was performed, however, no difference in incidence of this type of cancer was found for neutered vs. intact males. • Neutered and spayed dogs had 4.3 times higher incidence of lymphoma (lymphosarcoma), regardless of age at time of neutering. • Neutered and spayed dogs had five times higher incidence of other types of cancer, regardless of age of neutering. Spayed females had 6.5 times higher incidence of all cancers combined compared to intact females, and neutered males had 3.6 times higher incidence than intact males.
  
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May 2025
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