Introduction
Dog owners want the best for their pets, especially when it comes to long-term health. A new research breakthrough funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation reveals that the timing of neutering (spaying or castrating) can significantly impact a dog’s risk of developing joint disorders and certain cancers.
This study provides breed-specific and weight-based guidelines to help owners and veterinarians make informed decisions about when to neuter, potentially reducing the risk of serious health issues later in life.
Key Points
- Neutering too early may increase the risk of joint disorders and cancers in dogs.
- Risks vary by breed, sex, and age at neutering.
- Delaying neutering until after 11 or 23 months may reduce health risks for many breeds.
- Guidelines are available for 33 dog breeds and mixed breeds across five weight categories.
Challenge Background
For years, neutering has been promoted as a routine part of responsible pet ownership. However, growing evidence shows that early neutering may lead to unintended health consequences, including joint problems like hip and elbow dysplasia, and cancers such as lymphoma and osteosarcoma.
This issue needed solving because dog owners and veterinarians lacked breed-specific data to guide the timing of neutering. Without this information, decisions were often made based on general recommendations that didn’t account for individual dog differences.
The Breakthrough
Researchers funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation analyzed medical records from UC Davis to assess the relationship between neutering age and health outcomes. They studied 33 dog breeds (including three types of Poodles) and mixed breeds categorized by weight.
The findings show that delaying neutering, especially for standard to giant-sized dogs, can reduce the risk of joint disorders and certain cancers. Easy-to-read tables published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science provide clear recommendations based on breed, sex, and body weight.
Impact & Next Steps
This research empowers dog owners and veterinarians to make data-driven decisions about neutering. By following the published guidelines, they can help prevent serious health issues and improve long-term wellbeing for dogs.
Future studies supported by the AKC Canine Health Foundation aim to explore how spay/neuter procedures may cause adverse effects and develop strategies for prevention and treatment. These findings could reshape standard veterinary practices and enhance canine care nationwide.
Â
Full scientific publications, including easy-to-use tables of spay/neuter recommendations, are available via the links below.
Â
- Hart, B. L., Hart, L. A., Thigpen, A. P., & Willits, N. H. (2020). Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7: 388. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388
- Hart Benjamin L., Hart Lynette A., Thigpen Abigail P., Willits Neil H. (2020). Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for Mixed Breed Dogs of Five Weight Categories: Associated Joint Disorders and Cancers. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7: 472. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00472
