Wait, so there are more issues with the joints when spayed or when not spayed?
What other complications does spaying prevent?
Doesn't removing the hormones at six months make the dog grow bigger than it is supposed to be, because the growth plates don't harden or close up ( I don't know what exactly happens there) when they're are supposed to?
Doesn't this lead to problems in the joints, since the dog is bigger, than it genetically was supposed to be?
Doesn't neutering a male dog make it's bones be weaker?
Doesn't spaying and neutering increase the risks of various other types of cancer?
Doesn't make spaying a female dog increase the risk of her being incontinent, especially when they become older?
I've also heard a lot about spayed females whose fur turned into a mess after the operation. The fur was not capable of blocking water or keep the dog warm in the winter, since it got a puppy-fur texture.
See, those are the things I am asking you, because I have no experience with that at all and I also am not a vet.
I specialize in dog behavior and I am only taught a few basics of medical conditions, the impact of hormones on the behaviour and simplified neurology.
I can only tell about the dogs, especially males, which turned into a mess after having their balls removed and about intact males reacting to neutered ones.
And honestly, I wouldn't ever wish my worst enemy what those male dogs have to go through. And people still wonder why their males slowly turn aggressive.
What other complications does spaying prevent?
Spaying helps prevent metritis and pyometra. It greatly reduces her chances of developing mammary cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in females that have not been spayed.
Doesn't removing the hormones at six months make the dog grow bigger than it is supposed to be, because the growth plates don't harden or close up ( I don't know what exactly happens there) when they're are supposed to?
Spay and neuter surgeries decrease the level of sex hormones, which does indeed slow down an animal’s metabolism, but mostly, animals become overweight due to lack of appropriate diet and exercise - not specifically from being spayed or neutered. Neutered dogs have lower calorie needs because of the alteration of hormones. Animals are often fed quantities of food based on pet food manufacturers’ recommendations. These recommendations are more than the amount that your vet would recommend and don't take into account other issues such as hormonal alteration, exercise or activity. Some animals do well on the pet food manufacturers’ recommended amount, while others may need more or less food (usually less). The age at which an animal should be changed over to adult food will vary based on breed, size, and individual activity level and as your animal ages, it is important to adjust their diet and their exercise regimen accordingly so they remain healthy throughout their life.
Below is a chart of daily recommendations for dogs from The American Veterinarian Association.
Other reported factors contributing to obesity include an animal’s breed, housing environment, age, and even the weight and age of the pet parent (our lifestyles can often rub off on our animals). The fact is that the problem of animal obesity is multi-factorial and there have been many research studies to help determine the cause. Many of them indicate that spaying or neutering at 6 months of age may decrease the incidence of obesity.
Doesn't this lead to problems in the joints, since the dog is bigger, than it genetically was supposed to be?
Since the problem in the joints, mainly hip dysplasia, is only experienced by larger breeds, studies are still underway to determine the cause, and at this point the answers we are being given are qualified, but still only speculation.
Doesn't neutering a male dog make it's bones be weaker?
Not necessarily weaker, but neutering a dog can negatively impact the development of its long bones, especially in large breeds. Future Veterinarians are being taught that neutering of large and giant breeds should be delayed until one year and six months of age, or until the reproductive organs have fully developed. Studies have shown that early neutering in large and giant breeds interfere with the development of height. The long bones can get abnormally large if castration is done before the growth plates in the limbs are closed. Neutering can predispose a dog to develop hip dysplasia.
Doesn't spaying and neutering increase the risks of various other types of cancer?
The veterinary community at present believes that it is more benificial to spay the female at the 6 month age, and this has shown to prevent many cancers. On the other hand recent studies are coming into light that show it to be more beneficial to delay the neutering of the male until the reproductive organs are fully developed. Studies indicate that some cancers developed at a higher rate among neutered dogs than among their counterparts that were unaltered.
Today's marketplace also offers an alternative to surgical sterilization for our male animals. The products, Neutersol or Zeuterin, can be used to neuter male animals. Both products require an injection into the testicles and they then stop sperm production, but continue to allow hormones to be produced. Perhaps in our near future additional products for nonsurgical sterilization for the female animal will be developed.
Doesn't make spaying a female dog increase the risk of her being incontinent, especially when they become older?
You're asking about "
Estrogen-Responsive or Spay Incontinence" and the answer here is two-fold. This happens because after a female dog is spayed, the strength of her urethral sphincter decreases in the years following her surgery. As she gets older, this decrease of strength of the urethral sphincter may worsen. This is so because the decline in the estrogen levels after spaying may cause a decrease in the functions of the urethral sphincter and its supporting tissues. According to studies, roughly about 20% of spayed female dogs will develop incontinence within three years of being spayed.
But as they say, all dogs are different. Large breed dogs are more likely to develop spay incontinence than small dogs. Also, dogs who are spayed before their first heat have a lower chance of developing spay incontinence in female dogs, however, the veterinary community currently believes that spaying before three months of age may increase the potential of its development.
But it is often an easy problem to solve - if you know the basics and how to properly manage it.
I've also heard a lot about spayed females whose fur turned into a mess after the operation. The fur was not capable of blocking water or keep the dog warm in the winter, since it got a puppy-fur texture.
I have no knowledge of this nor have I read anything along these lines concerning female dogs. However, male dogs that have been neutered may develop a more wooly type of coat. Groomers refer to this hard to manage coat as a "
spay coat" and since spay refers to the procedure for females this might have thrown you off. It shows up in some breeds more than others. Spaniels are particularly susceptible with silky coats becoming more wooly after neutering.
See, those are the things I am asking you, because I have no experience with that at all and I also am not a vet.
I'm not a vet for a few more years so some of my answers could be lacking conclusion, but I sincerely hope that the answers I have given you help.
One thing I want to say in regard to your finding it repulsive to preform a spay or neuter at 6 months of age is that in shelters they preform spay and neuters on animals only 6 weeks old. There are currently studies being conducted on most of the questions people ask about animals having this procedure preformed at the 6 month age in order to determine the differences, and while I do understand how we make advancements in our technology, I am a bit repulsed that the shelters couldn't wait until the animal is older to do this procedure. I suppose that we will find out what if any benefit occurs, and it might be very beneficial, but at present it is still off-putting in nature.
