Why neutering is good

Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered females, those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age. The study population was 59 intact males, 74 neutered males, 37 intact females, and 65 spayed females for a total of cases. The percentage of intact males with at least one joint disorder was 4 percent and for intact females, 11 percent.

Spaying females before 6 mo. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 9 percent for both intact males and intact females. There was no occurrence of MC in females, whether left intact or neutered at any age, and a 5 percent occurrence of PYO in intact females.

There was no occurrence of UI in intact or spayed females. Reflecting the increased risk of joint disorders for males, the suggested guideline for neutering males is delaying neutering until well-beyond 2 years. Lacking a significant occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered females, those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age. The study population was intact males, 85 neutered males, 88 intact females, and spayed females for a total of cases.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed in intact males was 2 percent and none for females left intact. For males, there was a significant increased risk in one or more of the cancers to 13 percent with neutering at 6—11 mo. UI was reported in just one spayed female. The suggested guideline for neutering, given the significant risk of cancers, is holding off neutering of both sexes until beyond a year of age.

The study population was 75 intact males, 67 neutered males, 54 intact females, and 96 spayed females for a total of cases. None of the intact or neutered males or females was diagnosed with one or more joint disorders. For females, 2 percent of intact females had one or more of the cancers and with spaying, there was no evident increase of cancers. UI was 2 percent in early-spayed females.

In light of the significant increase in cancers in males with neutering through 11 months of age, the suggested guideline for males is delaying neutering to beyond a year of age. The study population was intact males, neutered males, intact females, and spayed females, for a sample size of cases. Males and females left intact had just a 2 percent occurrence of joint disorders, with neutered males and females showing no apparent increase in this measure.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed in intact males was 17 percent, and for intact females, 11 percent. The same pattern of increase in cancers was seen in spaying females with up to 20 percent of females having one or more of the cancers with spaying done before 2 years, an increase that was not significant, but with an expanded database may have been.

There was no occurrence of MC in intact females. PYO was diagnosed in 2 percent of intact females. Just 1 percent of spayed females were diagnosed with UI. Given the risk of increased cancers, the suggested guideline for both sexes is to delay neutering until beyond 2 years of age. The study population was intact males, neutered males, 90 intact females, and spayed females for a sample of cases.

The occurrence of joint disorders in intact males was 7 percent and 5 percent in intact females. The cancers followed occurred at the 6 to 7 percent level in intact males and females. There were no significant increases above this with neutering males or females.

The occurrence of MC in females left intact was 1 percent and 2 percent with spaying at 2—8 years. Lacking a significant occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered males or females, those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age, but some people may wish to be cautious in view of the possible apparent risk in joint disorders. The study population was 51 intact males, 72 neutered males, 87 intact females, and 76 spayed females, for a sample size of cases.

For males and females left intact, the occurrences of one or more joint disorders were just 4 and 1 percent, respectively, and for both sexes neutering was not associated with any increase in this measure. The occurrences of cancers in intact males were 2 percent and zero for intact females.

For both sexes neutering was not associated with any increase in this measure. The occurrence of MC in females left intact was zero. The occurrence of PYO was 2 percent in intact females. There was no occurrence of UI in spayed females. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered males or females, those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age. The study population was intact males, neutered males, intact females, and spayed females for a total sample of 1, cases.

For both males and females, neither those left intact, nor those neutered at any age had a noteworthy occurrence of a joint disorder. The occurrence of MC in females left intact was 1 percent, and in females neutered at 2—8 mo. In intact females, PYO was diagnosed in 2 percent. There was no UI diagnosed in any of the spayed females. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers with neutering in either sex, those wishing to neuter should decide on the appropriate age.

The study population was 71 intact males, neutered males, 61 intact females, and spayed females, for a sample size of cases. The occurrence of at least one joint disorder was seen in 1 to 3 percent of the intact males and females. Spaying females was not associated with an increase in joint disorders. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 6 percent in intact males with no increase with neutering.

None of the spayed females developed UI. The suggested guideline for males is neutering beyond 6 months of age. Given the increased cancer risk for females spayed at a year of age, the suggested guideline is delaying spaying until beyond 2 years of age. The study population was 29 intact males, 26 neutered males, 24 intact females, and 37 spayed females, for a sample size of cases. The occurrence of at least one joint disorder was seen in 7 percent of the intact males and in none of the intact females.

None of the neutered males or females had a noteworthy occurrence of a joint disorder. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 11 percent for intact males and none for the intact females. Of females spayed at 6—11 mo. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders or cancers in neutered males, those wishing to neuter a male should decide on the appropriate age.

The study population was 42 intact males, 78 neutered males, 50 intact females, and 70 spayed females, for a total sample size of cases. Although these are two breeds, they vary only a little in size, so these two breeds are combined for statistical analyses and display of data. The occurrence of at least one joint disorder in intact males was 5 percent and for intact females 6 percent. There was no significant increase in this measure in males or females with neutering.

This is one of the breeds where intervertebral disc disorders are a concern, and in 3 percent of intact males and 8 percent of intact females, IDD was reported. In males neutered before 6 months, the occurrence of IDD reached 18 percent, and in females there was no increase with neutering.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 5 percent in intact males and 6 percent in intact females. In neutered males and females, there was no evident increase in cancers.

There was no diagnosis of UI in spayed females. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders, IDD, or cancers with neutering females, those wishing to neuter a female should decide on the appropriate age.

The study population was intact males, neutered males, 99 intact females, and spayed females, for a total sample size of cases. Joint disorders were basically absent in males and females, left intact or neutered. This is a breed plagued by intervertebral disc disorders, and in this sample 53 percent of intact males and 38 percent of intact females were diagnosed with a form of IDD.

There was no evident increase in this measure with neutering of males or females. The study population was intact males, 91 neutered males, 53 intact females, and spayed females, for a sample size of cases.

The percentage of intact males with at least one joint disorder was 2 percent and 0 percent for intact females. There was no evident increase in this measure with neutering males. For females, spaying within 11 months resulted in an increase in joint disorders of 11 percent, which did not reach significance. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed for both intact males and intact females was 2 percent.

In neutered males at the 1 year and 2—8 year periods, there was a non-significant increase in occurrence of cancers to 6 percent and 13 percent, respectively. For females, there was no noteworthy increase in cancers with spaying at any time. The occurrence of MC in females left intact was 2 percent and 4 percent for those spayed at 2—8 years.

There was a 7 percent occurrence of PYO in intact females. The suggested guideline, based on fragmentary results, for males is to leave the male intact or neuter before 1 year of age to avoid the possible increased risk of cancers seen in those neutered beyond a year of age. For females, the suggested guideline, also based on limited data, given the risk of UI in early spayed females, and the possible increased risk of a joint disorder, is to consider delaying spaying until beyond 2 years of age.

The study population was 52 intact males, 57 neutered males, 37 intact females, and 66 spayed females for a total sample of cases. In males and females left intact, the occurrence of one or more joint disorders was 5 and 8 percent, respectively. Among males and females neutered at various ages, there were no noteworthy increases in joint disorders.

The cancers followed occurred in the intact males and females at a 6 percent level, and neutering at any age was not associated with any evident increase in this measure in either sex. In intact females, MC was diagnosed in 6 percent, and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 15 percent. PYO was not reported in any of the intact females. Spaying females at 6—11 mo. For females, given the increased risk of UI in those spayed before 1 year, the suggested guideline is to delay spaying until a year of age.

The study population was intact males, neutered males, intact females, and spayed females for a total of 1, cases. In males and females left intact, the occurrence of one or more joint disorders was 6 and 5 percent, respectively.

The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed for intact males and females was 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Neutering at the various ages was not associated with any appreciable increased risk in cancers followed.

The occurrence of MC in intact females was 5 percent and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 6 percent. Of intact females, 3 percent were reported with PYO. The suggested guideline for males, given the risks of joint disorders, is delaying neutering until over 2 years of age.

For females, with the same joint issues as males plus the risks of UI, the suggested guideline is delaying spaying until over 2 years of age. In intact males and females, the level of occurrence of one or more joint disorders was 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed in intact males was a high 15 percent and for intact females 5 percent.

The occurrence of MC in intact females was 1 percent and for those spayed at 2—8 years, 4 percent. No cases of UI were reported in females spayed at any age. The suggested guideline for males, based on the increased risks of joint disorders and cancers, is delaying neutering until beyond a year of age. The suggested guideline for females, based on the increased occurrence of cancers at all spaying ages, is leaving the female intact or spaying at one year and remaining vigilant for the cancers.

The study population was 90 intact males, neutered males, 69 intact females, and 91 spayed females for a total sample of cases. This is a giant breed where one might expect a high risk of joint disorders. However, both intact males and females have low levels of joint disorders, just 1 and 2 percent, respectively. For both males and females, there was no evident increase in this measure with neutering. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed in intact males was 6 percent and for intact females, 3 percent.

There was no evident increase in this measure of cancers with neutering in either sex. In early-spayed females, no UI was reported. However, given the large body size, and physiology of late musculoskeletal development, neutering well-beyond year 1 should be considered. The study population was 30 intact males, 19 neutered males, 21 intact females, and 16 spayed females for a total of 86 cases.

Even with the small number of cases, this breed was chosen for analyses because of the large body size: challenging the Great Dane for height, and where one might expect an increased risk of joint disorders. In this sample, 7 percent of intact males and none of the intact females had a joint disorder.

No joint disorders were seen in neutered males or females. Now, Dr. Hart and his team have completed a further round of retrospective research, investigating tens of thousands of dogs from 35 breeds, and focusing on early spay-neuter, carried out before the dog reaches sexual maturity. Hart told me. For instance, the researchers found that in almost all dogs weighing less than 20 kilos about 45 pounds , there was no increased incidence of the studied joint problems and cancers compared to intact dogs.

All, that is, except for the Shih Tzu. Early neutering of male Shih Tzus, the team discovered, was associated with higher rates of some of the cancers studied. And when it comes to dogs weighing more than 20 kilos, the study found that the impact of early spay-neuter varies hugely across breeds and sexes. Hart conjectured that at the other end of the scale, Great Danes might suffer them at a high rate.

Yet he found that the gentle giants had no increase in joint disorders after early spay-neuter. Negative health outcomes from spay-neuter were often limited to dogs that were neutered early, i. For instance, female Golden Retrievers spayed after 12 months of age were four times more likely to develop hemangiosarcoma as intact females and even early-spayed ones, according to Dr.

So how and why did spaying or neutering dogs at six months come to be the norm? Canine cognitive scientist Dr. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.

Your community will also benefit. Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern in many places. And as with dogs and cats, spayed female rabbits are less likely to get ovarian, mammary and uterine cancers which can be prevalent in mature intact females. By spaying or neutering your pet, you can help protect them against certain illnesses, perhaps address certain unwanted behaviors and save money.

Your pet's health and longevity The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats and dogs is demonstrably longer than the lifespan of those not. These are the best general recommendations that can be drawn from a thorough analysis of research currently available: Owned cats should be altered before they are 5 months old as they can become pregnant at 4 months of age and older.

Owned female dogs should be spayed before they are 5 months old. Owned small, medium and large breed male dogs should be neutered before they are 5 months old. Owned giant breed male dogs who are house pets should be neutered after growth stops, between 12 to 15 months of age due to orthopedic concerns.

Owned giant breed male dogs who roam freely should be neutered before they are 5 months old due to the population concerns of unintended breeding.

Shelter animals should be altered prior to adoption—ideally, as early as 6 weeks old; however, some states may require waiting until the animals are 8 weeks old. Community cats should be altered via TNR trap-neuter-return at any age after 6 weeks old, although, again, some states may require waiting until the kittens are at least 8 weeks old. Top 10 tips.