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Patricia Herlevi
Timing matters when spaying or neutering your dog. See how age, breed, and hormones can influence cancer risk, joint health, and long-term well-being.
Spaying and neutering help prevent dog overpopulation, especially in shelters. However, having these procedures done at the wrong age can impact your dog’s long-term health. Research shows that spay/neuter age by dog breed and size plays a key role in the risk of certain cancers and joint disorders.
Study shows link between spay/neuter, cancer and joint disorders
As dog population control measures started increasing in the 1980s, so did cancer rates and connective tissue disorders in some breeds. This was confirmed through research conducted by Dr. Benjamin Hart and co-researcher Dr. Lynette Hart with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Research reveals that for some dog breeds, neutering may be associated with increased risks of debilitating joint disorders and some cancers, complicating pet owners’ decisions on neutering,” they wrote in their 2020 paper “Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence”
“The joint disorders include hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear or rupture, and elbow dysplasia,” the authors continue. “The cancers include lymphoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma.”
A focus on Golden Retrievers
The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in North America. It’s also the poster dog for premature death by disease. Out of the breeds that appeared in the Harts’ research, Golden Retrievers had a 65% chance of developing cancer. The risk was 25% in other breeds.
“In our data on 40 breeds, the Golden Retriever was especially affected with increased risks for musculoskeletal disorders and cancers by neutering,” states the study. “Females neutered at any age showed an increased risk of cancer.”
“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 authors conclude. Males can be neutered at 12 to 24 months.
Holistic veterinarian Dr. Anna Maria Wolf says she has also noticed a pattern with Golden Retrievers, though with a caveat.
Alternatives to spay/neuter
Fortunately, there are alternatives to spaying and neutering that can keep unwanted breeding in check. “Methods to prevent reproduction include vasectomy for males and tube tying for females, and these methods retain the dog’s gonadal hormones,” says the UC Davis study.
“Removing gonadal hormones has been shown in several studies by others to increase some behavior and health problems of dogs. Other methods preventing reproduction, also used only infrequently, include chemosterilants.”
“There are several options,” adds holistic veterinarian Dr. Anna Maria Wolf. “You can wait to spay or neuter until at least one heat cycle in a female. Alternatively, a vasectomy or ovary sparing spay that maintains the hormones can be done when dogs are 2½. They will still want to breed, but can no longer get pregnant.”
Ultimately, decisions around sterilization should move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and instead reflect each dog’s unique biology and risk factors. As research continues to evolve, it’s increasingly clear that spay/neuter age by dog breed and size is a critical consideration in supporting lifelong health.
Work closely with your veterinarian and weigh both conventional and alternative options. That way, you can make informed choices that balance population control with optimal well-being for your dog.
Mixed breeds – size makes a difference
The UC Davis study found that mixed breeds showed better health outcomes than purebred dogs like the Golden Retriever. However, it found that as mixed breeds increase in size, from standard to giant, the likelihood of developing health conditions from spay/neuter also rises.
“We published data from mixed breed dogs split into five weight categories and found heightened risks for musculoskeletal disorders in male and female dogs weighing 20 pounds or more if they were neutered prior to one year of age,” the Harts state.
What about small dogs?
The study further indicated that early spay/neuter does not affect dogs under 20 pounds. But there are some exceptions. Early/spay neuter may compromise the health of the following breeds:
- Boston Terrier
- Corgi
- Dachshund
- West Highland Terrier
- Shih Tzu
Study update includes more breeds
A 2024 update to the UC Davis study include findings on cancer and joint disease risk for seven additional larger breed dogs (20kg or more). The spay/neuter recommendations for these breeds are as follows:
German Short/Wirehaired Pointer: no earlier than 12 months for both males and females
Mastiff: no earlier than 24 months for males; no earlier than 12 months for females
Newfoundland: no earlier than 12 months for both males and females
Rhodesian Ridgeback: no earlier than six months for both males and females
Siberian Husky: no earlier than six months for males; no earlier than 12 months for females
The post Spay/neuter age by dog breed and size appeared first on Animal Wellness Magazine.
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