Will Spaying /Neutering Your Dog Increase Its Risk Of Cancer?

Summary of "Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas" 

Objective:

To investigate associations between age at gonadectomy and estimated risk or age at diagnosis of neoplastic and behavioral disorders in Vizslas. 

Design: 

Retrospective cohort study. Animals 2,505 Vizslas born between 1992 and 2008. 

Procedures: Data on demographics, gonadectomy status, and age at diagnosis of disease or disorder were obtained with an anonymous online survey and analyzed. 

Results: 

Dogs gonadectomized at ≤ 6 months, between 7 and 12 months, or at > 12 months of age had significantly increased odds of developing mast cell cancer, lymphoma, all other cancers, all cancers combined, and fear of storms, compared with the odds for sexually intact dogs. Females  gonadectomized at ≤ 12 months of age and males and females gonadectomized at > 12 months of age had significantly increased odds of developing hemangiosarcoma, compared with the odds for sexually intact dogs. Dogs gonadectomized at ≤ 6 months of age had significantly increased odds of developing a behavioral disorder. The younger the age at gonadectomy, the earlier the mean age at diagnosis of mast cell cancer, cancers other than mast cell, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, all cancers combined, a behavioral disorder, or fear of storms. 

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: 

Additional studies are needed on the biological effects of removing gonadal hormones and on methods to render dogs infertile that do not involve gonadectomy. Veterinarians should discuss the benefits and possible adverse effects of gonadectomy with clients, giving consideration to the breed of dog, the owner's circumstances, and the anticipated use of the dog. 

From: BioPortfolio, http://www.bioportfolio.com/resources/pmarticle/928848/Evaluation-of-the-risk-and-age-of-onset-ofcancer-and-behavioral.html. Study originally published in J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Feb 1;244(3):309-19. doi: 10.2460/ 

javma.244.3.309.

“New Evidence Shows Link Between Spaying, Neutering and Cancer”

“New Evidence Shows Link Between Spaying, Neutering and Cancer”

If you haven’t heard the news yet, there is a buzz in the pet wellness world happening. Boy oh boy, is it ever a hot topic! 

So what is it? 

Removing the sexual glands from our pets (aka spaying and neutering) is causing some serious cancer problems!

This is not a new debate. It has been quietly buzzing around the medical world for a while now. "We need more research”, the world exclaims!!! And research we are getting. Check out the latest study from an article posted by Dr. Karen Becker:

The study, titled "Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas," was conducted by a team of researchers with support from the Vizsla Club of America Welfare Foundation. It was published in the February 1, 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24432963)

Vizsla Study Results

The Vizsla study involved 2,505 dogs, and reported these results:

• Dogs neutered or spayed at any age were at significantly increased risk for developing mast cell cancer, lymphoma, all other cancers, all cancers combined, and fear of storms, compared with intact dogs.

• 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.

Yes, very scary stats! So what are the some other options for pet owner? 

According to Dr. Becker: “… sterilize without desexing. This means performing a procedure that will prevent pregnancy while sparing the testes or ovaries so that they continue to produce hormones essential for the dog's health and well-being. This typically involves a vasectomy for male dogs, and either a tubal ligation or modified spay for females. The modified spay removes the uterus while preserving the hormone-producing ovaries."

This topic has been debated on social media sites in the past, and let me tell you, all hell breaks loose between shelter organizations, veterinarians, breeders and pet parents.

However, for any pet parent in the world, there is nothing worse than unknowingly going into a situation unprepared or un-researched for the greater good of a pet. Making any decision for the overall wellbeing of your pet after researching all angles is always the best way to go!

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better." ~ Maya Angelou

For more info on the topic, you can visit here: http://ow.ly/xYEIk

Pet Nutrition Blogger - Rodney Habib

Original Story - https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPawsPetEssentials?fref=photo

Connecting the dots between Exercise and Injuries

This diagram shows the growth plates which will close (indicated by the black lines) between 6-12 months and which joints are most vulnerable (indicated by the red circles).

The average age for injured puppy is between 9-13 months. For most owners the story is always the same, owners don't understand what happened, ". . . he's been doing (this) for months, and then all of a sudden, BANG, he came back on three legs"! Truth is, the puppy was injured because he had been exercising at levels that are only safe for mature dogs (hiking for an hour or longer / running at full tilt after Chuck-It balls or beside a bike...).

How this happened should be no mystery. The diagram illustrates all the asymmetrical development of puppy's limbs. The hips, shoulders, elbows, stifles, hocks and SPINE are all vulnerable, creating more serious risks than when the puppy was young.

Please limit the amount of exercise for your puppy (refer to my exercise guidelines).

Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies

Pet insurance is a good idea for an athletic breed like the Vizsla, a broken leg will cost you a couple hundred and an obstruction surgery will cost you thousands (like $7,500).  Here's a link to the Top 10 Best Pet Insurance companies http://tinyurl.com/per6369