This article was in my recent AKC Family Dog magazine. The article was pointing out that IF you have a choice when to S/N your pet, these are things to consider:

BENEFITS:
Male & Female: surgery and anesthesia times are shorter; faster recovery from anesthesia and healing; and fewer surgical complications.

Female only: reduces risk of mammary cancer, especially when done before 2nd heat cycle

RISKS:
Male and Female: 3-4X higher risk of bone cancer if sterilized before maturity; greater risk of hip dysplasia if sterilized before 5 months; greater risk of ACL ruptures if sterilized before maturity; risk of uneven bone growth that may lead to altered conformation and increased stress on bones and joints if sterilized before maturity

Female ONLY: 2-5 times greater risk of blood-vessel cancer of heart or spleen (hemangiosarcoma); greater risk of urinary-tract infections caused by immature genitalia; greater risk of urinary incontinence, especially if spayed before 3 months

Male ONLY: nearly doubles risk of blood-vessel cancer of the heart (hemangiosarcoma)

Hi,


Is it available online, to link to?


We need to link to the actual text when we quote from copyrighted material.

Sorry I didn't know. AKC Family Dog Page 18.

I'm glad to see this. I think it's important to consider the individual dog, rather than the issue- population control.

Many people can't afford ACL surgery- and it is not always successful, especially in large dogs. Recent research is showing orthopedic issues in pediatric s/n dogs to be more significant that previously supposed. Cancer risks also increase, but the percentages are still pretty low overall.

I find it frustrating that rescue groups screen adopters very thoroughly- only to demonstrate total lack of trust in the adopters ability to make a very important decision about their dogs life-long health by pediatric S/N at 8 weeks prior to adoption.

Sigh. I understand population control is huge. I just don't think pediatric s/n advocates are being fair or honest with adopters. This lack of trust can be seriously crippling to an individual dog's health and the owners who love them.

I'm facing this very problem. Near the end of last year we wanted to adopt a 8 week old female Lab puppy. The "Rescue" facility was going to spay her before they let me take her home. They came to my house and met Starbuck, they were happy with all the normal stuff they require (Fenced Yard, Amount of time the puppy would be left alone, training, blah blah blah).

But there was NO room for negotiation on the spay. I offered to pay for it up front and then pay the extra amount when she was older, but no go. We decided to pass on the adoption.

My wife called a GSD Rescue in the OC tonight and it sounds like the same thing. I'm not sure if they will make an exception or not.

The Shelters are putting population control too far ahead of the pet's health. Someone willing to jump through all their hoops is probably the last person that will allow a female to breed on accident.

A good read!
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/longtermhealtheffectsofspayneuterindogs.pdf

I personally don't believe in having it done before 18-20 months. 2 yrs would even be better. JMO of course!

I read the highlights of that paper too.

Here is another article I found last night:

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

"A study of 1444 Golden Retrievers performed in 1998 and 1999 also found bitches and dogs spayed and neutered at less than a year of age were significantly taller than those spayed or neutered at more than a year of age."

 Quote: Keith Larson

I read the highlights of that paper too.

Here is another article I found last night:

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

"A study of 1444 Golden Retrievers performed in 1998 and 1999 also found bitches and dogs spayed and neutered at less than a year of age were significantly taller than those spayed or neutered at more than a year of age."

Early spay/neuter retards the closing of the growth plates in the dogs.

I see it from both sides.

The rescue that I'm currently working with is the only one that I have known to look at situations case by case. Still, waiving the S/N would be a stretch. It's hard to feel confident about a potential adopter and what they will or will not do after only meeting them 2-4 times tops. We've had eight instances of pregnant dogs and just delivered mom and pups to find fosters for in the last month! The shelter is a death sentence for the pups. It makes for a pretty strong case to S/N prior to adoption.

"But there was NO room for negotiation on the spay. I offered to pay for it up front and then pay the extra amount when she was older, but no go."

I think this should be an option for adopters if they have good vet references and offer to pay up front for the procedure. One could argue that it would be next to impossible to follow up on however.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this a legal issue? I was under the impression that all dogs are required to be sterilized before they leave any rescue, if said rescue wishes to maintain its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Since this is an IRS matter I assume it applies in all 50 states.

ETA: This would apply to Keith's situation anyway...