Hypothyroidism is strongly suspected to be related to vaccines. Increased hypothyroidism could be a symptom of the owner blindly following the vet's advice in all areas instead of just linked to the spay or neuter. In my limited experience, owners that would listen to the vet about early spay/neuter were more likely to listen to the vet about other things such as the importance of frequent vaccination (gag). That's something to consider when blaming all of the world's ills on spaying and neutering.

"Recent vaccination may result in increased anti-canine thyroglobulin antibodies. Whether these antibodies have a deleterious effect on canine thyroid function is unknown."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...1&dopt=Abstract

I'm against early spay/neuter when the owners are highly responsible, esp. considering that a female can be spayed as soon as she comes out of heat should she escape. However, there are benefits to spaying and neutering once the dog is older. The age really depends on the owner's desires and ability to care for the dog.

Forgot to mention that thyroid function is also related to activity level. Pets are much more likely to be spayed or neutered, so you have a bias towards altered animals not getting the proper amount of exercise, where as unaltered animals are being shown, worked, etc.

Jenn wrote: "I never had to worry about them running loose (not that I am looking for that to happen) and maybe coming back after finding a male. Never had to worry about an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy. And I knew, absolutely, completely, and for sure, that I was not going to be contributing to the hundreds (thousands?) of purebred and mixed GSD's that are killed every year due to lack of finding enough good homes."


Wow. . .great. . .me neither, and I've never owned a spayed bitch in the 20 or so years I've had dogs. How did I ever manage?


Responsible pet ownership, imagine that.

Then to speak to the thousands of dogs put to sleep every year. . .that is a big problem, but what I hate is people telling me what I should do with my dogs and omitting the possible side affects. . .all for the greater good.

I give a rats hairy ass about the greater good honestly. The information needs to be available for pet owners to consider the pros and cons of both choices. Me not spaying or neutering my dogs has exactly zero impact on the unwanted pet problem in the US. Z-E-R-O


Lauren wrote: "You're preaching to the wrong people."


Understatement <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Spayed bitches are at higher risk of becoming overweight or even obese I was always told that neutered males would have a higher chance of getting obese, but not females. The reasoning behind this was that the males were under the influence of hormones 24/7, and when they're taken away the metabolism slows. But females are only really under the influence of hormones twice a year, so it doesn't make too much of a difference to them.

I can't remember who told me this, or where I read it, but it always made sense to me. Does anyone have anything to say about this?

Originally posted by Meghan Rabon:
I was always told that neutered males would have a higher chance of getting obese, but not females. The reasoning behind this was that the males were under the influence of hormones 24/7, and when they're taken away the metabolism slows. But females are only really under the influence of hormones twice a year, so it doesn't make too much of a difference to them. Both male and female dogs have their metabolism slowed down when they are spay/neutered.

Laura Sanborn

VanCamp, You crack me up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I like your thoughts.