Popular literature indicates (and we agree), that there are more risks than there are benefits, to early spay and neuter in Weimaraners.
If you own a Weimaraner from the Barrett Collective (Barrett Weimaraners, BaseCamp Weimaraners, or L&L Weimaraners), your purchase contract indicates that your dog should not be spayed prior to her first heat cycle or neutered prior to 12 months. The operative word is should. (And yes, there are some advantages about spaying and neutering.) At the end of the day, you own your dog and it’s up to you, but we recommend waiting for the following reasons:
- Weimaraners need hormones (that are produced with puberty) to close growth plates in their bones. Early spay/neuter sends mixed (hormonal) signals that lead to long bones and “leggy” Weimaraners who look proportionately “off.” In other words, this happens because of the delay in closure of growth plates.
- A study in Golden Retrievers concluded that early spay leads to higher rates of mast cell tumors, and early neuter leads to higher rates of lymphosarcoma.
- A study in Vizslas showed an increase in several types of cancer, including mast cell tumors, lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma.
- Increased rates of hip dysplasia.
- Increased rates of urinary incontinence in early spay.
- Increased risk of obesity and orthopedic injury.
- Increased risk of ligament tears.
- Increased risk of behavior disorders including reactivity and aggression. Here’s another link on the topic.
- Increased risk of bone cancer. And here’s another link on the topic.
- Increased risk of joint disease.
Additional information – Statement from Dr. Karen Becker
*Goldens more at risk than Labs
http://www.plosone.org/article
The easy to understand version http://www.veterinarypracticen
*Neutering: This Common Procedure Can Boost Cancer and Joint Problems As Much As Five-Fold, specifically Golden Retrievers
http://healthypets.mercola.com
*Sterilization Effects Worse for Golden Retrievers Than Labs, time of alteration on role in the onset of joint disorders and cancer
http://www.veterinarypracticen
*OSS (ovary sparing spay)
http://healthypets.mercola.com
>16 minute video link of actual surgery, don’t watch if squeamish! http://www.parsemusfoundation.
*Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats
http://www.parsemusfoundation.
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs
http://www.caninesports.com/up
http://journals.plos.org/ploso
http://www.caninesports.com/up
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/
http://saova.org/articles/Earl
http://journals.plos.org/ploso
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/
*Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pu
Have questions? Concerns?! Comments?!
Please contact any one of us!!!
– Kim, Erin, and Brent
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