Quote:
Originally Posted by RedFawnRising  "In the end these little statistical variances that may not even represent a true cause-effect relationship between disease and sterilization are not worth having a pet with unacceptable behaviors (the chance of an unsterilized dog dying in the shelter is higher than the chance of a sterlized dog getting any of the diseases you could ever study), "
Exactly. What I was trying to get across to Kimbertalkls in the thread from hell, but she chooses not to hear anything but what supports her view of the world.
Thanks so much for posting the response.
And, tranquility, how is pregnancy NOT a health issue? |
Unfortunately we saw the major group of dogs being replaced due to joints, knees, and ligament issues were in neutered males and females. This was before we found any study. These numbers were significant, not 10 or 20. It would be a pretty big co-incidence if it was not running about 70 % at one point that the replacement was for a spayed female/neutered males, mostly done at 6 months. Since it was 25 years ago it was not due to the general public being spay conscious. A big factor is that many people allow their neutered pet to eat and eat, this on a dog dog who's growth plates will not close after neutering, who will often grow taller than it's littermates and who will for always have looser ligaments.
I am a mother of three daughter's with Osgoode Schlatter's Disease so I am aware of how maturity, growth periods, exercise and weight can affect an otherwise healthy child or animal. I have a 14 year old child who waits for age 19 when her growth plates close so she can have her ligaments replaced. Joints, hormones and normal maturity or the lack of them, can be critically important.
If it would be allowed, a vet who has one of our dogs and works at a large clinic in Florida recently said they have changed their policy from 6 months to a year on neutering the large breeds at their clinic. I will ask them for a statement if it will be printed. She said the articles we sent her supported their findings so the data may be of use. The NAIA article was not meant to eliminate neutering but neutering a pet that comes in contact with no other dogs and is not being gotten rid of because the people think he will get testicle cancer is ridiculous. My bulldog male is neutered with no ill effects but he was two when neutered. My females are not neutered and have no ill effects. I definitely am against MSN laws because they all say by 6 months.
Despite what you think of me, I can agree with the article in many parts including the last paragraph. ACL surgery can be costly and a factor in some owners surrendering their pet. I do not see the harm of letting the dog mature first. Anne