Preliminary research has shown LH receptors on other tissues
within the body other than the gonads. However, their effects on
these tissues and their roles in certain cancers and other body
tissues are still being examined. This possible relationship may
give clues as to why we observe adverse health effects in
specific populations of dogs.
How does one take the above information and the evolving
research to make the right decision for the dog in front of us? To
answer this question, an individualized approach should be
taken by discussing with your veterinarian, researching, and
determining if caring for factors that come with an intact animal
responsibly is feasible with one's lifestyle. When I approach this
question with clients, we look at whether they can manage an
intact dog, especially a female, when they cycle to avoid
unwanted pregnancy. Some simply cannot and are happy to
continue spaying and neutering at 6 months of age. Underlying
reproductive abnormality must be considered when deciding on
appropriate timing, as some have an increased risk to the dog's
overall health and welfare if spayed/neutered too early or too
late.
For
example,
female
dogs
with
a
hooded
vulva,
conformational abnormality, are at an increased risk for urinary
tract infections, vulvitis, and vaginitis. Allowing these females to
stay intact and experience at least one heat cycle can reduce
the risk or limit these conditions from occurring before being
spayed. On the contrary, in males, disorders of testicular
descent, most commonly seen as cryptorchidism, where one or
both testicles do not descend into the scrotum, can carry
increased risks of testicular cancers and testicular torsion if not
removed by the age of two. These conditions must be discussed
with your veterinarian, and if they cannot provide sufficient
guidance, referral to a reproductive specialist may provide better
insight to help the decision-making process. The next factor to
consider is the age of the dog.
Female dogs who undergo continued cycling over time without
pregnancy are at risk for a potentially life-threatening condition
called pyometra, and ninety percent of males over the age of 5
years will develop benign prostatic hyperplasia. Both conditions
can be cured and 100% prevented by spaying or neutering.
These conditions are not created equal, as medications can
manage benign prostatic hyperplasia very effectively in the
intact male population. Pyometra, on the other hand, is most
commonly managed surgically, and medical treatment is
reserved for a certain subset of the female population.
P A G E 8
K 9 F O R C E