Neutering dogs: effects on joint disorders and cancers in golden retrievers.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Retrospective cohort study evaluated by design analogy in veterinary medicine
PubMed 23418479 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055937
What was done
Veterinary hospital records of 759 client-owned intact and neutered golden retrievers (male and female, aged 1–8 years) were analyzed to assess the relationship between neuter timing (intact, early-neutered at <12 months, or late-neutered at ≥12 months) and five specific conditions: hip dysplasia (HD), cranial cruciate ligament tear (CCL), lymphosarcoma (LSA), hemangiosarcoma (HSA), and mast cell tumor (MCT). Analyses were performed using survival analyses and incidence rate comparisons with significance set at p < 0.05.
What was found
Early-neutered males had a 10% rate of HD, double the rate in intact males. CCL was diagnosed in 0% of intact males and females, but occurred in 5% of early-neutered males and 8% of early-neutered females. Early-neutered males had an LSA diagnosis rate of almost 10%, a 3-fold increase over intact males. Late-neutered females had an ~8% rate of HSA (4-fold higher than intact and early-neutered females) and an ~6% rate of MCT (compared to 0% in intact females).
Why it matters
This study provides evidence that early or late neutering in golden retrievers is associated with altered risks for specific joint disorders and cancers, informing veterinary recommendations regarding the timing of sterilization.
Limits
The study was retrospective and restricted to a single breed at a single veterinary hospital, introducing potential referral and selection biases. Follow-up was restricted to dogs aged 1–8 years, and the abstract does not report adjustment for potential confounders such as body weight or physical activity.
Cited by
- supports Spaying female puppies puts them into surgical menopause and removes their estrogen, contributing to increased incidence of ACL tears and ligament injuries.