Why Early Neutering Increases ACL Injury Risk in Medium to Large Dogs
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Early Spay/Neuter and ACL Injuries in Dogs: The Surprising Link You Need to Know!
You might be wondering, should I really delay spaying or neutering my dog? Well, a recent study just dropped some eye-opening info that might make you rethink your approach. If you’re looking for natural health tips for your pets, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!
The Spay/Neuter Debate: What’s the Latest?
The spay and neuter debate has definitely gotten more complicated over the last couple of years. There have been studies suggesting that for certain breeds, delaying the age at which they’re spayed or neutered is the better choice. But not everyone is on board with this idea—some veterinarians still advocate for sticking to the traditional advice: spay or neuter by 6 months to prevent serious conditions like mammary cancer.
So, where does that leave us as pet owners trying to figure out the best path? A new study, titled Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Age of Neutering in Labrador Retrievers, might help answer that question.
The Study’s Key Takeaways
The big conclusion? Neutering a dog before 12 months of age significantly increases the risk of cranial cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. ACL injuries are one of the most common orthopedic issues we see in dogs, especially those who are spayed or neutered early.
But it’s not just the age of spaying or neutering that’s a factor. The study also pointed to obesity (which can be linked to the loss of sex hormones), repetitive high-impact activities like running on hard surfaces, and even genetics. For breeds like Labradors, there’s a heritable component to this, meaning some dogs are genetically predisposed to ACL injuries.
The Benefits of Delaying Spay/Neuter
If you have a medium to large breed dog, like a Labrador, there are several advantages to waiting longer before spaying or neutering. Let’s break them down:
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Fewer ACL Injuries: Waiting decreases the likelihood of ACL injuries.
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Lower Risk of Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is less common when you delay spay or neuter procedures.
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Reduced Risk of Obesity: Delaying helps prevent obesity, which, in turn, reduces strain on joints.
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Decreased Chance of Certain Cancers: Delaying spay or neuter also lowers the risk of cancers like osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma, especially in predisposed breeds.
The Science Behind It: How Sex Hormones Affect Growth
Here’s the science: Testosterone and estrogen play crucial roles in bone and muscle growth. When these hormones are present, they help delay the closure of growth plates in bones, allowing dogs to develop longer limbs. However, when dogs are spayed or neutered too early, they don’t get the full benefit of these hormones, resulting in longer bones without the muscle mass to support them.
This means you’re left with a tall, long-legged dog who’s more likely to injure themselves, especially when it comes to ACL tears or hip dysplasia. They simply don’t have the muscle support needed to protect their joints.
So, What’s the Right Age?
You’re probably wondering, “What’s the best age then?” For medium to large breed dogs, I recommend waiting until your dog is 24 months (2 years) old before spaying or neutering. By this time, their bones will have finished growing, and their muscles and ligaments will be strong enough to support their joints properly. This gives them the best chance for a healthy, injury-free life.
Additional Tips for Preventing ACL Injuries
In addition to delaying spay or neuter, here are a few more tips to help your dog avoid ACL injuries:
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Maintain a Healthy Weight: Overweight dogs are more prone to joint issues, so make sure your dog is getting the right amount of food.
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Avoid High-Impact Activities: Until they’re fully grown, limit activities that put high strain on your dog’s joints, like running on hard surfaces.
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Introduce Low-Impact Activities: Swimming is a fantastic way to keep your dog’s joints strong without the risk of injury. If your dog loves water, take advantage of it!
Final Thoughts
If you have a dog that’s at risk for ACL injuries or other orthopedic issues, delaying spaying or neutering can have significant benefits. Of course, every dog is different, and it’s important to consider all factors—age, breed, activity level—before making a decision. But in general, waiting until your dog is fully grown and their bones and muscles are developed gives them the best chance for a healthy, active life.
Thanks for reading, and if you found this information helpful, feel free to share it with other dog owners who might be wondering about the same thing. If you’re new here, don’t forget to hit that subscribe button for more pet health tips. Keep your furry friend happy and healthy!
thank you for sharing this topic. It’s a very important one. I have been sharing life and home with large and giant breed dogs for 40 years. One thing I learned that about giant breed dogs is that if you neuter/spay them too young as well, it affects hormones in the body fast affecting, natural normal bone growth & development Also has something to do with feeding intermittent feeding is better if it’s done with in equal meal three times a day especially for dogs under a year of age should always be done to at least one if not too, allowing for more even balanced nutrition and growth, and ensuring there is a proper calcium to phosphorus ratio never leaving free feed out for a dog to eat. They don’t assimilate the food in even balanced amts as they should and balance in nutrients, especially calcium and phosphorus. Does something bad with the growth and their bones and what I read is that most of these dogs or at least some of them eventually get diagnosed with bone cancer I’m still researching, but I’m pretty sure I read something about the hormones and being neutered young ., adopted a rescue named Benjamin beautiful natural blue no splash of white on him it happened he was neutered at five months old. I already knew this was a very bad idea that she was neutered so young ., We cared for him naturally got the best foods, natural and healthy. A quiet life. Enjoyed our big backyard. Had a lot of toys to play with after had shared 2 1/2 years of life, he had turned four and he was diagnosed with bone cancer And not appeared on his shinbone I thought he ran into something, but I kept an eye on it. It had grown too fast a couple weeks. I took him straight to the vet., with even the greatest care we got for him at UC Davis and a cancer specialist in Sacramento he lost his life 6 mo later at 4 1/2 even after he had his leg removed. We had his blood work staged. We wanted to give him a greater chance for survival, he was so young , I noticed when we adopted him, he was neutered at five months and the research I had done on it before led me to do this again more in depth so there’s also a greater reason not to neuter or spay your giant breed dogs too young, as well as having proper nutrition the AAFCO guidelines Just a cookie cutter benefit with the lowest quality ingredients it may meet the AAFCO standards, but not a nutritionally balanced meal, not by any standards. I actually joined your page many years ago on YouTube and I didn’t go back to YouTube for many years and until maybe three years ago and rediscovered you and the many gifts of knowledge that you share thank you Dr. Jones for being there and providing valuable information for all the family sharing life with animals cats and dogs you are of great benefit