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http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/13/neutering-spaying-cancer-risk.aspx

New Evidence Shows Link Between Spaying, Neutering and Cancer

June 13, 2014
By Dr. Becker

A recent study raises even more questions about traditional spay/neuter practices for U.S. dogs.

The study, titled "Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in
gonadectomized Vizslas,"1 was conducted by a team of researchers with support from the Vizsla Club of
America Welfare Foundation. It was published in the February 1, 2014 issue of the Journal of the American
Veterinary Medical Association.

Like previous research on Rottweilers and Golden Retrievers, the results of the Vizsla study are a call to
action to take a closer look at current neutering recommendations.

Vizsla Study Results

The Vizsla study involved 2,505 dogs, and reported these results:

Dogs neutered or spayed at any age were at significantly increased risk for developing mast cell
cancer, lymphoma, all other cancers, all cancers combined, and fear of storms, compared with intact dogs.
Females spayed at 12 months or younger, and both genders neutered or spayed at over 12 months
had significantly increased odds of developing hemangiosarcoma, compared with intact dogs.
Dogs of both genders neutered or spayed at 6 months or younger had significantly increased odds of
developing a behavioral disorder, including separation anxiety, noise phobia, timidity, excitability, submissive
urination, aggression, hyperactivity, and/or fear biting. When it came to thunderstorm phobia, all neutered or
spayed Vizslas were at greater risk than intact Vizslas, regardless of age at neutering.
The younger the age at neutering, the earlier the age at diagnosis with mast cell cancer, cancers other
than mast cell, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, all cancers combined, a behavioral disorder, or fear of storms.
Compared to intact dogs, neutered and spayed dogs had a 3.5 times higher risk of developing mast
cell cancer, regardless of what age they were neutered.
Spayed females had nine times higher incidence of hemangiosarcoma compared to intact females,
regardless of when spaying was performed, however, no difference in incidence of this type of cancer was
found for neutered vs. intact males.
Neutered and spayed dogs had 4.3 times higher incidence of lymphoma (lymphosarcoma), regardless
of age at time of neutering.
Neutered and spayed dogs had five times higher incidence of other types of cancer, regardless of age
of neutering.
Spayed females had 6.5 times higher incidence of all cancers combined compared to intact females,
and neutered males had 3.6 times higher incidence than intact males.

Vizsla Researchers Conclude More Studies Are Needed on the Biological Effects of Spaying and
Neutering, and Also on Methods of Sterilization That Do Not Involve Removal of the Gonads.

The Vizsla researchers concluded that:

"Additional studies are needed on the biological effects of removing gonadal hormones and on methods to
render dogs infertile that do not involve gonadectomy. Veterinarians should discuss the benefits and possible
adverse effects of gonadectomy with clients, giving consideration to the breed of dog, the owner's
circumstances, and the anticipated use of the dog."

(The full Vizsla study can be downloaded here.)

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I absolutely agree with the researchers' conclusion that studies are needed on alternative methods of
sterilizing dogs that do not involve removing the gonads. As I explained in an earlier video, over the years
I've changed my view on spaying and neutering dogs, based not just on research like Vizsla study, but also
on the health challenges faced by so many of my canine patients after I spayed or neutered them. These
were primarily irreversible metabolic diseases that appeared within a few years of a dog's surgery.

My current approach is far removed from the view I held in my early days as a vet, when I felt it was my
duty and obligation to spay and neuter every dog at a young age. Nowadays, I work with each individual pet
owner to make decisions that will provide the most health benefits for the dog.

Whenever possible, I prefer to leave dogs intact. However, this approach requires a highly responsible pet
guardian who is fully committed to and capable of preventing the dog from mating (unless the owner is a
responsible breeder and that's the goal).

My second choice is to sterilize without desexing. This means performing a procedure that will prevent
pregnancy while sparing the testes or ovaries so that they continue to produce hormones essential for the
dog's health and well-being. This typically involves a vasectomy for male dogs, and either a tubal ligation
or modified spay for females. The modified spay removes the uterus while preserving the hormone-producing
ovaries.

The cases in which I opt for a full spay or neuter usually involve an older dog who has developed a condition
that is best resolved by the surgery, for example, pyometra (a uterine disease in female dogs), or moderate
to severe benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate in male dogs) that is impeding urination and/or
causing the animal discomfort. Generally speaking, mature intact dogs have had the benefit of a lifetime of
sex hormone production, so the endocrine imbalances we see with spayed or neutered puppies don't occur
when dogs are desexed in their later years.

A Word About the Problem of Homeless Pets and Spaying/Neutering

It's important to understand that I'm not advocating the adoption of intact shelter animals to people who
may or may not be responsible pet owners. Shelter veterinarians don't have the time or resources available
to build a relationship with every adoptive family, so all the animals in their care must be sterilized prior to
adoption to prevent more litters of unwanted pets.

Would I prefer that shelter vets sterilize rather than desex homeless pets, so that those animals, too, retain
their sex hormones? Absolutely I would. But for the time being, the U.S. shelter system isn't up to that
particular challenge, nor are DVMs in this country routinely trained in how to perform anything other than full
spays and neuters.

So while I totally agree with the need to sterilize shelter pets, I don't necessarily agree with the method of
sterilization being used.

Spaying: The One Procedure That Could Reduce Your
Pets Lifespan by Over 30%
December 30, 2009

A study conducted at the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation and published in the December, 2009 issue
of Aging Cell, has found a correlation between the age at which female rottweilers are spayed and their
lifespan.The study compared long-lived female rotties (those with a lifespan of 13 or more years) with a
group who lived a usual lifespan of about nine years.

"Like women, female dogs in our study had a distinct survival advantage over males," said the lead
researcher David J. Waters, associate director of Purdue University's Center on Aging and the Life Course and
a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences. "But taking away ovaries during the first four years of life
completely erased the female survival advantage. We found that female rottweilers that kept their ovaries for
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at least six years were four times more likely to reach exceptional longevity compared to females who had
the shortest lifetime ovary exposure."

Because death from cancer is so prevalent in rottweilers, researchers conducted a subgroup analysis of only
dogs that did not die of cancer. This focused research further proved the strong association between intact
ovaries and longevity.

Even in dogs that did not die of cancer, the female rotties that kept their ovaries the longest were nine times
more likely to achieve exceptional longevity (13+ years).

Simply put, study results indicate removal of a dogs ovaries significantly increases the risk for a major lethal
disease.

Interestingly, the rottweiler research lines up with findings from another recent study of women who had
undergone hysterectomies. In that study, women who lost their ovaries prior to age 50 were at greater risk
of death by causes other than breast, ovarian and uterine cancer than women who kept their ovaries until
age 50.

Dr. Becker's Comments:

A judgment about when and if you spay/neuter should be based on the breed of your pet, the diet you feed,
and its physical, immunological and mental development. There is no universal age that is best for spaying
I firmly believe each dog should be individually evaluated to determine when this procedure should be done.
The timing of the surgery should be decided with the help of your holistic veterinarian and input from other
seasoned dog owners or breeders.

Methods of Sterilization

There are actually three different surgeries which can render a female dog sterile:
1. Spaying, also known as ovariohysterectomy
2. Hysterectomy in which only the uterus is removed
3. Tubal ligation

Spaying is by far the most common of the three options. This surgery removes the entire female reproductive
tract, including ovaries, oviducts, uterine horns and the uterus. Spaying eliminates the source of the
hormones progesterone and estrogen and prevents your dog from having twice-yearly heat cycles.

A hysterectomy removes the uterus but leaves the ovaries.

In a tubal ligation, the oviducts are cut and tied off, preventing ova from getting to the uterus or coming in
contact with sperm.

Neither hysterectomy nor tubal ligation shuts off hormone production, so your dog will continue to go into
heat and can mate with male dogs, but no pregnancy will result.

These latter two methods of sterilization are traditionally much less popular than spaying among both
veterinarians and dog owners.

Neutering of male dogs, also known as castration involves surgical removal of both testicles, halting
production of both sperm and testosterone. Its possible to perform a vasectomy on a male dog as an
alternative to castration, however, like hysterectomies and tubal ligations for female dogs, it is very rarely
done.



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The Argument for Spaying and Neutering

An intact female runs the risk pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancies result in unwanted litters of puppies (and
kittens), many of which end up as abused, neglected, or abandoned animals.

The crisis of pet overpopulation is a serious one, and it is generally assumed responsible pet owners, animal
shelters and rescue organizations will spay or neuter animals in their care to help combat the problem.
Pet owners spay or neuter not only for birth control, but also for reasons of convenience and to reduce or
eliminate certain future health concerns.

Spaying of female dogs eliminates the inconvenience and hygiene challenges associated with heat cycles. You
dont have to worry that your spayed dog will try to escape your home in order to mate, and you dont have
to concern yourself with male dogs around your female.

Spaying also removes the potential for false pregnancies and life-threatening uterine infections (called
pyometras), and reduces the risk of estrogen-related mammary cancer and tumors of the reproductive tract.

A neutered male dog is less apt to roam or mark his territory anywhere and on everything. He also shows
less interest in female dogs in heat. Neutering also removes the risk of testicular tumors, perineal hernias
and enlarged prostate glands.

Health Problems Associated with Gonad Removal

Common sense tells us, and research proves there are a number of health benefits associated with the sex
hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) produced by ovaries and testicles. These advantages vary
with the age, gender and breed of each animal.

Halting production of these hormones through spaying and neutering has been found to increase the risk of
certain specific diseases and conditions in dogs, including:

Hemangiosarcoma, a highly malignant form of cancer, osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and transitional
cell carcinoma (bladder cancer), both sexes
Prostatic cancer in male dogs
Autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism, both sexes
Urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections in females
Obesity, both sexes
Endocrine dysfunction, adrenal disease

Sterilization Decisions Should Be a Part of a Holistic Approach to Your
Pets Health and Quality of Life

My professional opinion is there is no one perfect, magic age at which to spay or neuter every pet.

Your dog should be old enough to be considered balanced both physically and mentally. Generally speaking,
this balance isnt achieved until a dog has reached at least one year of age. Although some breeds reach
maturity faster than others, many giant breed dogs are still developing at 2 years of age.

Other considerations include your dogs breed and gender, diet, level of exercise, behavioral habits, previous
physical or emotional trauma, existing health concerns, and overall lifestyle.

If you own an intact animal and need to make a spay/neuter decision, I encourage you to first learn all you
can about surgical sterilization options and the risks and benefits associated with the procedures.

Talk with reputable breeders and other experienced dog owners, and consult a holistic veterinarian to
understand what steps you can take to insure the overall health and longevity of your pet.
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This "Routine" Neutering Advice May Boost Your Dog's Risk of Cancer
and Joint Disease
June 26, 2013
By Dr. Becker

A new study conducted at the University of California, Davis1 further supports a growing body of evidence
that spaying or neutering, and the age at which it is done, may increase a dogs risk of certain cancers and
joint diseases.

The UC Davis researchers point out that the U.S. takes a very different approach to spay/neuter compared to
many European countries. In this country, not only are most dogs spayed or neutered, increasingly the
preferred timing of the procedure is before the animal is a year old. The motivation is presumably pet
population control, and owners are considered responsible only if their pet has been sterilized.

In contrast, in many European countries dogs remain intact and animal health experts do not promote
spaying or neutering. In fact, a study of 461 dogs in Sweden reported 99 percent of the dogs were intact. In
Hungary, 57 percent were intact, and in the U.K., 46 percent.

The UC Davis study was undertaken, according to the researchers, becauseGiven the importance of gonadal
hormones in growth and development, this cultural contrast invites an analysis of the multiple organ systems
that may be adversely affected by neutering.

Study Looked at the Impact of Spay/Neuter on One Breed, Both Genders, and Five Different
Diseases

The UC Davis study looked at the health records of 759 Golden Retrievers. Goldens were chosen because
they are one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. and Europe, are often used as service dogs, and are also
susceptible to various cancers and joint disorders.

The intent of the study was to investigate the effects of neutering on the risks of several diseases in a single
breed of dog, distinguishing between males and females, and between dogs that had been neutered or
spayed early (before one year), late (after one year), or not at all.

The dogs ranged in age from 1 to 8 years and had been seen at UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary
Medical Teaching Hospital for one or more of the following problems: hip dysplasia (HD), cranial cruciate
ligament (CCL) tear, lymphosarcoma (LSA), hemangiosarcoma (HSA), and mast cell tumor (MCT).

The researchers focused on joint disorders and cancers because neutering or spaying removes the testes or
ovaries and disrupts production of hormones that play important roles in body processes like bone growth
plate closure.

Findings Reveal Significantly Higher Disease Rates in Spayed/Neutered Dogs

The study revealed that for all five diseases, the rates were significantly higher in both males and females
that were neutered or spayed (before or after one year of age) compared with intact dogs.

Of special concern is that results showed a 100 percent increase in the rate of hip dysplasia in male Goldens
neutered before 12 months of age. Ten percent were diagnosed with the condition, which was double the rate
of occurrence in intact males. Past studies have reported a 17 percent increase among all neutered dogs
compared to all intact dogs.




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Other results:

There were no cases of CCL tears in intact male or female Goldens. In early neutered males there was
a 5 percent occurrence, and in early spayed females, an 8 percent occurrence.
Almost 10 percent of early-neutered males were diagnosed with lymphosarcoma, which was 3 times
more than intact males.
Hemangiosarcoma in late-spayed females was 8 percent -- 4 times more than intact and early-spayed
females.
No intact females had mast cell tumors, but 6 percent of late-spayed females did.

The UC Davis findings are in line with the results of earlier studies, however, its the first study to identify a
connection between late spaying and mast cell tumors and hemangiosarcoma in female dogs.

What These Results Mean for Dog Owners

The study authors consider their findings clinically relevant as follows:

"Specifically for Golden Retrievers, neutering males well beyond puberty should avoid the problems of
increased rates of occurrence of HD, CCL, and LSA and should not bring on any major increase in the rates of
HSA and MCT (at least before nine years of age). However, the possibility that age-related cognitive decline
could be accelerated by neutering should be noted2.

For females, the timing of neutering is more problematical because early neutering significantly increases the
incidence rate of CCL from near zero to almost 8 percent, and late neutering increases the rates of HSA to 4
times that of the 1.6 percent rate for intact females and to 5.7 percent for MCT, which was not diagnosed in
intact females."

According to lead study investigator Benjamin Hart, professor emeritus at the UC Davis School of Veterinary
Medicine, The study results indicate that dog owners and service-dog trainers should carefully consider when
to have their male or female dogs neutered.

Hart goes on to say its important to keep in mind that different breeds have different vulnerabilities to
various diseases, and the effects of spay/neuter and when it is done very likely vary from breed to breed.
The Golden Retriever findings cant be generalized to other breeds, or dogs in general. However, in other
breeds with a propensity for joint disorders and types of cancer different than those prevalent in Goldens,
spaying and neutering may increase the risk for those breed-specific disease tendencies.

More breed-specific studies are needed for a full understanding of the disease conditions affected by spaying
and neutering.