Check the research (get the facts lol) from the many research articles out now
about s/n dogs. Especially larger dogs. The ovaries and testes are both
endocrine and exocrine glands, therefore support the immune system and other
systems of the body, both in humans and in mammals. Please check out David
Waters’ talks on http://www.gpmcf.org/archived.html ;
<http://www.gpmcf.org/archived.html>,
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/early-neutering-poses-health-risks-german-shepherd-dogs-study-finds/
<https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/early-neutering-poses-health-risks-german-shepherd-dogs-study-finds/>
and my upcoming article in the February Review.
Stormy Hope
On Jan 11, 2017, at 6:22 PM, kathy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I only spayed one GS bitch at 6 months of age. She lived to be 13.5 with no
issues ever! But the rest of my bitches were spayed at 5, 2.5 and 7 with no
issues. But I’ve adopted my last bitch when she was 8 months & advised the
first owners to not spay her at 6 months. Of course they knew better & did it
anyway. So I have no idea what will or can happen as she ages. She’ll turn 8
in April. I pray I have another healthy shepherd. I would like to hear other
opinions please on this article from Becker. Kathy Partch
Message from Dr. Karen Becker, DVM -- 877-985-2695
Food for Thought If You’re Considering Spaying or Neutering Your Large or
Giant Breed Dog
Over the years I've changed my view on spaying and neutering dogs, based not
just on a mounting body of research, but also on the health challenges faced
by so many of my canine patients after I desexed them. That’s why my current
approach is to 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).
It’s important to note 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 to build a relationship with
every adoptive family, so the animals in their care must be sterilized prior
to adoption to prevent more litters of unwanted pets.
My second choice is to sterilize without desexing. This means performing a
procedure that will prevent pregnancy while sparing the testes or ovaries so
they can 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
<http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/23/modified-spay-procedure.aspx>
for females. The modified spay removes the uterus while preserving the
hormone-producing ovaries. It also eliminates the possibility of pyometra
because the uterus is removed.
Rarely, older, intact male dogs develop moderate to severe benign prostatic
hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate) that may be improved with conventional
neutering. 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.
Unfortunately, veterinary schools in the U.S. only teach full spays and
neuters, so unless your own vet has obtained additional training in
sterilization techniques that spare the ovaries or testicles (which is
unlikely), you’ll have only one option available to sterilize your pet.
In that case, my suggestion would be to wait until your dog has reached full
musculoskeletal maturity, and if you have a female, I’d also wait until she’s
completed her first estrus cycle before scheduling the surgery.
Submitted by, Kathy Partch www.JoKaySedona.com <http://www.jokaysedona.com/>
