The thought of hip dysplasia is enough to strike fear into any large breed dog lover. For that reason, the bulk of research on spay / neuter and joint disease is focused on this disorder. Dogs who are sterilized before the age of six months have a 70% increased risk of developing hip dysplasia. The…   Continue

Premature Spaying / Neutering and Abnormal Growth — At the heart of the matter is how spay / neuter affects the dog’s hormones. When a dog’s reproductive organs are surgically removed, the sex hormones they produce also disappear. The sex hormones are responsible for more than just sexual behaviors and one of their responsibilities is…   Continue

Talking frankly about spay / neuter is worth the backlash; because the health risks associated with it, especially when done in a young dog, are worthy of discussion. That isn’t to say that dogs shouldn’t be spayed or neutered; that’s a personal decision best left to the pet owner. Like vaccines and most routine veterinary…   Continue