Spay Neuter

🛑 What Are The Risks of Spay Neuter?

Desexing removes hormone-producing organs (the ovaries or testicles) that researchers are now finding are actually quite important to overall health. Studies also indicate that the earlier a puppy is spayed or neutered, the greater the likelihood of health problems later in life. Here are examples of studies evidencing some of these potential issues.

❗️ BONE ABNORMALITIES

Studies showed that the hormone estrogen, which is no longer produced in spayed or neutered dogs, plays a crucial role in bone growth and development. The removal of estrogen-producing organs in immature dogs can cause growth plates to remain open. The dogs continue to grow and wind up with abnormal growth patterns and bone structure, which can result in irregular body proportions. (Shown in the photo example)

❗️ HIP DYSPLASIA

In a retrospective cohort study conducted at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and published over 10 years ago in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, results showed that both male and female dogs desexed at an early age were more prone to hip dysplasia.

❗️ Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Injuries

A study conducted at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center on canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries concluded that spayed and neutered dogs had a significantly higher incidence of CCL rupture than their intact counterparts. And while large breed dogs had more CCL injuries, sterilized dogs of all breeds and sizes had increased rupture rates.

❗️ BONE CANCER

In a study of Rottweilers published in 2002, it was established that the risk for bone sarcoma was significantly influenced by the age at which the dogs were desexed. For both male and female.

Among the reports and studies pointing to health concerns associated with early spaying and neutering, you can also find mention of increased incidence of:

🔹Adverse reactions to vaccines

🔹Noise phobias

🔹Fearful behavior

🔹Aggression

Our recommendation is to wait until 2 yrs with responsible pet ownership.

References used for this write up and Site Support

https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2004.224.380

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8226247

https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/11/11/1434

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6863800/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwj1mtGPre_XAhUX92MKHTFZBhcQFgglMAA&usg=AOvVaw0oRHGDdkPIHjZjsfpNLL6c

http://leemakennels.com/blog/dog-biology/dog-health/early-neutered-german-shepherds-joint-disorders/

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/health-risks-of-early-spay-neuter/

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0055937

http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/article/early-spayneuter

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/07/27/neutering-spaying-effects.aspx

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/1/5/3/1/15319800/spay_neuter_considerations_2013.pdf

Ear Cropping Info

Many people choose to believe that cropping doesn’t have any purpose other than cosmetics. Despite that belief, after 30 years of owning Great Danes I believe there are many benefits of cropping a dog especially when it is part of their breed standard.

1. Ear infections are extremely common in dogs with floppy ears. Some dogs get them more than others, but either way, they can become very painful for your dog. Cropping allows air to circulate through the ears and helps to keep the growth of bacteria to a minimum. Hematomas are another issue major issue I prefer to avoid.

2. With multiple Danes avoiding damage to the ears is extremely important. Playtime can be very rough and we do have an occasional scuffle. It can be very bloody and severe damage requiring surgery is a very real possibility. This decrease greatly when hanging floppy ears are not an easy target.

3. Nature's way. Take a close look at wild animals, especially in the canine family. They don’t have floppy ears. Floppy ears are unnatural in nature and are very much a development due to captivity.

4. We prefer to have the right to choose to stay true to my dog’s history, and their standard. People should spend the time to learn their breeds history. Many dogs with cropped ears in their standards were mostly bred for working & hunting. The Great Dane was used in the past for guarding and hunting large game especially boar. When guarding or hunting, it would be beneficial for dogs to have cropped ears because it would be less that an enemy could grab onto or that could get torn up.

5. Last but not least, I cropped many of our dogs ears dog’s ears because they are my dogs. Just like a parent of a child, I feel I do what was best for my puppies. After about a day or two the pups don't even care. They have about the same pain and discomfort as a dog that had just been neutered or spayed would have. I know the debate will still go on about ear cropping, but in the end, it all comes down to personal preference and what you feel is best for your dog.

Wobblers

Wobbler syndrome is a disease of the neck (the cervical spine) that is seen in large and giant breeds of dog. These dogs experience compression of the spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots, resulting in nervous system deficits and/or neck pain.

What are the clinical signs of wobbler syndrome?

Many dogs with wobbler syndrome develop a progressive, uncoordinated gait in the rear limbs. The incoordination may progress to include the front limbs as well. These dogs can lose muscle mass in the rear legs as well as over the shoulder blades. Their toenails may become worn because they tend to drag their feet.

Some dogs with wobbler syndrome will instead develop very acute signs, including neck pain (which can be quite severe), and acute weakness. The weakness can be so severe it can hinder walking altogether.

What causes wobbler syndrome?

At one time, excess protein, calcium and caloric intake were thought to be the cause of wobbler syndrome in Great Danes. However, nutrition does not appear to play a role in the development of wobbler syndrome in large-breed dogs. Body conformation was at one time thought to be a contributing factor, but studies found no correlation between body dimensions and the occurrence of wobbler syndrome. Finally, too-rapid growth was proposed as a cause, but has never been confirmed.

How is wobbler syndrome treated?

If a dog with wobbler syndrome can be treated medically, rather than surgically, their treatment is generally conducted on an outpatient basis. Conservative, non-surgical treatment consists of managing pain and restricting activity for several months. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally prescribed to decrease inflammation of the affected tissues and reduce pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots.

Signs of Wobbler Syndrome in Dogs