Don’t Neuter Your Dog YET – Read This Life-Saving Information First!

[kjc]

Some news:

Don't Make This Mistake When Scheduling Your Dog's Neutering Procedure

[ladyjane]

Putting this as a thread topic concerns me greatly, especially given the following information about Dr. Mercola, who, by the way is not even a vet. Are you aware or did you just read his site and believe it?

To anyone wanting more information, all you need to do is google:

quackwatch mercola

Here are a few links:

FDA Orders Dr. Joseph Mercola to Stop Illegal Claims

Joseph Mercola D.O. - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com


Joseph Mercola - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

from that site:

Mercola has received two warning letters from the FDA for violations of marketing laws.[4][5] A 2006 BusinessWeek editorial criticized Mercola's marketing practices as "relying on slick promotion, clever use of information, and scare tactics."[6]

There is SO much out there about this person and I simply do not have the time to post it all; but I wanted people to be aware.

I personally believe that part of responsible pet ownership is altering pets. I have had NO issues with any pup that I have spayed or neutered and I have had plenty in my home over the years.

[chachi]

I have always got my cats spay and neutered at 4 months and all of them lived to ripe old ages without health problems so I would have to see more decisive studies on many subjects before I would believe. I believe in responsible pet ownership and that means you spay and neuter your pets

[jojomima]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Putting this as a thread topic concerns me greatly, especially given the following information about Dr. Mercola, who, by the way is not even a vet. Are you aware or did you just read his site and believe it?

To anyone wanting more information, all you need to do is google:

quackwatch mercola

Here are a few links:

FDA Orders Dr. Joseph Mercola to Stop Illegal Claims

Joseph Mercola D.O. - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com


Joseph Mercola - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

from that site:

Mercola has received two warning letters from the FDA for violations of marketing laws.[4][5] A 2006 BusinessWeek editorial criticized Mercola's marketing practices as "relying on slick promotion, clever use of information, and scare tactics."[6]

There is SO much out there about this person and I simply do not have the time to post it all; but I wanted people to be aware.

I personally believe that part of responsible pet ownership is altering pets. I have had NO issues with any pup that I have spayed or neutered and I have had plenty in my home over the years.

I agree with your concerns. Responsible pet owners spay/neuter their pets. I had two cats, spayed young, lived to 18yrs and 17yrs respectfully. Our Black Lab is 11 and going strong.

The benefits outweigh the risks greatly.

[megansmomma]

Here are the warning letters from the FDA:

Warning Letter to Optimal Wellness Center / Joseph Mercola

and another:

Second FDA Warning Letter to Joseph Mercola (2006)

He also believes you should not use a microwave and they are toxic

[RachelandSadie]

while this guy does sound like one of those nutso all organic sell you a million herbal and NATURAL meds. i do agree with his information reguaring overvaccination in children. i do think that it's possible that having too many vaccines too early may be the cause of ADD and Autism. i have no proof, but research is being done about this and i think it's defin. a possability.

[Ellie May]

No comments on the website, but yes, there is some evidence to indicate that a family pet who can be kept away from an unaltered dog of the opposite sex (of course accidents happen) should not be altered as early as some vets are doing it now. I would not alter my dog at four months. I would hesitate to do a large breed before a year, although probably would.

S/N is being done way too early all across the country. It started for shelters to be able to place the pups faster, but for whatever reason the idea that this is a great practice seems to be everywhere now. Not really true.

[Wabbit]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

No comments on the website, but yes, there is some evidence to indicate that a family pet who can be kept away from an unaltered dog of the opposite sex (of course accidents happen) should not be altered as early as some vets are doing it now. I would not alter my dog at four months. I would hesitate to do a large breed before a year, although probably would.

S/N is being done way too early all across the country. It started for shelters to be able to place the pups faster, but for whatever reason the idea that this is a great practice seems to be everywhere now. Not really true.

I agree 100%! I put my first yorkie thru surgery before she was 7 months old....because I followed the majority...and their views are spay EARLY before first heat.

However because my second yorkie was so small I was hesitant...therefore I did a LOT of research! I came across this information..

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/longt...uterindogs.pdf


Although some situations it is in the best interests of the pet to be s/n at an earlier age... research is proving that dogs should be allowed to mature...early s/n removes vital hormones necessary for their growth and development, and significantly increases risks for bone cancers, hypothyroidism, increases risk of urinary incontinence in females, increases risk of chronic urinary infections....and the list just goes on.

I don't know anything about the person in the O.P.s first post...but opinions are shifting on this subject.

Many people may have done s/n at an early age and had pets that lived to a ripe old age....but does that mean that the lifespan and health of yorkies as a whole has been improved with early s/n?

Research is showing just the opposite.

I only wish I knew then what I've learned now. I would have waited to have Daizy's surgery until she was fully mature.

[MaddiesMommie]

We recently added an AmStaff to our gang. I know we are going to neuter him, and initially I was ready to have this done at 4-5 months. However, my husband actually started reasearching and found studies that contradict what I believe to be true: S/N the sooner the better.

I am still reading information and am not sure if the studies for large breeds would have the same result in small breed dogs...???

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Wabbit

I agree 100%! I put my first yorkie thru surgery before she was 7 months old....because I followed the majority...and their views are spay EARLY before first heat.

However because my second yorkie was so small I was hesitant...therefore I did a LOT of research! I came across this information..

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/longt...uterindogs.pdf


Although some situations it is in the best interests of the pet to be s/n at an earlier age... research is proving that dogs should be allowed to mature...early s/n removes vital hormones necessary for their growth and development, and significantly increases risks for bone cancers, hypothyroidism, increases risk of urinary incontinence in females, increases risk of chronic urinary infections....and the list just goes on.

I don't know anything about the person in the O.P.s first post...but opinions are shifting on this subject.

Many people may have done s/n at an early age and had pets that lived to a ripe old age....but does that mean that the lifespan and health of yorkies as a whole has been improved with early s/n?

Research is showing just the opposite.

I only wish I knew then what I've learned now. I would have waited to have Daizy's surgery until she was fully mature.

I found your link interesting but then I checked the referenced studies to the data that went back as far as 1970 With medical research changing and evolving almost daily I cannot understand why an article would be written with references dating back 41 years The most current reference I believe was 2005. To me that indicated the author was looking to site references no matter how old to support his article and that skewed and deceptive.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

No comments on the website, but yes, there is some evidence to indicate that a family pet who can be kept away from an unaltered dog of the opposite sex (of course accidents happen) should not be altered as early as some vets are doing it now. I would not alter my dog at four months. I would hesitate to do a large breed before a year, although probably would.

S/N is being done way too early all across the country. It started for shelters to be able to place the pups faster, but for whatever reason the idea that this is a great practice seems to be everywhere now. Not really true.

Originally Posted by MaddiesMommie

We recently added an AmStaff to our gang. I know we are going to neuter him, and initially I was ready to have this done at 4-5 months. However, my husband actually started reasearching and found studies that contradict what I believe to be true: S/N the sooner the better.

I am still reading information and am not sure if the studies for large breeds would have the same result in small breed dogs...???

Large breeds you should actually wait later. I know of a respectable Rottweiler breeder that does not allow her males to be neutered until 18 months (in her contract). It messes with their growth plates or something and sometimes makes them grow weird, which can cause issues later on with hips and joints, etc.

I am ALL for spay/neuter. I think the general public is NOT responsible enough to be keeping unaltered pets away from other unaltered pets. However I do think 4 months is too young. I waited until Jackson was 7 months old. I did not want to wait longer than 8 months because I did not want marking to start or anything.

[Ellie May]

This is one of the authorities on the subject and it's my favorite site to link to. I would definitely spay and almost certainly neuter. I would, however, do a lot of considering on the right timing:

American College of Theriogenologists

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Large breeds you should actually wait later. I know of a respectable Rottweiler breeder that does not allow her males to be neutered until 18 months (in her contract). It messes with their growth plates or something and sometimes makes them grow weird, which can cause issues later on with hips and joints, etc.

I am ALL for spay/neuter. I think the general public is NOT responsible enough to be keeping unaltered pets away from other unaltered pets. However I do think 4 months is too young. I waited until Jackson was 7 months old. I did not want to wait longer than 8 months because I did not want marking to start or anything.

I agree with this 100% even the most careful people can have accidents. I would also like to have Ernie neutered before he gets too comfy with all those typical male behaviors. But I will just have to keep researching and decide what is best for us.

I have not found any actual studies to read. I find other people's opinions, and articles written by common people (not vets), and then Wikipedia. There is just so much to wade through on the net.

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

This is one of the authorities on the subject and it's my favorite site to link to. I would definitely spay and almost certainly neuter. I would, however, do a lot of considering on the right timing:

American College of Theriogenologists

Thank you.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

No comments on the website, but yes, there is some evidence to indicate that a family pet who can be kept away from an unaltered dog of the opposite sex (of course accidents happen) should not be altered as early as some vets are doing it now. I would not alter my dog at four months. I would hesitate to do a large breed before a year, although probably would.

S/N is being done way too early all across the country. It started for shelters to be able to place the pups faster, but for whatever reason the idea that this is a great practice seems to be everywhere now. Not really true.

I agree with this.

******************
My opinion about S/N has evolved over the last couple years after reading more about it. It's definitely unpopular to question whether to S/N...but it's a good discussion nonetheless.

My sister added a dog to her family (large dog) a couple years ago. She is a physician, and it reallllly bothered her to remove such important hormones from the body by neutering her dog. Her dog never has marked in the house, so I guess they were lucky. For her, neutering was the wrong decision.

I'm not saying don't S/N, but after reading a lot of articles etcetera, I can't say the statement that "S/N is better for the pet" is really a fact...I think it's more complicated than that. I too think it's often done too early.