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Originally Posted by 107barney  Exactly. There are no studies regarding the purported benefits of keeping intact toy dogs. The research is questionable at best regarding large dogs as well and my family has owned long living German shepherds as well who were spayed. It didn't stop them from living to just shy of 16 and 17 birthdays! The German shepherd I saw two weeks ago fighting for her life at age 12.5 due to lack of spaying wasn't nearly as lucky and most certainly won't live to 16 or 17 like ours did. The owner had tears in her eyes...I asked her why she didn't spay her....she was thinking of breeding her and never did....and she clearly was regretful. I had pity for her, and wished she had seen a thread like this 12.5 years earlier. Same for the young man with his 6 year old Yorkie a few years ago who busted into tears when he saw me pick up my dog from a neuter. He was fighting for her life, and she looked well beyond her 6 years after fighting mammary cancer. |
Well I can also say my experience, and my breeder friends experience with intact dogs. Which is quite different to you and your friends. Magic Mom's at almost 12yrs old never spayed, is quite well and hardy. This breeds average life expectancy is 10yrs old. Zoey same breed died before 4yrs old of lymphona. The litter Magic came from, 2 dogs one male one female had early neutering(6mths old) and subsequently developed severe hip dysplasia, as well as other osteo conditions, they had to be put down. Two other of the litter where the neutering was delayed until 19-24 months old did develop HD but of a much milder presentation and as far as I am aware are still living happy and healthy lives.
Of our small group of breeder friends, no un-spayed female has developed either mammary cancer or pyrometra. One female un-spayed is now an august 14 yrs old.
But how is this multi research questionable at best? Under what criteria, please post that and attach the research articles you are questioning the validity of.
Thanks I always like to keep myself informed.