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Originally Posted by pstinard  All very good and valid points for a sporting dog. How would you run the costs and benefits for a Yorkie, which is not a sporting dog (in the modern sense), and which has a lower incidence of CHD? |
Well that question is a conundrum for me. First how many breeders actually post offa results on hip xrays, or for that matter PennHip. Not many.
Anecdotally the community of breeders do know that Hip problems are on the rise. More so FHO than HD. You can see it here on our Sick and Emergency forum.
I have no research to back me up for toy breeds. What I do have is common sense and research on other breeds. I don't like to extrapolate to Yorkies but you asked.
There is no reason "health wise" to neuter a male Yorkie. There just might be ease of ownership issues, but no true overweening health benefits. Again with the dirth of cancer literature on Yorkies, I have no idea if neutering increases their risk of certain types of cancer. I would side with a matured Yorkie being neutered. I am also onside with a responsible owner not neutering a male Yorkie.
For the female Yorkie for a pet owner, definitely spay. There is again NO RESEARCH that can mitigate my response. Also practically most pet owners have no idea when heat happens most especially in a toy breed. And the risks of that boggle my mind. Again I suggest going through at least one heat, and spay around 1yr old. If she has not gone into heat at one, fine and good spay now!
Here-in the risks of pyrometra are from many large breed studies increased, and that can be a deadly situation.
I am interested in research that asks the question; is LP more prevalent in de-sexed Yorkies versus intact? what about LS what about FHO or CHD? And again what is the incidence of pyrometra in spayed versus unsprayed females?