Quote:
Originally Posted by gemy  Table 3. Conditions associated with castration
CONDITION INCIDENCE
HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE
INCREASED OR DECREASED WITH GONADECTOMY Testicular neoplasia High
Low
Decreased Benign prostatic hypertrophy High
Low
Decreased Prostatic neoplasia Low
High
Increased Transitional cell carcinoma Low
High
Increased Osteosarcoma Low
High
Increased Hemangiosarcoma Low
High
Increased CCL injury
High
High
Increased Obesity
High
Moderate
Increased Diabetes mellitus
High
Low
Increased Hypothyroidism
High
Low
Increased - See more at: Determining The Best Age At Which To Spay Or Neuter | AKC Canine Health Foundation |
Looking at the conditions listed for high incidence in neutered males, in my opinion, these could easily be explained by environmental (human influenced) factors. Using Rhetts mama's line, it is a leap to go from correlation to causation. (sorry if I missed something; loads of information in this thread to digest).
Humans who neuter their pets might be more likely to indulge their pets with food, leading to obesity and all of these related problems, which may also be linked to some cancers.
I don't think it is right to say that being neutered *causes* obesity in males. It is harder to keep a neutered male at the right weight (ahem, Max
), like it is harder to keep weight on an intact male who is around a bitch in heat. An adjustment of diet is needed according to activity level, same as when a dog matures from puppy to adulthood.