The rate at which they grow is different, so they may need to be modified a bit, but they are far from useless. We extrapolate information on smaller animals (such as mice) used in medicine, and use these studies as a basis for human beings. Small dogs and big dogs are the same genus and species; therefore what we learn about variations within the dog world we can extrapolate and modify the studies to apply to our small dogs. For eqxample, in Yorkies growth plates generally close around eight months; in larger breeds they close at approximately fourteen months.
The idea of eradicating mammary cancer is very important to you, so you dismiss these studies about larger dogs. However, there is a very small chance of developing mammary cancer if spayed after the first heat. Have you seen studies about small dogs and mammary cancer, and can you link them? I'm curious why you believe what they say about mammary cancer in the larger dog studies, but you don't believe the other studies? If we follow your Logic that these studies about Yorkies are useless, why do you believe the studies about mammary cancer?
I prefer to weigh all of the health risks and benefits, and then I will choose a time to spay that would be best for my females in the future. I have always hadspayed females, never had mammary cancer, and I've never believed in spaying early. |