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Originally Posted by Lovetodream88  The growth plates still close after spaying and neutering so I'm not sure why waiting for them to close is an issue. I think bigger dogs and smaller dogs are very different and grow different. I know the thread. In general most people are not able to fully handle an intact dog. My youngest I got at 8 months spayed a few days after she turned 9 months and it would appear she had a heat with her previous owners. What I have read and gone over in class I feel spaying and neutering is generally better for pet health and pet overpopulation. I just was blown away by the statement that tail docking is better then getting your dog fixed. There is an actual per pose for getting your dog fixed and health reason and none of that is there for tail docking. |
Growth plate closure is delayed by removal of the sex hormones caused by spaying/neutering, so I think that's what the issue was. (See
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2045340 ). The theory is that if the growth plates don't close at the right time, the ratio of the length of the leg bones will be altered, possibly leading to an increase in susceptibility to CCL tears. Evidently, that is more of a problem with large breed dogs, not small breeds like Yorkies. There are other risks/benefits to consider as well, but I agree with you that the preponderance of evidence favors spaying/neutering of Yorkies. And, like you, I'm perplexed that spaying/neutering was brought into a discussion on tail docking. (Sorry that I helped contribute to the thread hijack.)