YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - 2017 review article on welfare implications of spay/neutering in dogs.

pstinard · 01-04-2018, 10:28 AM

The section on orthopedic issues is rather long, but I'll quote it below, since I think you will find it worthwhile:

Orthopedic Diseases

Musculoskeletal diseases such as CCL disease and hip dysplasia are not inherently life-threatening conditions, but they do affect physical performance and quality of life of patients. Surgical correction of CCL disease and hip dysplasia can also be cost prohibitive for owners. In situations whereby chronic orthopedic pain of animals cannot be adequately managed, especially in large-breed dogs, euthanasia may be considered. The incidence of CCL disease and hip dysplasia is 1.7% and 1.8%, respectively. The true disease prevalence of hip dysplasia is difficult to determine because of selection bias for those dogs provided for evaluation or that are typically screened, membership bias for the groups of the canine population being considered, and differences in case definition when determining a positive result. This could result in a gross underestimation of the prevalence within the general canine population or within specific breeds.

Gonadectomy is a risk factor for development of CCL disease and hip dysplasia in both male and female dogs. The complex pathophysiologic processes of these orthopedic diseases make it challenging to connect cause and effect. Although heritability is the primary factor for the development of hip dysplasia, it is a multifactorial condition. Hip dysplasia most commonly affects large-breed dogs. Similarly, most dogs treated for CCL disease are young, active, large-breed dogs. Development of CCL disease may result from degenerative or traumatic causes. Ligament degeneration has also been associated with aging, conformational abnormalities, and immunemediated arthropathies.

Investigators of 1 study found an overall prevalence for CCL disease of 3.48%, with gonadectomized dogs having a significantly higher prevalence than their sexually intact counterparts, and neutered females having the highest prevalence. This supported results of another study that revealed an increased prevalence of CCL disease in female dogs and that the age at the time of OHE did not appear to be a factor. The finding that large dogs were more likely to have CCL rupture is consistent throughout several studies. A retrospective study conducted to evaluate both musculoskeletal diseases found that gonadectomy increased the prevalence of CCL disease in male and female dogs and that hip dysplasia was more prevalent among neutered male dogs and less common among female dogs regardless of their neuter status.

Breed predisposition may also play a major role in the development of CCL disease and hip dysplasia. Four breed-specific studies revealed a significant increase in orthopedic disorders in gonadectomized dogs, compared with results for their sexually intact counterparts, although the incidence differed widely among breeds. Prepubertal gonadectomy of Golden Retrievers resulted in an increased incidence of joint disorders (3 to 5 times as high as the incidence for sexually intact dogs), whereas prepubertal gonadectomy of Labrador Retrievers was associated with an incidence that was twice as high as that for sexually intact dogs. The incidence of hip dysplasia increased significantly only in male Golden Retrievers neutered before 1 year of age. Elbow joint dysplasia increased significantly only for male Labrador Retrievers neutered before 6 months of age (incidence, 2%), compared with that for sexually intact males (incidence, 0.57%). Boxers that were gonadectomized at least 6 months prior to diagnosis of hip dysplasia, (mean age at gonadectomy, 3 years) were 1.5 times as likely as sexually intact Boxers to develop hip dysplasia. Male and female German Shepherd Dogs gonadectomized before 12 months of age were at an increased risk for CCL tears, compared with the risk for those remaining sexually intact. There was not a significant association between gonadectomy and hip dysplasia or elbow joint dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs. Prepubertal gonadectomy is associated with increased bone length attributable to delayed closure of growth plates. Although it has been speculated that this subsequently leads to the development of certain orthopedic diseases, the speculated association has not been explained or confirmed.

The effect of sex hormones on orthopedic disease has also been explored via comparisons between gonadectomy performed at early and traditional ages. Comparison of outcomes for shelter dogs gonadectomized before or after 24 weeks of age revealed no association between age at gonadectomy and frequency of musculoskeletal problems during the 4 years after gonadectomy. A few dogs developed hip dysplasia, but they did not require surgical or prolonged medical management. A similar study for which follow-up monitoring was available for as long as 11 years after gonadectomy revealed a significant increase in the incidence of hip dysplasia among dogs gonadectomized before 5.5 months of age, compared with the incidence for those gonadectomized after 5.5 months of age. However, there was a lower rate for euthanasia among the early-age gonadectomized dogs with hip dysplasia. Although neither of these studies included a comparison with sexually intact animals and it was unclear as to the diagnostic tests used to diagnose hip dysplasia, the low incidence and severity of orthopedic problems in prepubertally gonadectomized dogs makes it worthwhile to consider early-age neutering.

01-04-2018, 10:28 AM	#10
pstinard YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA Posts: 3,648	Orthopedic issues. The section on orthopedic issues is rather long, but I'll quote it below, since I think you will find it worthwhile: Orthopedic Diseases Musculoskeletal diseases such as CCL disease and hip dysplasia are not inherently life-threatening conditions, but they do affect physical performance and quality of life of patients. Surgical correction of CCL disease and hip dysplasia can also be cost prohibitive for owners. In situations whereby chronic orthopedic pain of animals cannot be adequately managed, especially in large-breed dogs, euthanasia may be considered. The incidence of CCL disease and hip dysplasia is 1.7% and 1.8%, respectively. The true disease prevalence of hip dysplasia is difficult to determine because of selection bias for those dogs provided for evaluation or that are typically screened, membership bias for the groups of the canine population being considered, and differences in case definition when determining a positive result. This could result in a gross underestimation of the prevalence within the general canine population or within specific breeds. Gonadectomy is a risk factor for development of CCL disease and hip dysplasia in both male and female dogs. The complex pathophysiologic processes of these orthopedic diseases make it challenging to connect cause and effect. Although heritability is the primary factor for the development of hip dysplasia, it is a multifactorial condition. Hip dysplasia most commonly affects large-breed dogs. Similarly, most dogs treated for CCL disease are young, active, large-breed dogs. Development of CCL disease may result from degenerative or traumatic causes. Ligament degeneration has also been associated with aging, conformational abnormalities, and immunemediated arthropathies. Investigators of 1 study found an overall prevalence for CCL disease of 3.48%, with gonadectomized dogs having a significantly higher prevalence than their sexually intact counterparts, and neutered females having the highest prevalence. This supported results of another study that revealed an increased prevalence of CCL disease in female dogs and that the age at the time of OHE did not appear to be a factor. The finding that large dogs were more likely to have CCL rupture is consistent throughout several studies. A retrospective study conducted to evaluate both musculoskeletal diseases found that gonadectomy increased the prevalence of CCL disease in male and female dogs and that hip dysplasia was more prevalent among neutered male dogs and less common among female dogs regardless of their neuter status. Breed predisposition may also play a major role in the development of CCL disease and hip dysplasia. Four breed-specific studies revealed a significant increase in orthopedic disorders in gonadectomized dogs, compared with results for their sexually intact counterparts, although the incidence differed widely among breeds. Prepubertal gonadectomy of Golden Retrievers resulted in an increased incidence of joint disorders (3 to 5 times as high as the incidence for sexually intact dogs), whereas prepubertal gonadectomy of Labrador Retrievers was associated with an incidence that was twice as high as that for sexually intact dogs. The incidence of hip dysplasia increased significantly only in male Golden Retrievers neutered before 1 year of age. Elbow joint dysplasia increased significantly only for male Labrador Retrievers neutered before 6 months of age (incidence, 2%), compared with that for sexually intact males (incidence, 0.57%). Boxers that were gonadectomized at least 6 months prior to diagnosis of hip dysplasia, (mean age at gonadectomy, 3 years) were 1.5 times as likely as sexually intact Boxers to develop hip dysplasia. Male and female German Shepherd Dogs gonadectomized before 12 months of age were at an increased risk for CCL tears, compared with the risk for those remaining sexually intact. There was not a significant association between gonadectomy and hip dysplasia or elbow joint dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs. Prepubertal gonadectomy is associated with increased bone length attributable to delayed closure of growth plates. Although it has been speculated that this subsequently leads to the development of certain orthopedic diseases, the speculated association has not been explained or confirmed. The effect of sex hormones on orthopedic disease has also been explored via comparisons between gonadectomy performed at early and traditional ages. Comparison of outcomes for shelter dogs gonadectomized before or after 24 weeks of age revealed no association between age at gonadectomy and frequency of musculoskeletal problems during the 4 years after gonadectomy. A few dogs developed hip dysplasia, but they did not require surgical or prolonged medical management. A similar study for which follow-up monitoring was available for as long as 11 years after gonadectomy revealed a significant increase in the incidence of hip dysplasia among dogs gonadectomized before 5.5 months of age, compared with the incidence for those gonadectomized after 5.5 months of age. However, there was a lower rate for euthanasia among the early-age gonadectomized dogs with hip dysplasia. Although neither of these studies included a comparison with sexually intact animals and it was unclear as to the diagnostic tests used to diagnose hip dysplasia, the low incidence and severity of orthopedic problems in prepubertally gonadectomized dogs makes it worthwhile to consider early-age neutering.