Rise Vet now offers canine vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay (OSS). Why? Because we believe that sex hormones play more of a role in canine health than the industry has given them credit for. While Rise is one of the first around here to be doing this, there are many people out there that are strong advocates…for example, most of Europe. In fact, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, and Sweden all have animal welfare acts that prohibit routine spay and neuter unless there’s a strong medical or behavioral justification.
Here in the States, we’ve long been focused on the historical benefits of spay/neuter – controlling population, reducing euthanasia in shelters, and reducing the risk of mammary cancer. These benefits are real and well documented. However, there’s a good argument to be made that we’ve been overlooking the consequences of routine spay/neuter, and it’s time to invite that discussion.
Potential PROS of vasectomy and OSS:
- –Decreased risk of orthopedic issues
- –Decreased overall risk of cancer
- –Decreased risk of obesity
- –Decreased risk of endocrine disorders
- –Decreased prevalence of problematic behaviors (aggression, anxiety, and extreme fears)
- –Decreased progression of cognitive dysfunction
- –Decreased risk of urinary incontinence
- –Increased lifespan
Potential CONS for vasectomy:
- –Increased likelihood of prostatitis (highly likely after 9 years of age)
- –Increased risk of intermale aggression (i.e., male dog to male dog)
- –Increased risk of testicular cancer
- –Increased incidence of unwanted behaviors (roaming and “humping,” and urine marking)
- -May be excluded from boarding and day care facilities (dogs can detect pheromones linked to testosterone, which may impact how other dogs interact with the intact male)
Potential CONS for OSS:
- –Increased risk of mammary cancer
- -The patient will still experience heat cycles, though with little to no discharge
- -If ovariectomy is needed later in life, the procedure may need to be performed by a specialist (i.e., expensive)
The above list represents the primary considerations, though it is not all-inclusive. It should also be stressed that this concept is new in the U.S., and there are destined to be outcomes where vasectomy and OSS weren’t the best choice for the individual. Simply put, there is no universal “correct” choice when it comes to sterilization. The best approach depends on your dog’s specific behavior, lifestyle, and your own personal preferences. Our goal, as always, is to provide you with options, not absolutes.
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Some highlights for a bunch of peer-reviewed studies…
“Although information about the risks associated with gonadectomy has been reported in the past, the recommendation for gonadectomy as a blanket policy is increasingly controversial, with greater focus on possible ramifications for individual animals in addition to the canine population as whole.”
-Houlihand KE (2017). A literature review on the welfare implication of gonadectomy of dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 250(10):1163.
“Our most important finding was that longer duration that gonads were present, regardless of reproductive status, was associated with fewer general health problems and both problematic and nuisance behaviors. It was also associated with an increased lifespan.” …“Our results were also consistent with previous studies indicating that the associated odds of cancer is significantly lower for sexually intact dogs than gonadectomized dogs.”
-Zink MC, Delgado MM, Stella JL (2023). Vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs: comparison of health and behavior outcomes with gonadectomized and sexually intact dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 261(3):372.
“Our results strongly demonstrate the need to determine the physiologic consequences of sterilization that influence causes of death and lifespan.”
-Hoffman JM, Creevy KE, Promislow DEL (2013). Reproductive Capability Is Associated with Lifespan and Cause of Death in Companion Dogs. PLos ONE. 8(4):6.
“There is mounting evidence supporting the long-term health complications associated with surgical sterilization with gonad removal. Gonads are not merely gamete-producing or ancillary sex/reproductive organs but rather they are necessary endocrine glands for normal metabolic, behavioral, musculoskeletal, and anti-neoplastic health.”
-Kutzler MA (2020). Gonad-Sparing Sugrical Sterilization in Dogs. Front. Vet. Sci. 7:342
“Despite its inherent limitations, results of the present study emphasized the importance of initiating further investigations into the effects of gonadectomy on cancer and behavior. They support the need for veterinarians to practice individualized medicine and to thoroughly discuss the various benefits and disadvantages of gonadectomy in male and female dogs with their clients, rather than to recommend gonadectomy (particularly prepubertal gonadectomy) for all dogs not destined for use as breeding animals.”
-Zink MC, Farhoody P, Elser SE, Ruffini LD, Gibbons TA, Reiger RH (2014). Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 244(3):317.
“Due to the limited evidence available and the risk of bias in the published results, the evidence that neutering reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia, and the evidence that age at neutering has an effect, are judged to be weak and are not a sound basis for firm recommendations.”
-Beauvais W, Cardwell JM, Brodbelt DC. (2012). The effect of neutering on the risk of mammary tumours in dogs – a systematic review. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 53:314.