Consideration of Spay Neuter of Bernese Mountain Dogs

Transcription

1 Cnsideratin f Spay Neuter f Bernese Muntain Dgs What's a Berner wner t d? Srting thrugh all the factrs that need t be lked at in management f a male r female Bernese Muntain Dg's reprductive status is the fcus f this article. Spaying and neutering dgs is a cmmnplace ccurrence in the United States. It's almst a given, in the US, that 'respnsible' pet wnership invlves spaying/neutering dgs that are nt used fr breeding; this is true even in the purebred dg sectr. Many purebred dg breeders sell pups as pet quality dgs nt designated t be used as breeding stck. Purebred dg breeders frequently require pet quality dgs t be spayed/neutered this requirement may be understd by the breeder and buyer r may be written int the breeder s cntract which is signed by bth breeder and puppy buyer. Spaying and neutering f dgs is an elective surgery. Recmmendatins t spay/neuter are made by veterinarians - pet wner clientele request spay/neuter services. An wner's decisins regarding spay / neuter may be influenced by specific cnditins set frth in their breeder's cntract. A cntract may cntain requirements specifying at what age the pup shuld be spayed /neutered. Pet buyers are encuraged t discuss spay/neuter with their dg's breeder - breaching terms in a cntract can carry legal cnsequences. Owner management cnsideratins matter... There are prs and cns assciated with spay/neuter. See the Kennel Club (UK) article Puberty and neutering at which includes cnsideratins - prs and cns. On the pr side f spay/neuter fr females, altering eliminates wner cncerns related t life threatening uterine infectins (pymetra) and in males neutering minimizes develpment f prstate infectins and hypersexual behavir. Fr bth sexes altering can impact the expressin f highly undesirable, disruptive behavirs, i.e. less territriality/fighting/aggressin which are behavirs that lead t wner surrender f dgs t shelters. The KC s list des nt mentin cns f higher licensing fees fr intact dgs r mandatry spay/neuter laws r cst r required permits t keep intact dgs that apply in sme lcales the AVMA prvides an verview f Mandatry spay/neuter laws in the US at And please, if yu are cnsidering keeping yur dg intact... keep in mind intact dgs can make puppies in the blink f an eye! There are significant challenges faced by wners wh want t respnsibly manage an intact male r female. It is cmpletely understandable that a pet wner wuldn't want t deal with managing an intact female r male. Many dgs are kept as cmpanins, treated as family members - never purchased fr r intended t be used t prduce pups. Unwanted pregnancies are nt desirable. Be careful!!! Intact males will seek ut in-seasn bitches - they are gd at that! Berner males can have viable sperm at as yung as 5 mnths f age. Intact Berner males dn't discriminate between breeds -? - have yu gt a Glden Retriever r a Beagle r a mixed breed female in yur neighbrhd in 'heat'? Des yur male dg walk by the huses where intact female dgs live? Des the wind blw frm the directin f a clse neighbr s huse INTACT BERNER-BOY KNOWS!!! Berners - males and receptive females in heat have been knwn t climb r jump fences even t breed thrugh fences, escape frm yards, slip thrugh drs that are ajar, g thrugh windw screens t 'get the jb f breeding dne'. Nt t mentin, there are significant trials invlved in caring fr a pregnant bitch and a litter f puppies breeding dgs requires knwledge, time, space, mney and wrk - including the wner s respnsibility t carefully evaluate

2 the suitability f the bitch (and her mate) fr breeding i.e. health testing. Placement f pups in suitable, frever hmes can be very challenging. The questin cmes up all the time At what age shuld a Berner be spayed/neutered? Sme veterinarians recmmend spaying r neutering male r female dgs at yung ages, between 4-9 mnths. The AVMA's spay/neuter resurces are lcated at Cllectins-SpayNeuter.aspx. Veterinarians are advised by the AVMA t be aware f current research and t cnsult with the pet wner t discuss risks and benefits f spay/neuter. While the health benefits f spaying and neutering dgs are many nging scientific research during the past decade r s pints t instances f lng-term undesirable health effects f spay/neuter. Statistics presented in numerus studies f purebred and mixed breed dg ppulatins have shwn that spay/neuter is assciated in sme breeds with develpment f health issues such as increased incidences f sme cancers, prblems with cruciate ligament ruptures, rthpedic issues i.e. HD/ED/IVDD, thyrid issues, heart prblems, epilepsy and ther cnditins that negatively impact dg s health, result in diminished quality f life and can lead t shrtened lifespans. Breed-specific data has been cllected fr several purebred dg breeds - Glden Retrievers, Labradr Retrievers, Bxers, Rttweilers and Vislas t mentin a few. Research papers are available as pen-surce dcuments. We'll cncentrate n presenting the mst current research (belw) which cntains data n numerus purebred dg breeds, including the Bernese Muntain Dg, as well as data n mixed breeds. A 2017 study: Crrelatin f neuter status and expressin f heritable disrders by Janelle M. Belanger, Thmas P. Bellumri, Danika L. Bannasch, Thmas R. Famula and Anita M. Oberbauer. The authrs analyzed data frm 90,090 individual dgs seen at the University f Califrnia William T. Pritchard Teaching Hspital frm 1995 thrugh the end f Belw extracted BMD data frm the study: Crrelatin f neuter status and expressin f heritable disrders 1 key t cnditins: artic stensis (ASTEN), mitral valve disease (MVD), patent ductus arterisus (PDA), prtsystemic shunt (PSS), ventricular septal defect (VSD), cataracts (CAT), lens luxatin (LLUX), elbw dysplasia (ELDYS), hip dysplasia (HPDYS), intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), patella luxatin (PLUX), ruptured anterir cruciate ligament (RACL), hemangisarcma (HMSC), hyperadrencrticism (CUSH), lymphma (LYMPH), mast cell tumr (mast), stesarcma (OSC), dilated cardimypathy (DCM), gastric dilatatin vlvulus (GDV), epilepsy (EPI), vehicular injuries (VEH) Heat map represents classificatin f ne f five categries: I. Psterir prbability less than 0.05, strng indicatin that neutering reduces disease prevalence (green); II. Psterir prbability between 0.05 and 0.10, evidence suggesting that neutering can reduce disease prevalence (light green/teal); (NA fr BMD) III. Psterir prbability between 0.10 and 0.90, n cnvincing evidence that neutering impacts disease prevalence (blue); IV. Psterir prbability between 0.90 and 0.95, evidence suggesting that neutering can increase disease prevalence (peach); V. Psterir prbability greater than 0.95, strng indicatin that neutering increases disease prevalence (red). Nte: The authrs f this study "emphasized that lw sample numbers f cases in each sex class requires cautin in interpretatin fr individual breeds."

3 A Healthier Respect fr Ovaries cvers research dne n female Rttweilers living in Nrth America and Canada. "Dr. Waters' team spent a decade cllecting and analyzing medical histries, lngevity, and causes f death fr 119 Rttweilers in the United States and Canada that survived t 13 years f age. These dgs were cmpared with a grup f 186 Rttweilers with mre typical lngevity." A fllw-up study, Exceptinal lngevity in female Rttweiler dgs is nt encumbered by investment in reprductin cncluded that "independent f reprductive investment (pregnancy/pup prductin), the duratin f lifetime vary expsure was significantly assciated with highly successful aging. Our results frm exceptinally lng-lived pet dgs prvide ratinale fr further investigative effrts t understand the vary-sensitive bilgical factrs that prmte healthy lngevity in wmen and pet dgs." S what's all this gt t d with spaying r neutering my Berner? We all want ur dgs t be given the best care there is we want them t live as lng as pssible we want them t be the best they can be as healthy as pssible. Is there a gd reasn t wait fr a year r mre t spay/neuter my pet? The Bernese Muntain Dg is a large breed. Berners mature slwly - they are nt fully grwn until they reach 2-3 years f age. One need nly bserve spayed and neutered Berners t ntice that they can lk a little different than their intact cunterparts. Sme spayed dgs r bitches can be a bit verweight particularly with age (easy keepers :-)), their cats ften are very lng and dense. Many mature Bernese that were spayed/neutered yung (~6 mnths) never develped bulk and heft and may appear shallw-chested and leggy which is cnsidered a- typical fr the breed. These srts f differences in utwardly visible physical characteristics between altered and intact dgs and bitches are als seen in ther breeds. Undubtedly the presence f hrmnes assciated with reprductin (estrgen and teststerne) have a bearing n grwth, develpment and n temperament these matters have been studied fr decades. See Clinician's Brief - a paper written by Clara S.S. Gh, BVSc, MS, DACVS (Small Animal), ACVS Funding Fellw (Surgical Onclgy) Clrad State University - Age f Neutering in Large- & Giant-Breed Dgs fr mre infrmatin specific t spay/neuter in large breed dgs. Well then, is there an ptimal age at which an therwise healthy Berner shuld be spayed r neutered? There s n slid, ne-size-fits-all answer t the questin. It s a matter f pinin. Sme Berner breeders suggest that waiting till a Berner is lder is the best curse - after the dg (male r female) is mnths f age; in females, sme say t spay after their first heat cycle. Sme say spay/neuter dgs by 6-8 mnths f age befre behavirs typically assciated with hrmnes get started befre there s any chance f pregnancy. Given what scientists are still learning abut the influence f hrmnes and relatinships t disease, lng-term health and lngevity, we dn t yet fully understand r can we say with certainty when the ptimal time is t spay r neuter t ensure health r lngevity which stand aside frm ther breeder and wner based management cncerns related t intact r spayed/neutered dgs. Questins... D scientific studies prvide breed specific infrmatin n the health effects f spay/neuter in Bernese Muntain Dgs? Sme, but there is very limited breed-specific infrmatin n spay/neuter available at this time fr BMD's. (The study mentined abve cntains data n the Bernese Muntain Dg breed.) Can we extraplate that spay/neuter f BMDs is a 'bad' idea at any specific age based n findings frm ther breedspecific research studies? One wuld be flish t ignre ther breed-specific studies which cntain data that indicates there are increased risks fr dgs t develp health prblems assciated with spay/neuter. But the simple truth is, even the researchers themselves are saying there is need fr further research n the effects f hrmnes n health and disease.

4 What srts f recmmendatins d veterinary prfessinals make regarding spay/neuter f pet dgs? Variable, gd Vets listen t their human client's cncerns - ask yur dg's vet t discuss the benefits and drawbacks f spaying/neutering in terms f yur dg's health. D we have any inf n spay/neuter in breed-specific health surveys? Yes. BMDCA s 2000 and 2005 Health Surveys Males 2005 Ttal 103 Average age 89.9 ms. Neutered 75 Average age 94.4 ms. Intact 27 Average age 76.3 ms. Bred 21 Average age 98.8 ms. Males 2000 Ttal 118 Average age ms. Neutered 70 Average age ms. Intact 42 Average age ms. Bred 26 Average age ms. Females 2005 Ttal 112 Average age 98.3 ms. Neutered 96 Average age ms. Intact 16 Average age 80.1 ms. Bred 39 Average age ms. Females 2000 Ttal 142 Average age ms. Neutered 105 Average age ms. Intact 34 Average age ms. Bred 60 Average age ms. Summary Frm the respnses submitted t the BMDCA s 2005 and 2000 surveys, bth f which were vluntary wner participatin surveys, which include club and nn-club member respndents, the fllwing statements are accurate: Female BMD s live lnger than male BMD s. Intact males and females have shrter average lifespans than their neutered cunterparts. Males and females that were bred live lnger than their respective intact cunterparts. The 2000 and 2005 Survey respndents were primarily lcated in Nrth America. Respndents reprted n multiple r single dgs. Cuntry f rigin f the dgs in the reprts is nt available. BMDCA Club members represent the majrity f survey respndents in bth surveys. Speculative statement: Greater lngevity in males and females that were bred may reflect the standards f care these dgs received high value, incme prducing animals als during the years reprted in these surveys bred dg s wners were likely invlved in clubs and exhibitins (implicatin - educated, respnsible dg wners) r is greater lngevity in bred dgs influenced by the presence f hrmnes? Are there cultural r cuntry-specific cnsideratins n spaying/neutering f dgs? Yes. Science Nrdic: Shuld dgs be neutered? December 29, :00 RELEVANT: Recent Research Raises Cncerns Regarding Early Spaying/Neutering

5 Nv 2, 2015 frm Cmprehensive Pet Therapy and Dg Training at Includes a histry f spay neuter in the US alng with many references t psitin statements and research... includes cultural cmments and cuntry-specific infrmatin... "Eurpean Statistics and Plicy -- Interestingly, the public plicy is very different in much f Eurpe, where the spay/neuter rate is much lwer than in the USA. Fr instance, in Sweden nly 7% f dgs are spayed/neutered.[31] In Hungary 43% f dgs are spayed r neutered.[32] In the United Kingdm 54% f dgs are spayed r neutered.[33] The sharpest difference frm the USA lies in Nrway. The Nrwegian Animal Welfare Act frbids spaying r neutering, except in cases f medical necessity.[34][35] Yet, Scandinavian cuntries appear t have a much lwer stray pet prblem than in the USA,[36] mst likely because the Scandinavian culture is such that peple rarely abandn their pets r let them run lse.[37]" What srt f infrmatin n spay/neuter des the American Kennel Club ffer? AKC: Shuld dgs be neutered? December 29, AKC-CHF: Determining The Best Age At Which T Spay Or Neuter 03/24/ A degree f skepticism and cautin never hurts... but, dn t discunt the research either A Scientific American article written by Jessica P. Hekman (2015), D Spayed and Neutered Dgs Get Cancer Mre Often? ffers a perspective n lking at data used in scientific studies - is there bias? Studies d have limitatins; and findings may nt accurately represent the bigger picture f health in different breeds r reflect meaningful breed-specific infrmatin. We knw based n the develpment f genetic tests fr heritable diseases that genes assciated with expressin f a specific disease in ne breed may nt be the same genes that are perating in anther breed; s what s true and prvable by a prepnderance f evidence cllected fr ne breed may nt apply r apply limitedly t anther. Mentined in the Scientific American article was research published in 2013, Reprductive Capability Is Assciated with Lifespan and Cause f Death in Cmpanin Dgs, by Jessica M. Hffman, Kate E. Creevy, and Daniel E. L. Prmislw at The study's authrs acknwledge that "Finally, as previusly mentined, the link between sterilizatin and the bserved utcmes cannt currently be knwn. A direct cause-and-effect relatinship between reprductin and cause f death is pssible, but the actual relatinship is likely mre cmplex. In mammals, remval f gnadal hrmnes has been shwn t alter hematlgical and cagulatin parameters, the pituitary-adrenal axis, satiety, neurtransmitters, thymic tissue, and behavir [11], [45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50]. Any r all f these factrs culd mediate the differential causes f death bserved between the reprductively intact and sterilized dgs f this reprt. Dcumentatin f these utcme differences nw creates the exciting pprtunity t investigate the pssible causal mechanisms in dgs and ther species." Lng-term, breed-specific studies will eventually prvide mre insight allwing veterinarians, breeders wh sell puppies and wners f dgs t make the best, infrmed decisins regarding spay/neuter and the ptimal age(s) at which the prcedure shuld be dne.