Should dog owners spay their female dogs?
This study seems to indicate that spaying a female dog may actually shorten the dog’s life. That theory, of course, is in direct opposition to the recommendations of most veterinarians. In most situations, spaying before the first heat cycle is recommended due to the decreased incidence of mammary cancers diagnosed in dogs spayed prior to undergoing a heat cycle. In some situations, particularly in pounds and shelters, dogs are commonly spayed at a young age, sometimes as early as 8-10 weeks of age. Based on this study, will these recommendations still persist? A further look at the study is in order. • First of all, this study looks at only one breed of dog, the Rottweiler. No other breeds were evaluated. As a result, generalizations regarding the effects of ovaries on the lifespan of any other breed (or combination of breeds) of dog are impossible. • No genetic information regarding the dogs included in the study is evaluated. Were the dogs in the study genetically related to one ano
