November 5th, 2008
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If puppies are neutered young, their risk of cancer of the prostate (and of the anus) is reduced dramatically. It’s yet one more good reason to neuter your dog. |
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If puppies are neutered young, their risk of cancer of the prostate (and of the anus) is reduced dramatically. It’s yet one more good reason to neuter your dog. |
Of course I agree with altering dogs at appropriate ages, however neutering won’t prevent prostate cancer, and some studies (referenced below) actually suggest that neutering a dog, particularly before 2 years of age may actually double or even quadruple the very small risk of prostate cancer; one study was inconclusive either way. Neutering will however reduce the risk of BPH related to an enlarged prostate which occurs in dogs older than five years.
Sorenmo KU, Goldschmidt M, Shofer F, Ferrocone J. Immunohistochemical characterization of canine prostatic carcinoma and correlation with castration status and castration time. Vet Comparative Oncology.
2003 Mar; 1 (1): 48
Teske E, Naan EC, van Dijk EM, van Garderen E, Schalken JA. Canine prostate carcinoma: epidemiological evidence of an increased risk in castrated dogs. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2002 Nov 29;197(1-2):251-5.
I have seen some study results that appear to mitigate against neutering, but like these appear to be, the science was conducted in Germany and other European countries where neutering male dogs remains an extremely rare occurrence. This would suggest that the test groups and control groups do not resemble the spay/neuter situation in the U.S. where in many areas where consumer education has been effective, intact dogs are the rare individuals.