[wishpoo]

Considering everything I read so far and being a biologist, I know that I personally would wait till 8 mos to a year at least - possibly longer.

Removing ANY gland in the body has tremendous effect on the development of any animal and downplaying that fact is silly, in my humble opinion.

Just because we do not see effects with the naked eye, does not mean that they are not happening.

Anybody who went through a puberty, pregnancy or menopause should "reflect" and would get just a glimpse of how much sex-hormones effect the body AND the brain.

 

[wishpoo]

Yes- dogs are not humans - nobody ever made that comparative. I was referring to the animal physiology ( and we are animals too ). Removing ovaries or testicles before sexual maturity does alter development of any animal - human, dog, hen or a fish - period !!!

Anybody who ever took any basic Physiology class would know that.


NOT removing glands at all also increases chances of getting estrogen or testosterone induced cancers - breast and ovarian cancer in humans and ALL other mammals, testicular cancer in males.

It is absolutely advisable to "fix" animals once they finish development if one has no intention to breed them.

 

[wishpoo]

Yes - estrogen and progesterone long term exposure will increase incidence of mammary cancer by 8% ,but removal of the ovaries can increase risk of other health issues in your dog.

Here is just one of the newest research papers "out there"

http://www.gpmcf.org/respectovaries.html

As with any medical issues, we have to do our own "homework" and make the best decision we can. Same as not all doctors are at the "edge of the newest research" so are not all Vets either :rolffleyes: We always have to look at the whole picture and put % in perspective.