DENVER, Colo. — While Bob Barker was hosting “The Price is Right,” he always reminded the audience at the end of the show to spay and neuter their pets. However, is sterilizing your dog actually harmful to their health? Researchers at the Morris Animal Foundation have uncovered a potential connection between canine sterilization and the development of a deadly cancer known as hemangiosarcoma.
This revelation, based on data from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, sheds light on a previously suspected but poorly understood relationship.
Researchers observed that the likelihood of diagnosing hemangiosarcoma in Golden Retrievers remains consistently low across all genders and neutering statuses until the dogs reach approximately eight years of age. Beyond this age, intact (unsterilized) and neutered male dogs appear to face a similar risk of contracting the disease.
Surprisingly, intact females consistently have a lower probability of diagnosis compared to any other gender or neutering status. On the other hand, the likelihood of diagnosis in spayed (sterilized) females increases.
Hemangiosarcoma is the most frequently diagnosed cancer within the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study cohort. This cancer is known for its high fatality rate, with approximately 90 percent of affected dogs passing away within a year of diagnosis. Even with aggressive therapy, very few dogs survive longer than two years.
Dr. Alison Hillman, a senior epidemiology consultant at Ausvet and a researcher involved in the study, stressed the importance of further investigation into the potential connection between canine cancer and sterilization. She urged the inclusion of data from older dogs in future research efforts. Dr. Hillman also emphasized that continued analysis to pinpoint the link between hemangiosarcoma and sterilization could provide valuable insights into potential causative factors.
“This information may also be of value in the context of translational research, as hemangiosarcoma is rare in humans and thus difficult to study,” says Dr. Hillman in a media release. “Lessons learned through research in dogs may inform prioritization of investigations in humans, given the similarity between dogs and humans regarding the clinical and pathological features of this tumor, and the relative similarity in genetics between the two species as compared to, for example, mice and humans.”
What is Spaying?
Spaying is the removal of a female animal’s ovaries and uterus. This procedure prevents the animal from going into heat and producing offspring. Spaying is typically performed on female dogs and cats when they are between four and six months-old, but it can be done at any age after the animal has reached sexual maturity.
What is Neutering?
Neutering is the removal of a male animal’s testicles. This procedure prevents the animal from producing sperm and mating. Neutering is typically performed on male dogs and cats when they are between six and eight months-old, but it can be done at any age after the animal has reached sexual maturity.
The study is published in the journal Veterinary and Comparative Oncology.
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Not only that, but “fixing” pets keeps the dogs that get along best with people from reproducing.