Neutering Health Effects More Severe For Golden Retrievers Than Labradors
Labrador retrievers are less vulnerable than golden retrievers to the long-term health effects of neutering, as evidenced by higher rates of certain joint disorders and devastating cancers, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.
Results of the study now appear online in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
We found in both breeds that neutering before the age of 6 months, which is common practice in the United States, significantly increased the occurrence of joint disorders especially in the golden retrievers, said lead investigator Benjamin Hart, a distinguished professor emeritus in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
The data, however, showed that the incidence rates of both joint disorders and cancers at various neuter ages were much more pronounced in golden retrievers than in the Labrador retrievers, he said.
He noted that the findings not only offer insights for researchers in both human and veterinary medicine, but are also important for breeders and dog owners contemplating when, and if, to neuter their dogs. Dog owners in the United States are overwhelmingly choosing to neuter their dogs, in large part to prevent pet overpopulation or avoid unwanted behaviors.
Health records of goldens and Labradors examined
Neutering and joint disorders
Neutering and cancers
Neutering in female Labradors increased the cancer incidence rate only slightly.
English Cream Golden Retriever Puppies
Adoption fees for a Golden retriever puppy from a rescue organization will usually fall between $350 and $750. A breeder is likely to charge up to $2,000. The lighter coat is not considered desirable by the AKC, and a light-coated Golden retriever puppy purchased in the USA should not cost more than a puppy with a darker coat.
In Canada and Great Britain, however, breeding clubs are more amenable to a light-colored coat. A reputable breeder with true English Cream Golden retriever puppies should be able to provide proof of lineage. Bear in mind that the lineage of an English golden may not originate in England, but in another part of the European continent or even with a line imported to the Americas several generations back. If a lighter colored coat is important to you, let the breeder know, since a reputable golden retriever breeder will primarily be selecting for temperament.
As with any puppy, you need to be prepared to house, love, feed, and train your puppy once you bring it home. Consult with your veterinarian, vaccinate your puppy at the appropriate stage, and spay or neuter any pup that is not intended for breeding.
Is Spaying The Right Choice For Your Golden Retriever
Spaying your dog used to be the right choice and the responsible thing to do, but with so many controversies going on and new findings related to the health and well-being of your dog, is it still the right choice?
The answer used to be simple, if you didnt plan on breeding your dog then you got your dog spayed, or neutered. For decades dog owners who didnt spay or neuter their dogs were presumed as lazy and irresponsible. But, with new medical findings, the decision to spay or when to spay isnt so clear, and the social stigma surrounding un-spayed dogs is changing.
Spaying and neutering your dog is still the most popular choice in the US and Canada because it is the most effective way to prevent pet overpopulation and any unwanted behaviours.
It is interesting to note that in Europe spaying and neutering your dog is not a common procedure, and in some countries such as Norway and Sweden it is heavily frowned upon. What is even more interesting is that Europe doesnt have the overpopulation of pets problem that the US does.
For the majority of dog owners, spaying is still the best option in regards to the dogs health and well-being as well as for the dog owner.
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English Cream Golden Retriever Temperament
English Cream Golden Retrievers maintain their puppy behavior into adulthood as they mature slowly.
They are playful, outgoing, enthusiastic, intelligent, friendly and extremely devoted. The loving character, intelligence, and loyalty of this breed make them a good family dog.
English Cream Golden Retrievers are excellent hunting companions due to their worker sensibility and calm demeanor.
This is why theyre categorized in the gundog group. English Cream Golden Retrievers also serve as search and rescue, therapy, guide and service dogs.
Theyre likewise comfortable indoors, provided that they get many exercises. However, they are not the best guard dogs because they immediately befriend strangers.
Cons Of Spaying And Neutering
One of the most common side effects after spaying and neutering is weight gain. Your dogs metabolism will slow down after they are spayed or neutered. So it is very important for you to provide your dog with regular exercise and the proper portion of food. Your veterinarian can help you determine how much dog food your pup should eat on a daily basis after they are spayed or neutered.
If you follow the instructions on a typical bag of dog food, you will likely be feeding your dog too much. The instructions are intended for non-fixed dogs that get lots of exercise. This is why it is important for you to consult with your dogs veterinarian regarding how much food you should feed your individual dog based off of their lifestyle.
More studies are currently underway to further understand if there are any other cons to spaying and neutering at the correct time. Right now, there really arent, and there are more benefits than drawbacks. But, again, this really depends on you and your dog. Talking with your vet is the best way to decide what is best for your particular Golden Retriever.
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Orthopedic Issues From Spaying
Studies, such as those reported by the Purina Pro Club, show that pets that are spayed earlier tend to be taller pets.
The lack of sex hormones means that the growth plates in their bones take longer to close, generally making them taller. Your dogs body proportions can then be altered, which can increase the risk for joint issues.
Common joint problems that arise in Golden Retrievers as a result of spaying too early include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These problems can lead to dogs developing arthritis, especially at a younger age.
Unfortunately, when a dog of any breed tears his or her ACL in one leg, they tend to be at a higher risk of tearing the ACL in their other leg, which results in an expensive and painful problem.
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Corgi Pembroke And Cardigan
The study population was 42 intact males, 78 neutered males, 50 intact females, and 70 spayed females, for a total sample size of 240 cases. Although these are two breeds, they vary only a little in size, so these two breeds are combined for statistical analyses and display of data. The occurrence of at least one joint disorder in intact males was 5 percent and for intact females 6 percent. There was no significant increase in this measure in males or females with neutering. This is one of the breeds where intervertebral disc disorders are a concern, and in 3 percent of intact males and 8 percent of intact females, IDD was reported. In males neutered before 6 months, the occurrence of IDD reached 18 percent, and in females there was no increase with neutering. The occurrence of one or more of the cancers followed was 5 percent in intact males and 6 percent in intact females. In neutered males and females, there was no evident increase in cancers. For females left intact, the occurrence of MC was 8 percent, and there was zero occurrence of PYO. There was no diagnosis of UI in spayed females. The suggested guideline for age of neutering for males, given the increase in IDD with neutering at < 6 mo., is beyond 6 months. Lacking a noticeable occurrence of increased joint disorders, IDD, or cancers with neutering females, those wishing to neuter a female should decide on the appropriate age.
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When Do Golden Retrievers Stop Growing
Golden Retrievers will stop growing at approximately the age of 18 months. They undergo several development stages during the first twelve weeks of their lives. After twelve weeks, Golden Retrievers lose their puppy-like appearance and develop adult features. At this stage, Golden Retrievers would have reached their full adult height and weight.
Cancer In Golden Retrievers
The Golden Retriever Club of Americas link on cancer statistics states that according to a study done by them, over 60% of Golden Retrievers died from cancer. Another study done by the Kennel Club in England on cancer states that less than 39% of Golden Retrievers tested in their study died from cancer. These studies were not meant to be compared to one another and there could very well be some environmental issues that contribute to these statistics. These studies were based on a sample of the population, not the entire population. The study done by the Kennel Club was just a small sample. However, there is such a big difference that we believe these statistics cannot be ignored. Click on the underlined links above to read more information on these studies.
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Golden Retriever Wont Obey If You Are Inconsistent
No matter how smart your dog is, it has a limited vocabulary compared to humans. You need to be very consistent in your commands if you want your Golden Retriever to obey. If your Golden Retriever wont obey it could be caused by inconsistent commands.
For example, if you want your dog to get in the car, some members of your family might say Get In. Another might say, Lets Go. Another might say Come on, Im Waiting. Its not that your Golden Retriever wont obey it isnt that it has no idea what you mean. Try using consistent commands or hand gestures and you will do much better.
I hope you enjoyed this post. We welcome your comments. By the way, we didnt use the apostrophe in wont throughout the article so we wouldnt confuse the search engines.
My Golden Retriever Wont Obey
Often your Golden Retriever wont obey when they are puppies and younger dogs. This is because their temperaments as dogs full of energy and enjoyment of life makes it hard for them to concentrate. As puppies they have very short attention spans and an unusual amount of energy that has to come out in some activity. You should expect to see your golden retriever become calmer when its around 2 to 3 years old.
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The Dog Training Programe
If you are looking to learn how to train your dog or puppy using force-free training methods then I recommend this online video course. I purchased it last year and some of the tips I learned I still use today. Most of the training methods arent available on the internet.
You will learn
- Obedience skills
- Relationship skills and lots more
Each session is bite-sized with the focus on getting the student to take the action with information and demonstrations, find out more here.
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Breed Differences By Size And Sex
Researchers found that vulnerability to joint disorders was related to body size.
The smaller breeds dont have these problems, while a majority of the larger breeds tend to have joint disorders, said co-author Lynette Hart, professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
One of the surprising exceptions to this was among the two giant breeds great Danes and Irish wolfhounds which showed no increased risk to joint disorders when neutered at any age.
Researchers also found the occurrence of cancers in smaller dogs was low, whether neutered or kept intact. In two breeds of smaller dogs, the Boston terrier and the shih tzu, there was a significant increase in cancers with neutering.
Another important finding was that the sex of the dog sometimes made a difference in health risks when neutered. Female Boston terriers neutered at the standard six months of age, for example, had no increased risk of joint disorders or cancers compared with intact dogs, but male Boston terriers neutered before a year of age had significantly increased risks.
Previous studies have found that neutering or spaying female golden retrievers at any age increases the risk of one or more of the cancers from 5 percent to up to 15 percent.
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So What Are The Risks
There is a worrying correlation between spaying and neutering Golden Retriever at a certain age. With some of the scariest diseases that can occur as a result.
Research from the Institute of Canine Biology has shown the dangers of performing these operations at a certain age. In the charts below, you can see the correlation between spaying and neutering Golden Retriever at a certain age. Also, you can observe the probability of orthopedic disorders and cancer in those dogs.
You can see an enormous probability that your Golden will develop some sort of orthopedic disorder or cancer if spayed or neutered too early. The risk is far greater for female Golden Retrievers. Females have a staggering chance of 14% to develop cancer even if the spaying procedure is performed at a later age .
Do English Cream Golden Retrievers Shed
English Cream Golden Retrievers have less hair. Thus you can expect less hair around your home. Golden Retrievers shed heavily during spring and fall and moderately in summer and winter.
Brushing their coat at least twice a week will help remove any dead hair that could end up on the floor.
Its important to keep the dog mat-free because skin problems can occur under the matted hair. You can use a steel comb when theres massive shedding.
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When To Spay A Golden Retriever
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link & purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
So you just brought home a female Golden Retriever puppy, congratulations! There are many wonderful and adventurous times ahead of you, as well as some very responsible decisions for you to make. One of those responsibilities is deciding when to spay a Golden Retriever.
There are many conflicting arguments about what age is best for spaying your Golden Retriever. Vets, breeders and dog owners will all have different opinions, which will probably leave you feeling confused!
For decades vets have always recommended spaying your dog around 6 months or earlier, but recent studies have shown that early spaying can be detrimental to your dogs health.
Spaying early affects your puppys bone growth and increases the risk of developing hip dysplasia, and spaying, regardless of when it is done, has shown to increase your dogs risk of developing certain cancers.
Studies now suggest waiting later to spay, or possibly leaving your dog intact. Leaving your dog intact is not everyones best option, the other option is an ovary-sparing spay.
In this article, we will discuss how spaying affects your dogs risk of cancer, as well as bone development. We will look at the pros and cons of spaying, and discuss options such as ovary-sparing spay.
The Golden Retriever Gender Gap
My opinion does vary on the gender of the Golden Retriever. I personally have a much stronger opinion on when to spay a female than when to neuter a male. From most veterinarians and multiple websites, I believe that a female should be spayed prior to having her first heat. Again, some veterinarians believe you should wait until the first heat, but the majority of theriogenologists and practicing veterinarians agree that it should be done before the first heat.
The reason for this is that studies have shown that females who are spayed prior to a heat have almost little to no chance of many types of reproductive cancers. For example, breast cancer is very common in female Golden Retrievers. In fact, it is the most common tumor type in female dogs. Female dogs that are spayed prior to going into their first heat have a 0.5% chance of getting mammary neoplasia. Female dogs that are spayed after going through one heat have an 8% chance, and females getting spayed after going through 2 heat cycles have a 26% chance of having tumors sometime in their life .
These are astounding FACTS. Because of this I HIGHLY recommend spaying a female before they go into their first heat. Female English Golden Retrievers typically go into their first heat between 8-14 months old. Our average English Golden Retriever goes into heat closer to 10-12 months of age. Our recommendation is to have a female spayed between 7-8 months of age.
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Why Resort To Neutering
Neutering is the removal of a dogs reproductive organs either completely or most of them. You can get your Golden neutered for multiple reasons such as:
- preventing unwanted breeding
- reducing the risk of male-to-male dominance/aggression
- reducing roaming behavior
- reduce the risk of some cancers
- reduce risk of congenital conditions
It is important to consider your dogs age before you get it neutered or spayed. The age of neutralization plays an important role in growth, behavior, and hormonal development and in certain cases even life spans.
How To Adopt And Live With Your New English Cream Golden Retriever
You know that fuzzy feeling of seeing a kitten or puppy at play. Do you feel a tug at your heartstrings when you read the stories of pets needing a new home?
Perhaps you have always wanted to have a pet at home. Maybe your kids have been asking you for a puppy for some time now.
If youre thinking of getting a new home, you should consider adopting instead of buying.
Every year, almost 5 million cats and dogs are euthanized because there arent enough homes. There are many pets in need of new homes.
These pets are available through rescue groups, animal shelters, and human societies.
Here are some tips on how to adapt and live with your new English Cream Golden Retriever.
- Conduct Your Research
Different breeds of dogs have different needs and personalities, so you should learn more about the breeds youre interested in to find the best one for your family.
Most breeds also shed, so you should look for one that sheds the least if you or one of your family members has allergies.
English Cream Golden Retrievers are friendly, loyal, enthusiastic and playful, so they are great family dogs.
Theyre also calm so that you can bring them to hunting trips. This breed, however, doesnt suit those with allergies as it sheds a lot.
Other than this, an English Cream Golden Retriever is a good option for those who want to adopt a pet.
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