Hormone Sparing Sterilisation
The topic of when, how and if to neuter dogs is a complicated one. As a responsible breeder, we aim to do our very best to ensure that pups,
a) can grow and develop to their full potential, and
b) it is not possible for them to end up in a backyard breeding situation
There are a lot of differing opinions and ideologies around desexing, and we aim to do what is best for the dog, based on current research, our vet’s recommendation, combined with our obligations to ensure our dogs are not indiscriminately bred with.
Definitions:
Male dogs: Vasectomy (Hormone Sparing)
A canine vasectomy is a way to sterilise the dog, without altering their male reproductive hormones.
Female dogs: Tubal Ligation (Hormone Sparing)
A tubal ligation stops a bitch reproducing, but does not alter their reproductive hormones. They have the same advantages and disadvantages as an entire female, other than the ability to breed.
Female Spay: (Ovariohysterectomy) Full neuter, removing ovaries and uterus. Stops production of sex hormones, and no cycling. This is done by most breeders.
Female Ovary Sparing Spay: This removes the uterus and one ovary. This can be a preferable option to a full spay, giving the advantage of no cycles, while leaving some protective hormones. There is more information online, and it is important to find a vet who knows the procedure well to avoid complications.
Male Castration (Neuter): Surgical removal of the testicles. Effectively stops production of sex hormones.
What Most Breeders Do:
Many breeders do a full desex (Neuter or Spay) at an early age. This removes the testes in males, and the ovaries and uterus in females completely. Newer research is finding that neutering / spaying before one year of age may increase the risk for development of behavioural problems, orthopaedic diseases, urinary incontinence, and various types of cancers. There are health benefits in allowing dogs to reach sexual maturity before considering a full neuter or spay, if in fact you decide to have this done later.
What We Do:
Pups will have had a veterinary hormone sparing sterilisation procedure. At this age, they recover very quickly, and will have fully recovered before homecoming. This procedure allows puppy to grow with their normal protective hormonal function, but are unable to reproduce.
There are advantages and disadvantages with all types of sterilisation procedures. With hormone sparing procedures, you dog will still have their inherent male or female behaviour, and puppy will continue to benefit from the natural hormones which are so very important for normal growth. For example, testosterone is important in closing off growth plates in puppy, and ensuring they mature with their potential size, muscle development and very importantly, joint development. With hormone sparing procedures, all the traits of non-desexed dogs remain, so females will still cycle, males will still be interested in entire girls.
Do I Need to Neuter Later?
When your dog is fully grown, you can make that decision with your vet. There is interesting reading in the references below, which will empower you to participate in the decision with your vet, and to choose the best outcome for your pet long term.
“Sex hormones are very important to the development of a growing puppy. Testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone affect the immune system, the musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system, as well as psychological development. Spaying and neutering remove a growing puppy's hormones and we're discovering that 20+ years of "spay everything that moves" campaigns have had some significant effects on man's best friend “(Baxters Blog, ref below).
Views on desexing vary with countries, and their philosophies towards pets. In some Scandinavian countries, dogs are kept entire, there are no shelters, and it is not legal to do full desexes other than for the health of the dogs, and dogs can go anywhere with their families, and behaviour of dogs is generally better.
Links to Research Papers:
Why You Should Consider Options re Neutering
http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2017/01/15/spayneuter-recommendations/
https://www.baxterboo.com/fun/a.cfm/why-you-should-consider-not-spaying-or-neutering-your-dog/
Fe https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0055937males: Tubal Ligation
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102241