Spaying, Neutering and Cancer in Rottweilers
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: November 20th, 2018
Okay everyone, today I am going outside the realm of politically correct. You will see me do this from time to time, and some readers are not going to like it. Sorry, but I want to present information, and I don’t care if it is not PC if it saves lives.
As a vet, I am trained to promote spaying and neutering so dogs in shelters are not euthanized (killed) before they find homes. This is sensible wisdom, and I agree. But guess what… whenever we intervene with a surgery, medication, or a supplement, there are effects on our dogs. And some of these effects are called “side effects”, because we don’t like them.
A little background first: Osteosarcoma is a brutal, aggressive cancer of the bone, common in large dogs such as Rotts, Wolfhounds, Goldens are more.
Here is some information that has been more or less kept under wraps, or has not been spread in the veterinary community for whatever reason:
If a male Rott is neutered before a year of age, his rate of osteosarcoma ALMOST QUADRUPLES.
If a female Rott is spayed before a year of age, her rate of osteosarcoma MORE THAN TRIPLES.
If a purebred dog is spayed or neutered before a year of age, his or her rate of osteosarcoma MORE THAN DOUBLES.
This information has massive ramifications, especially among owners of Rotts.
These figures were taken from an article in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, Nov. 2002.
To be sure, spaying and neutering saves lives, especially those of dogs in shelters and those in need of homes. But we must not be rigid in our thinking, because the “facts” of today are not those of tomorrow.
It’s my viewpoint that Rotts should be spayed and neutered after a year of age. Just my two cents, friends.
Best,
Dr Dressler
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Hey, I have a 3 1/2 month rottie. I took him for his last booster yesterday and the vet said he needs his canines removed because he has a slight overbite and it should help his jaw align more nicely. She said that it would be best if she removed the teeth and neutered him all at once so he doesnt have to go under twice. I didnt want to get him neutered until 12 months because i heard it stunts the growth of the dog, but now im seeing bigger concerns then juist growth. Should i take the risk of doing two seperate surgeries and waiting for 12 months to neuter or do it all at 5 months.
I have 2 Rotties, my Female is 18 mos. and My male is 9 mos.. I felt as if I was almost bullied into getting my female spayed at 6 months.. and it seems every time I take My fur babies to the Vet, I am getting pressured to get my Male Nutered. I should really only blame myself for not reseaching more before letting them spayed Pix. I too was told By the Vet that it was going to be better for her in the long run and that if she didnt get spayed (right now) she had a higher chance of getting cancer. It saddens me now that I trusted the Vet!
Thank you for this Information, I will Not be getting Bronx fixed anytime soon
Learned for certain today my 7 yr old spay GSD has OAS, rear leg above foot. On an noninflammatory again. Vet thought it might be bone cancer when she was brought in back in May and did another xray today which confirmed him. I have a great vet in VT. Anyway, he doesn’t suggest amputation as it is almost certain the cells are in other parts of her now, and at best with amputation and chemo I might get 2-3 mos. for her. I am so devastated though. This is the 3rd GSD I have lost to one form of cancer or another. Do you suggest making my own dogfood over the stuff I can buy? She was on Diamond. If so, what would be a good diet? I have a male GDS with one retained testicle. Am I looking at another one dying from cancer? He is 6. Thank you.
Dear Cricket,
I am puzzled by the data you have. Amputation with chemo has survival times (not necessarily for your dog, but generally) of more than 2-3 times the figure you gave of 2-3 months,and in your younger dog personally I would be looking at each of the different ways to help longevity. I know you have thought it over, but please do look at the actual data that is published in your decision making before discounting surgery and chemo. You might check in with an oncologist to get some additional insights, just my two cents here. I would certainly utilize a proper dog cancer diet. There is a free download on the top of this page. I would also use supplements like apoptogens, immune support (modified citrus pectin or beta glucans found in K-9 immunity plus transfer factor), and artemisinin. Please be sure to have for vet involved in all your dog’s medical care. For more useful details I would advise you read the Guide, and for general information you can also search this blog with the search bar on the upper right.
I would also discuss with your vet about having your dog neutered to decrease the odds of testicular cancer in the retained testicle.
Best,
D
Best
D
My dog is now 9 months old. She was spayed 3 months ago she was fine before surgery now her back right leg gets stuck up and doesnt run or walk for a while. Can this be from the surgery?
Dear Karen
Please see you veterinarian promptly- this is not a common consequence of spaying-
Best
D
Is it possible for a bone biopsy (taken from the elbow of my 4 year old Newfie)which was termed as an Osteocarcinoma be in fact an Osteomylitis? I ask for, I have a gut feeling she had an injury from impact (rough play with her siblings). Thereafter she had a limp which did not go away. When it seemed to improve, she injured it again running with her siblings. After 2 weeks of no improvement with rest, I asked t have her X-rayed. Vet did a 4DX in case for lyme. Came back positive for Anaplasmosis, stated Doxi and wait on X-ray. # weeks not much improvement, I insisted on X-ray. Showed what Vet felt was Classic for >p<Osteocarcinoma(that sunburst), sent it for a radiologist consult. In the wait opted to put her on Clindamycin & Rimidyl in case it WAS Osteo Mylitis (although he wanted her on high Tramidol) I did for 2 days, weaned her off, and I requested a bone Biopsy and Chest Xray. Chest clear. Biopsy came back stating Osteocarcoma. BUT, I KNOW without question after the initial 2 days of Biopsy pain, her limping was slowly improving some. I chose to run the 10 day course of Clindimyacin, and added tumeric and Seven Forests products I had for inflammation, cq10, and a few natural supplements I have used on other dogs with cruciate injuries, now have her on only 1 Rimadyl at night, and each day her limp is less. Had an Oncologist appt today. Listened to her alternatives, yet my gut keeps feeling something is not right. Her spirits are almost back to normal, and she is rearing to play yet I will not allow it. Something just seems wrong with this picture!
So bottom line, should we avoid neutering before 1 year or avoid it completely?
Dear Tarek,
I do not give blanket recommendations on neutering as the needs of the dog and the guardian are different between individuals. If there is no aggression, and no signs of disease that can be helped by neutering, no problems with urine marking or territoriality, and no risk of puppies without homes, then my opinion is there is no need for neutering.
Best,
Dr D
So I have a choice to make. I have a 2 1/2 yr old intact male Rottweiler who is an obedience competitor. He is also epileptic. I have kept him intact for many of the reasons listed. I have him scheduled to be neutered next week. I have not found research that neutering will help his seizures but it’s the last thing I haven’t tried. My questions are…is 2 1/2 really 3 in July old enough? Any thoughts about neutering and seizures. My neuro says he sees no difference but it’s the right thing to do. I just want to do what’s right for my partner….he’s already dealing with so much! Thanks for your advice!
my 8 yr old rotti, bella, had osteocarcoma and we lost her in july 2010…we rescued a pup @ 2 months and they gave up no choice….so there is no breeding, all pups are spayed/nueterd before you can take them home…. why would they do this…..she had bumps where the spay site was and now woke up with a lump the size of a lemon in that area… can she have a hernia?
Dear Dana,
yes, she might have a hernia, but other things are possible. Please get it checked out at the vets!
Best,
Dr D
I made an appt. to neuter my rotti, but he will be eleven months. Should I change it to when he is a year?
DR. DRESSLER
MY DOG BRANDI SHE WAS ONKY 5 YEARS OLD WE THOUGHT SHE WAS LICKING HER PAW BUT IT WAS BOTHERING HER AT LEAST 4 MONTHS AND WE TOOK HER TO THE DOCTOR ABD THE DOCTOR SAID SHE HAS BONE CANCER IN HER RIGHT FRONT PAW SHE WAS A BERNESE MT DOG WHY DID SHE GET THE BONE CANCER WHAT MAKES BIG DOGS GET THEM WE PUT HER TO SLEEP ON OCTOBER 9,2010 .