Why Traditional Spay and Neuter of Dogs is No Longer Ok

[@deborahembry7292]

20 years ago I found a local vet to give my dog a vasectomy. He said it was a rare request, and wanted to know the reason I wanted that. We told the vet it was to maintain the maleness of this dog, who had to be sterilized because he was a a registered purebred with faults ( pet grade, not show grade) anyway this vet did the surgery, so even 20 years ago this was known. Hopefully there are more vets now that can do this.

[@deadpoolthecanecorso2157]

Wow 20 years ago you found a vet to do this. 😍 that's awesome to hear.

[@mygirldarby]

My brother searched all over our state and the state next to us for a single vet who would do a vasectomy rather than neuter him. He was required to make him sterile because he adopted him from an animal shelter. He couldn't find a single vet who would do it. They acted like he was nuts. This was about 15 years ago. I hope it will become more available. What about the females?

[@deborahembry7292]

@@mygirldarby The vet was in Arcata Ca.. sounds like I was just lucky.

[@YochevedDesigns]

Have you ever lived with an intact female cat? Mine was so loud that the neighbors complained. I never got any sleep, and she just seemed so miserable all the time. Once I got her spayed she became the sweetest girl in the world. I had an intact male cat once, and he marked every piece of furniture I owned, and every doorway in the house. There was no amount of cleaning I could do to make him stop. Got him neutered, and it never happened again.

[@kimberley-A1]

They mentioned that feline reproductive system differs and that discussion was on canine hormone health. I agree that cats are a different game!

[@finngamesknudson1457]

You were lucky. Sometimes (maybe often) Tom cats sterilized too late continue marking behaviors after being “fixed.”

[@sheltiemom519]

Cats are very different...they go into heat every month unless they are bred. I have 3 female cats and I tried to keep them intact...it was a nightmare. They were howling all the time and spraying everywhere...yes, female cats spray too. I got them all spayed and they are much happier...and so am I.

[@stephaniegreen6888]

I have had two male cats who sprayed anyway. I'm not sure why that happens.

[@reneewhittinghill3440]

​@@sheltiemom519yes it was either get spayed or lose your happy home 🐈 🐈‍⬛️

[@terricowan6789]

Thanks to the three of you for bringing this situation into the light. When I learned about the possibility of a vasectomy for our young dachshund, I began the hunt for someone to perform this procedure. I live in Canada and there was no one in the entire province of Saskatchewan, and only one veterinarian in Alberta, that would do it. We traveled, got the procedure done and I am so thankful that I know we have done the right thing for our beautiful little dog. Thanks so much and I spread the word. And FYI, I have not spoken to one individual, including a number of vets, who have ever heard of vasectomies for dogs. Mind blowing. Thanks again.

[@micheleruby7558]

Would you be able to share the veterinarian in Alberta that did the surgery for your dog as I live in Alberta. My daughter and son-in-law have a 1yr old Bernese Mountain puppy and I shared this video with hem.

[@RadicalDecider]

@@micheleruby7558 if you are with your dog while he is outside and are not afraid of unwanted pregnancies bc u keep an eye on him this isn’t necessary just fyi.

[@deadpoolthecanecorso2157]

That's awesome to hear you found a vet to do it. 🙏😍

[@applekarma]

I had a rescue for 50 plus years. About 20 years ago I decided that I would find a vet who would perform tubals and vasectomies on the cats and dogs. I was lucky to find two. I had those procedures performed on dozens of animals. I always got quickly dismissedy when I mentioned either of those procedures. I even called Kansas State University veterinary and spoke with them. The first that I spoke with was open and interested and said that they would look more into this. When I called back two or three years later to talk to them about these procedures they quickly dismissed me saying it "was ridiculous." From my own personal experience I decided that not spaying but doing tubals on cats created a multitude of problems. Going in and out of heat and lots of males and squalling and fighting occurred.. male cats that were given vasectomies continued to exhibit their regular behaviors and the one I implore--spraying. So after many years of going the unconvention route, I decided to go back to N/S of the cats. However, my personal male dogs I left intact and the females were given tubals. This turned into a lot of work every 6 months. Had it not been that these animals were housed together I think it could have worked just fine but it has been quite a hassle every 6 months going through this ruckus. If I only had one pet it would be no big deal and I would not alter it but it has been difficult with the males chasing the females. Other than that there have been no problems with leaving the males intact. It did not seem to make them more aggressive or make them want to mark their territory. I've had no other problems. The dogs are now 12 and 13, a pit mix and a terrier mix. They have only ever eaten homemade food, mainly meat, as that is what they want, and/or raw meat, organ meat included. The 13-year-old is dying of congestive heart failure and lymphoma (??), The 12-year-old has a rear leg that doesn't work. Other than that he's very healthy. Just wanted to share my experience for whatever it's worth.

[@brycefbarnes]

I want to address the comment "We did not know". I am not a vet. I am not a doctor. Yet.. I understood that it was illogical to think that removing the reproductive organs would not result in a health crisis for these dogs and cats. When you remove the hormone producing organs in a living animal who depends on those hormones for the proper functioning of their bodies, not just sexual functioning of their bodies it creates a disaster in their bodies. Modern medicine is guilty of compartmentalizing everything. Endocrinology makes it seem like these hormones are separate from the rest of the body. They are not. It is one unbelievably complex beautiful, functioning biological system for which we barely understand, and this idea that you could remove whole parts of it and not literally destroy the health of these animals is a logical fallacy. Medical education in our country is so so so flawed. So, I think your education told you to shut down your basic logic. Basic logic tells you that removing whole organ systems is absolutely a terrible idea.. even if all the medical people and scientists say it is ok. We need to start thinking.. and paying less attention to the experts.

[@cindyspiess9963]

Amen ! Good on you 👍

[@voiceofreason7856]

I totally agree with everything you said. Spaying and neutering - of EVERY pet they could get their hands on, over the last many decades - has been a HUGE money maker for vets. I can't believe "they didn't know". More like "they didn't care" and money was far more important to many of them.

[@FighterPilot1945]

Completely agree what's you say...I've had dogs over 50 years and always held views against neutered spaying dogs it's not natural end off!

[@Slightlysalty1]

The human side of medical research, data and treatment is so incredibly flawed, male centric and/or reported incorrectly to the public by media, especially with hormone related issues, there is no reason to think veterinary medicine would be any different or better. Then we have PCM’s who treat endocrinology as a place you end up when all other specialists fail to find cause or treatment. Like Endo is witchcraft or something. With that, I can almost believe the “we did not know” but I think it’s more along the lines of “we knew but kept hitting wall after wall of resistance”. Healthier people and animals disrupt the economic flow…

[@Josephine-sm2db]

@@brycefbarnes well said

[@RobertRemlinger-mq8iy]

I had a Boxer who had a serious heart condition when I got her. She was 6 months old. We thought she wouldn’t live more than a couple of years. She couldn’t have any surgery because of her heart. So she wasn’t spayed. She lived until 8 years, healthy, never a sick day. For a Boxer, that’s not too bad an age, so she had an almost full life. I knew it was because of not being spayed and not getting any more shots since puppyhood. Being not spayed was only a minor inconvenience.

[@kathyrizk2117]

The problem is all dogs that we adopt from rescues, require spay or neuter before we get them. It takes the choice away from the owner.

[@Josephine-sm2db]

@@kathyrizk2117 yes!!! Yikes!!! We end up dealing with all the side effects.

[@DeniceGarrou]

In the video they talk about alternatives to help that very situation.

[@teeniequeenie8369]

I’ve even heard of breeders that make you sign forms saying that you will and when ppl don’t they have their dogs taken from them…

[@1packatak]

@@teeniequeenie8369 responsible breeders will usually say you cannot s/n before a certain age. In large breeds that would be somewhere between 18-24 months. This allows the dog to physically mature. In my case, my breeder allowed me to keep my males intact until age 7. Responsible breeders are usually willing to work with owners.

[@lauratempestini5719]

If all these animals are being neutered then they are being extinct!!

[@DeniceGarrou]

Great video. So informative. I have two girls now that will never be spayed. I have learned through the years how much love they give us and the least I can do is give them the best possible chance at a good life. When I was younger I was too busy or thought I was to do this and today I greatly regret what I didn't or did do for my other pets. They look to us for EVERYTHING.

[@gclepine]

As long time pet owner, I had four female Shelties who all lost urinary control when they got older and all four were all spayed before a year old. I now have a female miniature Dachshund who is a little over a year and I am planning on never having her spayed. If I end up doing anything, I will do the other technique of the hormone sparing procedure. I am hoping that I can keep her the way she was created by mother nature! I had made this decision when I first got her at 8 weeks old and this video has reinforced my decision. Thank you for this wonderful informative video!

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

Me too my new dog is 5 months old. My dogs are always with me, I know where they are I don’t need all these medical interventions.

[@Squaresnake8]

My girl is 7 years old and her heat cycles can be a bit annoying at times - summertime camping specifically. But so worth it to keep her intact. My last dog was early neuter at the shelter and had so many of the health issues mentioned here. 😢 Edited to add that I've never felt she was even close to being at risk for unwanted pregnancy, I'm careful with all my animals at all times.

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

@@Squaresnake8 well done you 🥰

[@ebjay1]

I’m so glad I never had my little girl spade. She’s 10 years old but still acts like a teenager. I have been so bombarded by the vets of why she’s not and she can get cancer if you don’t. I can say she has not gone to the vets due to any sickness. However my other dog who lived only 10 years and was spaded did. I constantly took her to the vet due to many illnesses.

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

@@ebjay1 I applaud you for sticking with your girl, my last 3 dogs had ear, skin and allergy problems. My new pup will be going on a very different journey and I do feel confident that I’m going back to how my parents and grandparents raised their dogs, good tucker and no vet interference. I’m lucky in my country we can pick and choose which needles to give too.

[@dorothybutterfield8428]

I agree with the person who said specialised breeding is responsible for a huge amount of problems but I also agree that spaying is bound to have an effect it makes sense to me you can’t just remove vital organs and expect the body not to notice

[@chrisschlicht887]

It is about time. I have been saying this for years.

[@fatimaha457]

I’m crying right now I got 3 females Labrador , today I have the last one in her last journey 14 years with a lot of issues. Might after I can’t say when eventually I will get one female dog . Thanks to all of you as a pet mother, all of you will make a difference. My only doubt might I can’t get it from a shelter for that law to give you an already fix dog. Is a hope here in Canada the shelters can understand and be more compassionate towards all the animals. I love you guys from my bottom of my heart. Blessings..🇨🇦🍁

[@Ez2beholli]

WOW 😳 I KNEW THAT GETTING MY BOXER BOY NEUTERED EARLY WAS WRONG! I WAITED UNTIL HIS GROWTH PLATES WERE CLOSED AND ASKED FOR A VASECTOMY INSTEAD BUT WAS TOLD THAT COULDN’T BE DONE! Needless to say, I’m really happy that I waited for his neutering until he was older, around 3 years old! I hope that Veterinarians are taught about Vasectomies instead of just Neutering them! Thank you for this INFORMATION AND VIDEO! 🎉

[@andrewpappas7198]

My female dog had an ovary-sparing spay. This procedure is great. My dog still has her healthy hormones. Absent a uterus, she can't get pregnant, does not bleed during her heat cycle, and does not emit the odor that attracts male dogs. I asked for this procedure from my vet because my wife's doctor recommended the same procedure (called a partial hysterectomy) to keep her from getting depression, obesity, bone issues, and more. If you care about your dog, do the same for her. A vasectomy is the equivalent in male dogs. I had a vasectomy for myself to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, and there is no way that I would ever consider being castrated instead. It just seems crazy to treat our dogs so inhumanely.

[@pjharriscpa]

My male Havanese was neutered early like 6 months. He had joint issues within a few years and developed cancer in his jaw joint at age 7 and passed. On the other side, my daughter's female Havanese was never spayed and died of cancer at age 7. Lymphoma I think. She had tumors all over her body. They ate the same dog kibble. I want my new male Sheltie puppy to live a long and happy life. I don't know whether to neuter or not. I definitely won't do it until he's over a year. There needs to be more research. My female Pomeranian was spayed at 18 months and lived to 17 with no health issues. My male Golden Retriever was neutered and lived to 11. We had a mutt that was never neutered, he lived to 16. Our Chihuahua was never spayed. She had 1 litre of puppies and died at 17. In the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, dogs were living to 15, 16, 17 yo. Now they live 7 years. I keep thinking there is something wrong with the dog food these days. Please do more research.

[@Cynthia-s4h]

I reckon it's the food

[@celticflame01]

Its also all the chemicals everywhere that brings on the diseases.

[@pawsup_n_boops]

Please consider cooking for your pets...it's so easy...you know what's going into their food...try different proteins, veggies & fruits. My dogs love fruits...my cats won't touch most of them...but do like treats I bake with them in them. Proteins are their best friends...just like us they enjoy different tastes, textures (i.e. paste, cubed or strips of meat) & rotation for variety. I don't do raw for personal reasons...but I gently cook meats, steam veggies & add dried fruits (i.e. dehydrate in oven & make a powder-like topping). Experiment & watch the joy it brings & how they improve. Homemade bone broth is an AMAZING pick me up when they don't feel well & just a great additive to any cooking. Hope this helps inspire you!

[@rebeccamandelos3164]

It is the horrible food…. Kibbles are the worse, even the ‘medical’ food. Homemade holistic balanced food is what I give to my dogs and cats.

[@LisaMickey-ug1bq]

I read a book from Dr. Martin Goldstein, he recommends getting titers instead of yearly vaccines. I get all the puppy shots, and then I get titers every year after. If the titers show he had low antibodies to the diseases, then those are the vaccines I would have gotten for him. His last round of vaccines was when he was 9. He died at 17. The titers showed he had high levels of antibodies, and he didn't need the vaccines. Rabies is the law, so I didn't have a choice on that. According to his book, yearly vaccines may be the ones of the causes of cancers.

[@Rob-tg4xp]

My vet was Dr Christopher Day in the UK, He was the only vet that i saw who was aware of the problems of no hormones, he said, we don't recommend it unless there is a good medical reason to do so. I spent 15 months researching this and was shocked at how indoctrinated most vets were, most wouldn't even discuss it, let alone know anything about it.

[@iriswalzak615]

Why do the testicles need to come out or even a cats womb..? Why !!!!? Human males get the snip they don't lose their testes. Womens tubes get tied.

[@RadicalDecider]

@@Rob-tg4xp yessss I agree fully. It’s amazing to me how ppl are only now understanding how harmful taking away hormones are for animals!

[@rebeccamandelos3164]

@@iriswalzak615Easier for them to do the ‘conventional’ method.

[@jeannierobertson1210]

My dog never had problem and she was spayed. She’s 15 still healthy

[@rebeccamandelos3164]

We are seeing more and more dogs with problems, because they were spayed or neutered.

[@YochevedDesigns]

I had a chihuahua who was spayed (shelter rescue) and she lived to be 21!

[@GorgyPorgy65]

It's all about statistics.....not about one specific dog. For instance, I could say I had one of my females spayed and she has the most shocking urine leakage ever.

[@Sinderbad]

@@GorgyPorgy65 If it’s all about statistics, it seems kind of odd that all three of these vets have dogs with an issues related to sterilization. It also seems odd that humans have all the same medical problems being talked about here and it’s very, very rare that a young person needs gonad removal surgery. If what they are saying is true about sterilization causing these maladies, then why do humans suffer from so many diseases?

[@kimberley-A1]

Some dogs are lucky and like humans, the lack of hormones can affect each slightly different. I’m happy that you had a success story!

[@teeniequeenie8369]

A lot of ppl think that when someone changes their mind a lot they are ‘wishywashy” however changing your mind and updating your information is a true sign of intelligence…

[@susanheckelman285]

Halalueja! From what I "think," I do not know, they do not do traditional spay/neuter in Europe. Maybe one of you can reach out to a vet in Europe and get their perspective? I own 4 dogs and only my oldest has been triditionally altered, 14.5 year old dog. My other three, two females and one male, females have been OSS, Ovarian Sparing Spay. My other male, will hopefully die with all his bits and pieces. Understanding the role of hormones for my dogs answers so many questions about what has gone wrong, health wise, with my oldest, neutered male dog. Never again for me and I am so very happy you all are presented this IMPORTANT health information. THANK YOU!

[@animalsareourangels93]

Europe is decades ahead of North America…… I have four Yorkshire terriers. They were never spayed and absolutely none of them none of them, ever got pregnant. You have to be a responsible parent…..

[@animalsareourangels93]

Europe is decades ahead of North America…… I have four Yorkshire terriers. They were never spayed and absolutely none of them none of them, ever got pregnant. You have to be a responsible parent…..

[@Its_me--Boo_Radley]

Every single time I have taken my 22 month old Biewer Terrier to the vet's office, I get the same lecture about neutering my dog. My thinking was that I didn't want to subject him to surgery and I also didn't want to upset his hormones in ways that could not be anticipated. Plus he is a precious little 6-pounder who is never off leash when outside the house.

[@brycefbarnes]

Thank you for having this conversation. We need to change as a society.. thank you.

[@jacquedenney5846]

The only reason they don’t see it in cats is because they are not looking. Females tend to have chronic urinary infections and bladder stones from what I have experienced. I didn’t put it together until almost two years ago when I lost my baby girl due to kidney failure. It seems to be more pronounced in gray tabbies after I started talking to my sister about it. We have both had numerous cats throughout our lives. Well my girl that I lost almost two years ago was a gray tabby and I got her from our local humane society. She was only about 8-9 yrs old from what we could tell when she passed. The humane society spayed her just before I adopted her and she began to gain weight rapidly after that. It didn’t matter what or how much she was fed. They said she didn’t have diabetes but she was very overweight. Years later we find out she had a stone in her bladder and we got that removed. That was an expensive one. She also had UTIs and then took a real bad turn and went into kidney failure that we could not reverse. My point here is that she looked and acted like a normal cat but it seems that after she was spayed she slowly went downhill. I will never neuter or spay another animal and after digging into vaccines it seems those are just a racket for vets too. I titer my dog every single year and his titers are great. People, you don’t need to be vaccinating your animals every year! This is something else that makes them sick. I do believe the lyme vaccine gave one of my dogs congestive heart failure. The food we feed them is a whole other part of it too. With our current dog, we have been making his food since he was a puppy and nobody believes he is almost five right now. They think he is still a puppy! They are always commenting on how beautiful and soft his fur is. He is so full of life and joy! We need to quit feeding our animals dead food. That is probably the biggest game changer in any pet’s life. I could go on about so much, but just know that veterinary medicine is captured just as much as human medicine is.

[@calista1280]

Since removing grain oroducts from my pets and my own food, we are all looking & feeling so much better! Glutens cause inflammation, arthritis auto immune & skin issues etc

[@annieconway8998]

SO agree

[@paulacorso7954]

What about stray cats. We are currently feeding an outdoor cat and I thought to be responsible I should get him neutered. I have seen colonies of outdoor cats grow when someone feeds them and only spay and neuters a few. 🙊 What to do?

[@jacquedenney5846]

@julegate I will never spay or neuter another animal of mine. I have two ginger girls now that have never been spayed and never had a vaccine. They are completely inside cats and as healthy as can be. However I had another ginger boy that I had from the time he was 4 weeks old. We got him from someone when we lived in the country and couldn’t keep him inside. We tried everything! So he was a mostly outside cat and was never vaccinated until he got old and needed some dental work. He lived to be 21! Longer than any cat I’ve ever had and he saw a vet the least out of any animal I’ve ever had because he was just wild and didn’t slow down until he got old. Like I said, with our dog now we make his food for him and we also take him to get adjusted every other month. I’m sure he will need it more frequently as he gets older just like we do, but we are trying to give him the longest most mobile life he can have. He was neutered which I never would have done had I known then what I know now. We did wait until he was about 1.5yrs though so thus far he seems really healthy and is the most acrobatic dog I’ve ever had with no joint problems. Matter of fact, our western vet tried to tell us he had knee problems and was probably going to need a replacement. We asked her to check him out because we noticed him limping sometimes after strenuous activity. We took him to his eastern med vet to get adjusted and he found the actual problem. It was a tight psoas muscle. He worked it out and showed me how to check it and loosen it up and I did for several weeks after that appointment and he’s never had another problem. So many vets are quacks and out for the $$$ just like most of our doctors. If you can find an eastern medicine vet in your area I would see them. Ours also got our last doggy on herbs that extended her life for almost 1.5yrs after our western med doctor told us she had about 3 months to live. I hope you are able to find a good doc.

[@jacquedenney5846]

@@paulacorso7954 I can’t say I have ever had a problem with a neutered cat, it’s always been my females that have been spayed but knowing what I know now, if I had to I would try to seek out a vet that does vasectomies instead. The only vote we actually have with anything is our money. That is our real vote. If we all seek these vets out that do these alternatives the industry will change. It’s no different than the organic industry decades ago. It was the same thing I told everyone then, we had to buy organic whenever we could because all they understand is money. That was a couple of decades ago and look at it now! We have a choice that is way more affordable than it was two decades ago. Money talks! That is how you truly vote!

[@darlenelanpheare7060]

From 2009 on I decided I would no longer spay or neuter my pets. I’d read some conflicting info about stripping a dog of it’s internal sexual organ’s that made complete sense to me. I knew that human’s aren’t routinely stripped of their internal sexual organs for various wise reason’s and I decided that theory should also apply to animals, our loved pets. However, i still find it very difficult to discuss this with the vets I’ve had. I live in a very rural community am where none of the veterinarian’s will not even discuss tubaligation or vasectomy as a possible option. As a matter a fact, my last call for an appointment to vaccinate a pup with just the basic vaccine’s wasn’t given because my belief isn’t welcome. Approximately 6 times per year my dog responsibilities double for 2-4 weeks each time my 3 females go into heat. It’s a big responsibility for me to prevent my 3 females and 1 male from mating. I continue to go through this because I haven’t been able to find a veterinarian in eastern Oregon that will perform a simple tubal or vasectomy on my dogs. I know that I would feel very irresponsible, even abusive if I allowed my dog’s natural organ’s and their important functions to be removed for my convenience. I love my dogs so I do my very best to give them the healthiest diet and care that encourages the best quality of life. Unfortunately, very few people agree with me.

[@chantellewilson9497]

Before the research has come out I believe god knew what he was doing, I have always kept my boys intact even against the fear the vet tried to push into me about cancer. My girl was done before I rescued her. My other female got pyro and I made the mistake of treating it with a spay, and I lost her less than a year later I’ll never make that mistake again. I put all my trust into the Lord.

[@dorothypuntarich784]

My Girl Maggie will be 7yrs old in February she's intact & will stay that way!!!! No vax, topical/oral flea/tick...I'm Grateful for all the Amazing Veterinarian & Educating Pet Parents ❤❤

[@jodykurt9935]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for putting yourselves out there and bringing common sense back to veterinarian medicine! You all are very brave ❤️

[@margiewalker1808]

Thank you to all of you for sharing this information. My brother who was not a vet had this concept 20 plus years ago and talked a vet into performing a vasectomy on a male English Mastiff, this dog lived to be 14 1/2 plus years. This dog also ate human food. I started looking into issues with neutering and spaying because of 2 male dogs I had that both developed hypothyroidism. Every vet I talked to said it was just coincidence and normal. After researching I found the causation to be early neutering. I now have a male dog that is almost 2 and intact. I hope he has a long healthy, happy life. Thank you again for this information.

[@michellestoppa6162]

I have a one year-old Aussie Shepherd border collie cross, and I’ve chosen specifically in doing research not to have her spayed. She goes through her heats. She’s doing the second one right now and I just watch until it’s over and we still have regular play dates and things like that, but she’s monitored.

[@cindyspiess9963]

you could use a doggie "chastity belt" as well , to make sure . 😉👍

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

Well done you👍 so happy to read your comment. I’m keeping my boy intact also and he is well monitored and contained.

[@Tascountrygirl]

Thank you for such an intelligent, enthusiastic presentation on this whole subject. I live in Australia currently in the smallest state. I have been a pet parent and dearly loved my two dogs. I do not have a dog at present and this may help me take the decision to welcome another pet dog in my life. This is the first time i have encountered this life saving information. I am 79 and had decided to choose animals with shorter lifespans because of my own lifespan. I donate to a number of very reputable dog shelters in Greece for example, where there is a great problem with the population in general, it seems, of no spaying and neutering and consequences of puppies being abandoned. I wonder how these shelters can be helped to conduct vasectomies and hysterectomies leaving ovaries intact.

[@tatianaS988]

I just said goodbye to my beloved Giant Schnauzer. He's never seen kibble in his life. Raw meat, mostly organic from the farm. He was a gorgeous 120 lb dog. I planned to keep him intact, but had to reverse my decision at 2y 2m. Within 7 months his statue, his bulging muscles started fading away and in two years he looked like a totally different dog. He got cruciate ligament torn. He got an aggressive form of cancer and died at 9y 4m. His father, a stud, was not only alive at the age of 16 and looking like a young dog, but he as still breeding. I don't know when he died but he lived well beyond 16. He was about 120 lb as well. My GS's siblings are show dogs. All intact, boys and girls. They are still youngish and healthy. Back home (Europe) quite a while back we hardly heard of dogs dying from cancer, it was exceptionally rare. Dogs were just slowing down, and enjoying their ripe years and then peacefully dying. Dog's allergy? Unheard of. People would laugh if somebody from the future/North America would ask if their dog has allergies. Cruciate ligament? Unheard of. Here it is "new normal". ALL dogs around me were intact. ALL. We did hear occasional story about somebody who would fix the dog, but it was frowned upon, considered mutilation and many considered it animal abuse. The average lifespan of the dogs was 25-30% longer than the corresponding breed standards here in North America, at the very least. It was a while back though. Now lots of people feed kibble (it was unheard of before, dogs ate actual food). I will never fix another dog. Ever. I will move back to Europe if there is no possibility to find a breeder that allows to keep intact or it becomes difficult to keep them intact for whatever reason, I will opt out of having a dog. But I will never ever impose those sufferings on my animals ever again. Thank you so much for doing this podcast. I am sending the links to EVERYBODY I know who are in anyway involved with the animals (whether they are owners, breeders, health providers). Please keep more content coming. If there is anyway I can help to advocate for this, please let me know who and how I can reach.

[@hannibruhngrann9211]

I'm Danish, and it's a long story, but about five years ago I was speaking to a dog behavioural specialist about neutralising a puppy because of anger towards other dogs. His argument was that the self-confidence sits in the hormones. And his anger came from lack of confidence. So by neutralising, he would start from zero every day. For the rest of his. life. Every day I would have to build up his confidence. The guy was choked to hear that our vet had advised us to do it Has that vet been living under a stone for the last few years. Well - it seems like a lot of vets are still living under a rock.

[@jennyrose2200]

I also want to say I rescued ACDs for several decades and all were s/n before placement. My personal dogs are as well and live well up into their teens. I had a female shepherd that died at 10 and a male ACD that died at 11, both had cancer and were intact. I believe that the food we feed them is far more important than hormones. I personally have been "spayed" since age 36 and I'm 70 with good bones lol.

[@Hinotes4me]

HOW do we find Veterinarians who are able and willing to do hormone saving sterilization?

[@lucyt-c8092]

call around to veterinary universities/ state or province centers? In massachusetts Tufts has a large veterinary hospital that does ovarian sparing spays .. for example…

[@peterdobias]

There is a directory on Parsemus with a list of vets and what services they provide here: www.parsemus.org/pethealth/veterinarian-directory/

[@suzanneelainejackson6055]

Amazing.....I have a 15 beagle who was operated on at around 2 years .....she soon after developed thyroid problems and now I know what caused it . She is now nearly 15 years but daily has to take Dexnon 100 mg. I now have a Shih Zhu 15 months months and she has had 2 periods and I was thinking that I will not spade her. I will spend the money instead on regular blood tests and check ups. Well done for educatin😢the pet parents for a healthier happy dog 🐕 👏 👍

[@RadicalDecider]

@@suzanneelainejackson6055 good decision! I made the same decision for my little girl 🩷 hormones are so important!

[@kimberley-A1]

My little dog was neutered at 6 months and over the past 13 years, we have had a number of health issues, many of which I now believe may be resulting from early spay (fearful behaviour, hypothyroidism, obesity, depression).

[@KATHLEENCHAMBERS-l3g]

Thank you so very much for this information. I have a 7 month old American Staffordshire Bull / American Bulldog cross. They are very susceptible to cancer after being desexed. I am so glad to get this information. I am going to try to find a vet who can do a vasectomy on him. If not I will leave him intact. They actually do vasectomies in some of the Australian and British vets. Why can’t our vet schools teach that?

[@CS944-gs1ym]

I have an intact male, he’ll be 9 in January and a spayed female. I had her spayed after her first heat cycle, she was at least 1.5 years old. I didn’t want to risk her having puppies. I’ve been told by vets to neuter my male, that it would make him healthier and live longer. I declined. I also understand adoption pets that they neuter because if they didn’t maybe the new owners wouldn’t due to cost. It’s gotten outrageous (seemingly to me) to go to the vet for anything. I’m old school and treat most everything myself. Back to spaying/ neutering adopted pets from animal shelters, they do it at such an early age for some of them. It’s like giving a 12 year old girl a hysterectomy or castrating a 12 year old boy. That doesn’t make sense for humans so what about dogs???

[@susankuhlman6514]

My daughter's vet recommended waiting to spay my granddog. She was in heat for eight weeks and had to wear a diaper in the house but the sent kept my daughter from walking my granddog in the neighborhood. I have my thirteenth dog in my lifetime and have never had any problems with spaying and neutering. Also, I have had horses and love geldings.

[@juliehackett1025]

I adopted a kitten she's 3 months old and was spayed as soon as she reached 2 pounds. I was very surprised she was already spayed at least such a young age and don't think it's safe to do so young. I've also argued with my Vet over getting my Neo neutered before he's 2 as a giant breed it's not recommended my Vet's response was you can find research supporting that and that age doesn't matter. Needless to say my Neo is 2 next week and still intact

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

I’ll be doing same with my new pup, I always know where my dogs are and can take responsibility for his whereabouts.

[@AnneMB955]

Just a new topic for me. It’s always been in my culture that we spay and neuter. Why? Am questioning now and will have a discussion with my vet. I’d like to keep my male dog intact too.

[@amberkluga8949]

I'm not a fan of "have been reported" statements that don't include supporting research numbers. Let me report my own experiences with dogs for the past 60 years. Almost all of my dogs have been "mutts" i.e. not selectively bred into highly specialized appearances and traits. I've always spayed and neutered within the 1st year - to avoid unwanted pregnancies and wandering that would place them in potential harmful situations. I had no experience with any of the higher incidences of issues that are being talked about in this video, not until I got pure-breeds. In addition to my beloved mutts, I have also had a boxer, a boston terrier, a dachshund, and a labrador, and they all developed various health issues. So from my experiences I would place a higher weight on over specialization in breeding as the cause for health problems than spaying/neutering, but my experiences are antidotal so I'd love to see research that tracked multiple factors against a control group to see what the data says. Do you have a link to the research that was done and referenced in the video?

[@candacestevens4446]

You seem sharp, you can get the papers yourself by a simple internet search. Plenty of recent research out there which is why everyone is talking about it

[@lillithsummers8817]

These are good points. In years gone by I would (anecdotally) agree. Unfortunately we are in an age of everything doodles. My totally anecdotal experience is that current doodle mutts tend to have the worst genetic diseases from both sets of parents. Usually because owners of genetically tested pure breeds do not cross breed out to make whatever x poodles.

[@fiprosha]

I did research years ago on neutering/spaying. I remember one stufy that was done on Golden Retrievers that came to the conclusion that they had a higher risk for several different cancers when spayed. For some of the cancers, the risk was 3x higher. Now, Goldens are also one of the breeds with already a high risk for cancer. So if (for example, not actual numbers) they have an already 5% chance to get a certain cancer, den 5x3 is 15%. That's quite a bit. If you have a dog that is very unlikely to get cancer 0.1%, then 0.3% isn't that bad. This is just one examples of the conclusions I came to myself that I thought fit the pure breed vs mut comment.

[@torrielynnmusic2648]

​@candaces Can we be anymore a biotch? 0

[@juneelle370]

That’s why “the science” always has to be questioned ! That’s how science improves ! (it’s the people/procedural protocols set up for profit that don’t want that questioning). This information makes me sad for the pets I’ve had that I have spayed/neutered but it’s great to have the information. :( hopefully hormone-saving sterilization will become the norm… it’s at least better. Even women who’ve had hysterectomies often have the ovaries removed simply because the surgery is “easier.” Now, women are being informed to ask the doctor to do the surgery that leaves the ovaries because it’s better for their overall health.

[@passionateherbs8183]

OFF TOPIC - Is there a FREE calculator that will tell you what nutrients are missing in your homemade dog food. I have found a few where you enter all the ingredients you put in your homemade dog food, but you have to pay for them. As I am on a Social Security income only I can't afford to purchase these. Thank you!

[@Somewhere-In-AZ]

I believe the reason my intact GSD (male) doesn’t have behavior issues is that he joined the household while I had two elder dogs. Both fixed, one male and one female. They checked him on any bad habits early and he’s an angel . No issues at all. No aggression. No humping. He only marks outside, but that keeps the coyotes away so it’s a good thing.

[@shelleyzoe8254]

I am so glad I stumbled on this interview. My puppy is one year old American Staffordshire and I've been holding off. I even paid for her spay to come up in the spring and I've been going along feeling like I don't know that I wanna do it the only reason I wanted to do it was because I was told my dog would get pyometra, and maybe breast cancer, I am a retired respiratory therapist and I am anti-on a lot of "treatments". if anyone could speak to me about the pyometra risk, I would appreciate it

[@Alice-m7e]

My 10 yr old Hines 57 had to have emergency surgery due to pyometria. They said it was because she had not been spayed. It is a life threatening emergency, and the surgery is thousands of dollars.

[@shelleyzoe8254]

@ thank you I will go ahead with my plans to stay at 18 to 24 months of age

[@shelleyzoe8254]

spay

[@peterdobias]

Yes, unfortunately there is still a risk of pyometra, regardless of their age. Some studies indicate that the lifetime incidence of pyometra is about 25%, though this can vary depending on the breed. However, an ovary sparing spay (OSS) will allow the ovaries to be left while eliminating the risk of pyometra.

[@shelleyzoe8254]

@@peterdobias that kind of surgery is too expensive apparently what I've been told

[@AA-kf7uf]

I adopted my yellow lab after fostering him at the young age of eight weeks. I waited until he was 18 months old to have him neutered. I just put him down this past April at the age of 16. He had some arthritis towards the end but what really was problematic for him was vertigo three years ago, a.k.a. idiopathic vestibular syndrome. I truly believe that not neutering him and a raw food diet is why he lived so long; I also did not do any vaccines including rabies. I have two new dogs from Shelter one was neutered at around 1 yr old and the other was neutered at two years old so I'm hoping they at least had enough time to develop.

[@AnneMB955]

This is all so valuable for me. My Golden is now 13 months and I was beginning to question whether the operation is necessary in cases like mine. Will still visit my vet of 30 years in a couple of months but have questions before making this drastic decision.

[@ld4467]

I found a website listing vets who would do hormone sparing spay. It was quite expensive hours away, but it is worth it. If it's good for humans, why wouldn't it be good for animals. The dog was almost a year and half old by the time it was done.

[@donnareed3822]

I have dogs that were spayed young and dogs who were spayed later. Some of them had spay incontinence. Iv also had dogs that were spayed young and some that were spayed older that never developed spay incontinence. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s how they are spayed. Not the fact that they were spayed. It is the spay technique that the veterinary used. Know I will agree that you are messing with hormones that the dogs need to grow and be healthy adult dogs. I agree that the same things can happen to women who have not only hysterectomies, but also simple procedures to tie their tubes. Is the technique that causes the problem not procedure

[@kajeansecord-bennett7351]

Thank you for sharing this information! Talk about timing! I had an appointment next week to get my 7-month-old Samoyed puppies spayed and neutered. I immediately called and asked to switch the procedure, but my vet does not do vasectomies or hysterectomies. Luckily, I found another vet nearby that does. I really can't thank you enough!

[@EclecticArtist62]

Thank you for posting this truly informative video! I don’t have a dog yet, but I’m so glad I saw this video first, since it supports what I’ve suspected all along about spaying and neutering.

[@cheryldurham297]

Thank you for this. So interesting. Makes so much sense.

[@celticlady4821]

I had my dog spayed at 4 years old. I didn’t really want to but she was suffering with false pregnancies and was even lactating. It made her very miserable. How can these false pregnancies be prevented if we want to keep our female dogs intact?

[@RadicalDecider]

Hi I have the same question! Do you know of any support group for dog owners that choose to not spay or neuter… we all really need to get together on this and share info. Bc every single vet I have been to has truly no knowledge on how to balance hormones. I am a naturopath for humans and use some of the same principles to balance my pup but I want other ppl to help with ideas or if anyone knows of a vet who knows what to do about false pregnancies and how to balance hormones when leaving our dogs intact! Love your question. Pls help if anyone knows!

[@celticlady4821]

@@RadicalDecider Hi , no I don’t know of any support groups and the vets just tell you to get them spayed which is a shame. The only advice I’ve ever had is from my groomer who also breeds dogs and she said to keep soft toys and objects such as socks and towels away from them as they will start to carry them round as if they are pups and this could exacerbate the situation and cause them to lactate. I was working full time at the time but I think also being with them is better and distracting them with extra walks and training etc would help too.

[@RadicalDecider]

@@celticlady4821 yes exactly they need more attention during this time. I also do naturopathic nutrition for humans, and use a lot of the same principles to balance my girls hormones, so that there are little to no false pregnancies if possible! There is very limited information about this out there but for example, with humans we can make sure we have enough B vitamins, enough vitamin D, enough magnesium to support even and level hormones, because the fluctuation is really the issue. This needs to be taught and understood now that the guidelines are changing and a lot more animals will be left intact!!! I did the research years ago and decided never to spay or neuter any future pets but now more than ever ppl need the education about hormones and how to keep them healthy bc we do need them and also we need them to be balanced as well!!! thank you for replying back to my comment. I am going to start a KZbin channel about this very subject very soon because I just got certified in dog nutrition and I already have a lot of knowledge under my belt and I just see such a lack of information out there.🩷

[@fiprosha]

You could try doing research in "other countries." In my country (Germany), spaying is illegal unless medically necessary. Very bad and reoccurring false pregnancies would be a reason to spay, but it's regarded as the "last resort." I can't give you any tips because my dog never had one, but I know there's e.g. also medicine that blocks hormones that cause false pregnancies as a treatment. So there are definitely options.

[@celticlady4821]

@@fiprosha thank you. I’ll certainly look into it with my next dog.

[@macaronmommy2030]

My parents had our large dog sterilized via hysterectomy back in the 1970s. It’s surprising to me that current day doctors are not providing, or don’t even know how to perform that same surgery today. (Btw this dog never had any health issues whatsoever and lived to be 15 years old…pretty good for a large breed.)

[@nowaynohow1275]

Progress in the right direction is needed and valued no matter what. IMO...It would be a happier day when they start giving rabies shot according to weight. Right now, it's preloaded and not allowed to be messed with. My 4.5lb pup got the same dose as a 100lb dog. She had a spatial seizure the next day and a golf ball sized hematoma at the injection site which the vet clinic refused to acknowledge. How does that even make sense?

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

It does not make sense they do the same with human medication. By the way what are the chances that Rabbies is NOT what it really is. Before any shot they must make you aware of all possible and probable affects no such thing as side effects just effects.

[@BlueRidgeVirginia]

Your concerns are legit and I've seen this myself with a rescue Huskie we took on about 9 years ago. He developed seizures after he was neutered and vaccinated....he kept being returned to the shelter -- no one wanted a seizure dog. He was only 2-3 yrs old, and we adopted him. He was on phenobarb and began having kidney issues so we switched to a different medication. About 6 months after that, I convinced our vet to wean him off the medication since he was in a stable home. She agreed and the Huskie did well, never had any more seizures. My 18-month old Silver Lab has still not received the mandated rabies vax because I am terrified of the potential injuries (as in seizures). We chose to give the puppy only the first group of vaccines DHPP, and nothing beyond 3 months.

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

@@nowaynohow1275 my last 3 dogs all have had issues each time after the received the so called preventative. I made a comment hence why it showed on my feed, they deleted my comment. It doesn’t make sense to keep medicating for some slim chance against the true cost of ongoing visits. I have a 5 mth puppy I have not given any preventatives one of his siblings after the 3 mth shot had seizures and died. Most allergies, ear problems, skin, neurological are all connected.

[@nowaynohow1275]

@@elizagoodytwoshoes9140 That's so sad to hear. And so many cases of lifelong injuries. Many vet offices are now corporate owned which may explain a lot.

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

@@nowaynohow1275 it sure is, all the schools are funded by those with ‘invested’ interests. It is very very sad and up to us to question the original studies that brought us to so called modern times.

[@Barbara-te7xz]

How would you even know if the vet that says they spare ovaries actually does? I can think of only one vet group that lets you watch operations.

[@janetquinn5809]

Thank you for being the light at the end of the tunnel. I will not neuter my 8 month puppand never will. Being that I am a responsible pet owner, I will nor allow unwanted pregnancy. The vet asked me at 6months to neuter, I said I don't know yet. Now I'm sure I will never. I want change to mske our pets live a happy life. Also feeding human grade healthy meat for my dog. Instead of 9 years like my last dog, I'm looking to a good 20 years wirh my new puppy. Most Vaccines, and heart guard, tick meds are cut out as well, these will be treated differently.

[@debs2667]

This is so informative. I have 2 dogs with skin issues only at 7 and 8. I feed raw. I only give natural foods as well as coconut oil and olive oil as well. And no chicken. As well as some kefir and still her issues continue. I am at wits end. And this video explains many possibilities as they were all spayed at 6 months. So sad. Hopefully in South Africa they will soon follow with these techniques. Thank you for the info🙏

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

I also have these issues with my dog and previous 2 dogs I believe it’s the injections they received in their first year. My new pup is 4 months no interventions only time will tell.

[@LizCosgrove-dd7gp]

May I ask why you don't feed chicken. I feed a natural diet as much as possible but I feed chicken as well as beef and fish.

[@RadicalDecider]

@@LizCosgrove-dd7gp I have the same Q

[@RadicalDecider]

@@debs2667 do you not feed chicken bc it’s inflammatory or? Thank you. I feed my dog the same as you but she does get organic chk

[@lisaabbwtt6118]

I'm also South African, let's hope!

[@blbrightlights564]

Creating the pedigree dogs and cats have caused a massive contribution to the animals health.you can see this in humans inbreeding

[@thehighestpraise8519]

Cornish Rexes have ALTERNARIA FUNGUS!!! For LIFE!!! It’s NOT RIGHT IT’s REAL MY AWESOME Babies DIED ITCHY MISERABLE AND HORMONE FAILED!!!

[@cristycaplener7979]

All my dogs have died from cancer and 4 of them had knee surgery before 4yrs old. One developed bone cancer. All were from county animal shelter and spayed or neutered young. I did take in my friends dog when she passed away. He was 10 years and not neutered. I had him for over 8 years. He was healthy until he almost turned 19. Currently my dog has 4 kinds of cancer and is on palliative care. She was spayed at 3 months old. If I get another dog in the future I will insist from rescue g Coup to do alternative spay surgery, or vasectomy.

[@RadicalDecider]

@@cristycaplener7979 wow yes keep the hormones

[@tiamichelle73]

I’ve read the book ‘The Forever Dog’ and as a 1st time dog owner it’s a great read…let’s hope my Cockapoo will live to a great old age, he’s fed on Raw now…no booster vaccination booster, and I have a much healthy dog. We have had a bad flea infestation this year, but my pup has remained free from fleas 🥰 Thank you all so much for your research and letting everyone know how to keep our dogs healthy 😘

[@Bluedogshelties]

I had a rough collie male that was neutered at 2,5 years old. He got increasingly scared of gunshots, fireworks and thunderstorms over the 10 years he lived. To a point where he peed himself and ran in panic to hide. Also his coat changed to a horrible struggle with exploding, matted undercoat and constant, massive shredding. Since then I only neutered my dogs if it is necessary for medical reasons. I have a poodle female now and she gets false pregnancies, but I hope to find another way to help her ❤

[@Csrasberrysmith]

What can we do to supplement hormones for our dogs who have been neutered and spayed? I realize now that my precious male Yorky suffered joint issues and metabolic issues, probably due to his early neutering. My tiny female toy poodle had stomach cancer. Her brother had lymphoma and skin tumors. I fed them the best food and gave them the best care with minimal vaccines. Our beloved male Rhodesian, Ridgeback suffered adrenal fatigue, then thyroid, cancer and kidney failure.

[@Dirty_Bear22]

Would need to consult with a vet who offers hormone replacement therapy.

[@patriciamartinez5811]

Phenomenal video and extremely informative. Thanks to all 3 of you for being champions of our fur babies! I have a 3 year old Rat-Cha "Obi" who is not spayed, wnd will remain intact. Thank you ❤

[@luluj.9360]

Doctor: how do you prevent Pyometra to happen on female dogs and how to know the symptoms and treatments please 🙏

[@peterdobias]

We discuss it in this video at 14-minute mark: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2mohGewrrKAm5I

[@spinanslide]

What about a Ted Talk to get this information to the masses?

[@willshedo]

We should be thankful for everybody and every organization that spay and neuter and help to control the overpopulation of unwanted and therefore suffering animals. Not tell them they are all doing it wrong!

[@voiceofreason7856]

Okay - for the general and overall health of the animal ? 'They are doing it wrong'. NO animal should suffer the real and consequential bad side effects of sterilization because the owner is too lazy to manage them during their heat cycles, and such, which are a few days out of a WHOLE year. I have a beautiful and gentle intact male Collie. I kept him intact for his own overall health and well being. He is ALWAYS on a leash when he's off my property with me, and my yard gates are ALWAYS locked so no one can 'accidentally' let him out. That's what being the responsible owner of an intact dog is all about, regardless of their sex.

[@nnonotnow]

This video discusses the topic of hormone sparing sterilization and hormone replacement therapy for dogs. Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib are guests on the show and discuss their experiences and research on the topic. Key Points: * Dr. Becker discusses her experience as a veterinarian and how she came to realize the negative effects of early spaying and neutering on dogs' health. * She mentions that she started spaying and neutering all of her patients early on in her career, but later realized that it was causing health problems such as obesity, muscle loss, and various endocrine issues. * Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib discuss the importance of hormone replacement therapy for dogs after spaying or neutering. * They also discuss the benefits of hormone sparing sterilization, which is a procedure that allows dogs to retain their reproductive organs but prevents them from reproducing. * The video ends with a discussion of the importance of educating pet owners about the risks and benefits of spaying and neutering, as well as the importance of hormone replacement therapy. Additional Information: * The video includes a discussion of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's new guidelines on neutering, which recommend that dogs be left intact unless there is a medical necessity to intervene. * Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib discuss the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need to educate pet owners about the risks and benefits of spaying and neutering. * The video also includes a discussion of the importance of hormone replacement therapy for dogs after spaying or neutering. * Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib discuss the benefits of hormone sparing sterilization, which is a procedure that allows dogs to retain their reproductive organs but prevents them from reproducing. * The video ends with a call to action for pet owners to educate themselves about the risks and benefits of spaying and neutering, and to talk to their veterinarians about hormone replacement therapy.

[@louiseanderson4625]

In the UK they recommend not doing it until dog is at least 2

[@redfishbuefish]

I have a 6 yr old Great Dane female who was intact until this year. It was a constant struggle with Veterinary care. We moved a few times and ever single vet tried guilting us, and at times even getting pretty upset at us for being irresponsible for not spaying her. It was terrible to get her care without that issue coming up. This year we finally had her spayed because they said she will get pyometra if we do not. So we did it. A month out of it now and her skin has gone totally bonkers bad. So now they want to put her on apequel or cytopoint-immunosuppressants which I will not do at this point. When I asked if this could be because her hormones are messed up I got a look like are you crazy and they would not even begin to entertain the idea. So now I have to find a vet (mine wont) who will test her hormones and treat that. It is crazy.

[@hoanganhpa]

Please advise how we can prevent mammal tumors and pyometra while keeping our dog intact. I’m happy that I can be confident to keep my dog intact. But my previous one got mammal tumors so I’m concerned about this still.

[@pollyvance7074]

We had a border terrier pure bred. We were told early on that the prostate would swell in this breed if we did not have him fixed. We refused, until we did in fact see, very later on, that he was losing his tail hair and had a very swollen prostate upon X-Ray. In his case, I believe that we waited too late. He was never the same after the surgery, almost like he had had a heart attack on the table and nobody told us. The vet said after the recovery for some reason that he would need heart medication from now on. The decline was profound. He stopped his walks, he lived by my side in his little box while I was working and never got out except when I encouraged him or he followed me around the house like he always did. The last 5 years of his life were terrible for him seeing that before, he was so active. I have always blamed myself for not getting him fixed earlier. I'm pretty sure that this is specific to his breed, i.e. the swelling of the prostate. However, I will never know for sure what happened to my little pumpkin. He was such a joy in my life, even to the bitter end. I can say that the downward spiral was directly related to the surgery. This gives me some hope that it was not my fault after all.

[@faith042877]

Thank you so much for this excellent information! Is there a database of veterinarians who offer these methods of sterilization and hormone therapy?

[@maureenposhweddingflowers5429]

I tried to post a link to the database but it’s not working - search for the Parsemus Foundation

[@lizroberts1569]

It happens to humans, hormones decrease we lose our faculties and become incontinent and we are not spayed. The only option is to allow lots of unwanted dogs cats and horses. So what are the options ?

[@elizagoodytwoshoes9140]

There are plenty of unwanted dogs and cats EVEN with the neuter program!!! So something is not working oh wait same old story it’s the owners who need educating on how to manage your pets and really look after them well.

[@Hisloyalservantslistenlove613c]

Keep the males separated from the females

[@katjafranczek7714]

When I read the title, I wanted to understand the new way. I was always told by breeders to not spay until after the first heat! Something to do with letting the hormones buildup. I was young and never questioned what hormones or why. As I grew in my training knowledge I started teaching obedience for pet owners and was appalled at first when students reported that their vets said to spay puppies under six months. I hid my surprise and kept my mouth shut - it is their dog and their choice. My friends would talk about it more in disbelief. As in how on such a tiny animal can you do this surgery. I also noticed students with dogs who had odd behavior problems reported that they thought it was due to surgery as a puppy, but I never asked what type of surgery. Just focused on how tobest modify the behavior through building engagement with the handler. Glad I clicked.

[@californiadreaming567]

I grew up with males that were not fixed and I had one fixed at 6 years old. He was a lot happier. After that I fixed my males at 2 years old. They had a happy life

[@nataliameimarismd3292]

I am a gynecologist and I read animal studies on Orilissa, it’s oral Gnrh antagonist, works perfectly for my female puppy, I have two intact dogs male and female, no heat issues no problems, I only administer Orilissa at the start of heat cycle , only issue is Orilissa is expensive and needs Rx, also there is trial coupons available on line, I hope you look into it and share it with your audience

[@dorothynewell1667]

The health of my corgi has been greatly harmed. Would taking hormone's help her after being spayed? I have owned many pets over the years, this young dog has had adrenal illness after UTI'S. Her body overall has been affected, my experience with her i ended up taking her off the treatment, the good news is she got well, leading me to believe once the UTI, was corrected that infection was bad enough it caused the health overall.

[@GrdmaKat2000]

This applies to humans also. I found out years and years later what is happening to my body because of my female parts were removed. No hrt and over the years issues have evolved along with newer information.

[@windywalcha]

I have 3 beautiful female intact labs now and 3 other beautiful female labs over the years who have passed. The 3 who passed all had chronic diseases problems after they were spayed. Diabetes, cancer, and one beautiful precious girl became incontintent when she was 12 months old. The vet prescribed daily medication. She passed away at 13, being medicated every day, twice a day her parents lived to 16 and 17. The three girls I have are a mumma and her two girls. Her girls and their mumma are intact. So relieved to find this info as I thought it was a requirement for responsible ownership and care. Thank you so much.

[@Josephine-sm2db]

My friend had a female dog who got spayed at 8 mos and 10 years later she got really really bad urinary incontenance.

[@ellemarierolfe7518]

Omg no, my god the sensitivity in the lower back I'm seeing also especially when i brush the hair and it was when i get from the mid end area to his tail it is weird like he almost had no control he was having a reaction how to explain like he quivered and his rear legs wanted to stretch . It was involuntary ,his body was just reacting not him but it was so sensitive in that slid into a stretch his back legs its heartbreaking for me! insane ! I can't believe how much of what you described is you have seen with Pax is the same problems that I see to the tee. I can't afford to get the hormone replacement because I am disabled as I mentioned before and the insurance won't cover anything that they think is from the first injury. I was so adamant on not neutering him until he was at least 2. She made me feel I was gambling with the health of him because the one testicle that had not dropped! So many issues with one dog shouldn't they help put the hormones they took back? If I was a vet, I would feel obligated to do it ! It was so hard to even convince my vet that i was sure something happened to his gate. I knew my dog because im overly observant of him. They have to know it's not like they don't see it often ! The corporate buying up the vet offices is a problem for the veterinarians to do their job anymore. Now they are calling every issue like it a preexisting condition and I am left with no way to get the chance to afford the hormone treatment he needs to be a normal German Shepherd again and i feel guilty about it! Fearful when he was not like that but as time passed things were happening to him and he was not suffering from any of this but every year he has a new set of behavior and he was and still is a well trained German Shepherd who is crying out for help and how do i help him! They help humans but not dogs. I had no hope of being happy and healthy from lyme and he saved me and brought me out of a dark depression, he gave me purpose , taught me how to come out of the gloomy existence and made me want to live again! I want to do the same for him!

[@kristenw1457]

I wish I had heard this information sooner. I just adopted a 4-5 yr old dog from the shelter that was not spayed, but they wouldn’t let me take her home until she was spayed. I feel bad now that she is basically going through menopause now that they spayed her. Is there any kind of HRT for female dogs?

[@payntpot7623]

i was told my first ridgeback had an ectopic urethra. I could not afford the operation to fix her, so managed it for the 14 plus years of her life. She had been speyed at 9 or 10 months of age. My next had bladder leakage issues also. By then I had learned how speying could cause incontinence. As a kid, where I live, the vets did not like to spey a bitch before the first heat. Often they suggested 1 year, never below 6 months. Then all the vets wanted to do the dogs younger and younger. I could never understand why? Never made sense to me on a fundamental growth basis. I now try to wait till about 1 year of age. Not sure why in one breath you mentioned the vets as having worked to convince the world to neuter, then say that a change will be owner driven as most changes are.... Am I wrong in thinking that to be a complete contradiction? Buying from a shelter or pound, there is no choice. I think there are issues with cats. They are not discussed.

[@AUDITCHRONICLES]

Please bring these techniques to Costa Rica!!!

[@kimmoore7897]

I also live in Costa Rica and cannot find any vets trained to do an ovary sparing spay here 😢

[@kimberley-A1]

Thank you for sharing this information! Loved the video! We have a two year old Aussie that we are having a debate on whether to neuter. Being a menopausal female who’s doctor will not prescribe hormones, I’m a little more sympathetic on the loss of hormones and lean towards keeping our dog intact. Now I have a little more ammunition for our debate.

[@mariannecordaro7105]

Ten or fifteen years ago I heard they had a pill that you could give dog instead of surgery My vet at that time did not like that idea. Just wondered if that is still being considered instead of surgery. I have not heard any more about it. I’ve had 21 dogs in my lifetime I’m in my 80s. Never had any trouble with a spade females or neutered males having any kind of problem. But maybe I was just very lucky.

[@maralfniqle5092]

I asked my vet to leave my dog's ovaries in. He refused. She was damaged , never been the same , developed hypothyroidism and other issues with skin and metabolism, depression, skin issues, itching etc. It's disgraceful they dont listen and shut us down like we don't know anything. This is my only dog i had spayed at 4yrs after one litter. Never again. We have enough documentation on humans with the same problems. Im in Australia.

[@klevy941]

I really appreciate this information!!! I have been tracking and watching Dr. Karen Becker for at least 8 years and have learned so much as I took care of my 2 rescues, both female small dogs, who recently passed away a month apart 10 months ago at 14 and 15 years of age. The first one I rescued at 9 weeks, and she was spayed at 5 months. My second female was 5 and spayed before she came to me. I now have a 10-month-old female Chi who just went in heat. She seems to be going through a lot, and I am looking for advice I didn't get her for any br purpose , and want the safest way and time ( best age for her health.)

[@pinschrunner]

FYI, doctors, when I was searching for a vet to do a vasectomy, one of the reasons I was told that the industry does not like to do them is that you cannot tell a vasectomies male from an intact male either visually or upon examination. So, if wandering and found, animal control or a rescue might neuter him anyway even though he was already sterile.

[@peterdobias]

The current WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) guidelines for the control of reproduction in dogs and cats note a simple tattoo is recommended as a standard identification method for dogs that have undergone vasectomy. The guidelines recommend a green "V" tattoo placed lateral and cranial to the scrotal region.

[@Cynthia-s4h]

In Australia the RSPCA recommend desexed dogs at 8wks.... the breeder insisted me spay my puppy at 8wks😢. I refused and had to pay extra for my puppy to not have her spayed. She is Maltese dog

[@gjesy69]

I lost my last female Pug way too early, to Cushings, only at 8, I have resisted spaying my Boxer female, she is 3, I worry so much about taking her hormones away. Boxers seem very high Cancer , I’m also resistant to over vaxing and the neurotoxins.

[@Josephine-sm2db]

My cousin told her vet that she wont be spaying her 2 yr old dog because she didnt want the dog to suffer incontinance in her later years and her vet told her that unspayed female dogs could get cancer. Is that true about cancer?

[@AnneMB955]

Not a vet but that sounds so illogical to me. If she’s looked after, fed the right food, there’s every chance she’d stay healthy, imo.

[@medwayhospitalprotest]

There are lots of different kinds of cancer, I would think that uterine cancer is more common in intact females since the estrogen stimulates the uterine lining, causing (sometimes) over-stimulation and feeding cancers. Human females late into menopause have a higher risk of uterine cancer because of the increased years of exposure to estrogen. However, it has a protective effect against various other conditions, including cancer.

[@Josephine-sm2db]

@@medwayhospitalprotest yup, I think that's what it was, uterine cancer.

[@JoButterwick]

It’s swings and roundabouts... There’s also an increased risk of breast cancer in intact bitches. The opposite is true for bone cancer... spayed dogs are more likely to get bone cancer. IMHO, the worst risk for an intact female is pyometra. If it is caught early it can be cured so it’s important to know the signs and look out for them. I have two thirteen year old dogs (sisters from the same litter). At age 11 one of them got pyometra and was cured by spaying at that point. The other is still intact. Neither have ever been pregnant. One of their brothers was castrated at 11 months. He got bone cancer and was euthanised at five years old. I wish I hadn’t let that happen.

[@dianewien683]

Has there been appropriate research to back up this information? How many studies have been published an in what journals?

[@pinschrunner]

When I trained at a major rescue, we initially would give adopters a FREE SPAYING AND NEUTERING certificate to bring back their puppy to be spayed and neutered at one year old. Compliance was under 20% and overpopulation and irresponsibility in the community continued. The board voted mandatory pediatric spaying and neutering prior to adoption to stop the irresponsibility of dog owners and overpopulation. Stupid owners result in these policies.

[@nccrchurchunusual]

I had a vet out west partially spay my little dog at about 14 months old when I was traveling for business. I could find No Vet in my area to do it- or even discuss it. I was hoping to wait another year or so. My western vet was not keen to do it, but she was open minded and knew of the procedure. So she did it when no one else would. I never neutered my other little dog, but he died at 6 from esophagus cancer. 😢

[@DontStepInTheGrease]

Ii asked my vet to leave one ovary. He would not, and my dachshund became overweight and developed incontinence.

[@taraengland2225]

Rodney, can you please provide names of vetrinarian you know of that are performing these alternative sterilization techniques 🙏💗

[@nathanielswan909]

I feel the same, but more from a "gut" level. I have a 9.5 ye old vizsla. Can I contribute to your study?

[@kainazgul4308]

I've been very disinclined to spay/castrate my pets because I vividly remember my grandmother's health issues that were a result of having a hysterectomy many years before I was born. My critters' vet does not appreciate my having intact house cats at all.

[@almostafarm01]

As a retired Lic Vet tech,in the US…I had alternate views from veterinary practices…I always said : YES neuter but wait till the animal grows up at least one heat for females (In my defense it was the realization that MOST people do not train/socialization, especially in the US)…andI have to confess I thought it would help with behavior issues. I also try to say to anyone who will listen and has a pup; if you would do puppy classes for the first 1year of a pups life you will not regret it for the next 13+ years of your dog’s life. One of my other rants is that AKC has done very little to help dogs (akc seems to be just a beauty pageant).

[@SDriver1111]

From a health perspective, it is just common sense to me that spaying/neuturing a dog is just not healthy for them. I never understood how our society was brainwashed to believe otherwise.

[@philippal8666]

A vasectomy is so much simpler. As is cutting the tubes of a cat. My cat can free roam, so I have to have her unable to have babies. Also in a one bedroom flat. I want her vaccinated, but for me, in order to qualify for low cost treatment I have to spay. I know that my cat can become obese spayed, their weight sits slightly higher. Diabetes, hip problems, there are ways to acknowledge that the cat who has been spayed, needs more exercise, needs pretty much no sugar. I work with humans, I have pets. I love rethinking things. But I know from public health that change happens slowly and there needs to be kindness, an understanding that I will spay my cat, (I’m currently a student in a city) but I need the information for how to help my spayed cat. Not neutering and not vasectomising are too different things.

[@lisabrady9083]

I adopted a wonderful at 3, he was intact & I,made the decision to have Rupert neutered in which he put on 12 lbs. I feed mostly raw, try to limit treats, usually protein. When I have another Newfoundland, I'm really on the fence whether to spay/neuter or not. Thanks for this video ❤