I rec'd this and thought it might be of general interest.
Subject: Veterinary article: stifle conformation and
age of neutering
A study published in the Decemer 1, 2007 Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association (JAVMA) investigates whether early neutering of large
breed dogs could be a risk factor for a steep tibial plateau angle (TPA).
The TPA is an anatomical feature of the stifle. A steep TPA is a suspected,
but not established risk factor in cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture
in dogs.
The researchers looked at a population of large dogs with ruptured CCL's.
What they found was that the dogs who had the steepest TPA's were
significantly more likely to have been neutered before six months of age
than their control dogs, those with more typical TPA's. Furthermore, dogs
with the steeper TPA's became lame at a younger age than the control dogs.
This study does not say that neutering, or neutering young, increases the
risk of CCL rupture in large dogs. It does document a change in the
development of the tibia that may be correlated with CCL rupture.
It is important that we do not overstate the results of this study.
Nonetheless, the results are significant, and should be part of the
discussion of whether neutering should be mandated by law. It is a medical
decision that seems to have consequences for the dog beyond the reproductive
tract.
Here is a link to the abstract:
http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.231.11.1688
<http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.231.11.1688 >
> Abstract > Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
<http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma> > December 1, 2007, Vol. 231, No.
11, Pages 1688-1691 > doi: 10.2460/javma.231.11.1688
> Risk factors for excessive tibial plateau angle in large-breed dogs
with cranial cruciate ligament disease
>Felix M. Duerr, Dr med vet; Colleen G. Duncan, DVM, MSc; Roman S.
Savicky, DVM; Richard D. Park, DVM, DACVR; Erick L. Egger, DVM, DACVS; Ross
H. Palmer, DVM, MS, DACVS Ask your veterinarian for a copy of the full
article!
Subject: Veterinary article: stifle conformation and
age of neutering
A study published in the Decemer 1, 2007 Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association (JAVMA) investigates whether early neutering of large
breed dogs could be a risk factor for a steep tibial plateau angle (TPA).
The TPA is an anatomical feature of the stifle. A steep TPA is a suspected,
but not established risk factor in cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture
in dogs.
The researchers looked at a population of large dogs with ruptured CCL's.
What they found was that the dogs who had the steepest TPA's were
significantly more likely to have been neutered before six months of age
than their control dogs, those with more typical TPA's. Furthermore, dogs
with the steeper TPA's became lame at a younger age than the control dogs.
This study does not say that neutering, or neutering young, increases the
risk of CCL rupture in large dogs. It does document a change in the
development of the tibia that may be correlated with CCL rupture.
It is important that we do not overstate the results of this study.
Nonetheless, the results are significant, and should be part of the
discussion of whether neutering should be mandated by law. It is a medical
decision that seems to have consequences for the dog beyond the reproductive
tract.
Here is a link to the abstract:
http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.231.11.1688
<http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.231.11.1688 >
> Abstract > Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
<http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma> > December 1, 2007, Vol. 231, No.
11, Pages 1688-1691 > doi: 10.2460/javma.231.11.1688
> Risk factors for excessive tibial plateau angle in large-breed dogs
with cranial cruciate ligament disease
>Felix M. Duerr, Dr med vet; Colleen G. Duncan, DVM, MSc; Roman S.
Savicky, DVM; Richard D. Park, DVM, DACVR; Erick L. Egger, DVM, DACVS; Ross
H. Palmer, DVM, MS, DACVS Ask your veterinarian for a copy of the full
article!
