A Prospective Study Investigating the Health Outcomes of Bitches Neutered Prepubertally or Post-Pubertally.

ABSTRACT: There are scant studies of associations between the pubertal status at neutering and subsequent health outcomes of female dogs. This study examined health data for Labrador and Golden Retriever crossbreed bitches neutered by ovariohysterectomy either before (PrePN, n = 155) or after (PostPN, n = 151) puberty using a prospective study design. Data were extracted from an electronic database containing detailed health records for all bitches. Cruciate ligament disease occurred in significantly more PrePN (n = 11) than PostPN bitches (n = 1; Yates Chi-square = 6.784, D.F. = 1, p = 0.009), and PrePN bitches had lower probabilities of remaining free from osteoarthritis (χ² = 5.777, D.F. = 1, p = 0.016). Additionally, PrePN bitches were diagnos

SUBMITTER: Moxon R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758339 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature