Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I do believe spaying and neutering is advisable for most pets - and my female is spayed - but really do think people should consider waiting for full development before they do.........
Waiting for full development could mean that with a female you would have to deal with her first season.
I wonder if they could just leave the ovaries in there and only remove the uterus.
For a male it should be no problem waiting till he is a year or so.
And it does have some issue on plastics, and estrogen levels.
A warning about the website this article is located on. I'll let everyone form their own opinions on how much merit to give it. You be the judge on its validity.
That does call into question the credibitly of their site -I posted because I ran across it and a lot of folks seem to respect info on their site - the warning was for marketing claims, not inormational aticles
I do think it does raise other questions about the impact on the timing of spay neuter.
It does seem to be established that early spay of ferrets is related to cushings.
There are articles on loss of longevity for women who loose their ovaries before 50
UGA - early spay - ferrets
Adrenal Disease in Domestic Ferrets: An Overview (http://www.vet.uga.edu/VPP/CLERK/johnson/index.php - broken link)
That does call into question the credibitly of their site -I posted because I ran across it and a lot of folks seem to respect info on their site - the warning was for marketing claims, not inormational aticles
I do think it does raise other questions about the impact on the timing of spay neuter.
It does seem to be established that early spay of ferrets is related to cushings. There are articles on loss of longevity for women who loose their ovaries before 50
UGA - early spay - ferrets
Adrenal Disease in Domestic Ferrets: An Overview (http://www.vet.uga.edu/VPP/CLERK/johnson/index.php - broken link)
I'm not sure how the article on ferrets relates to dogs. Very very different animals. As for women, you are speaking to someone that lost her ovaries at 27. I'm well over 50 now and still alive & kicking
I've seen the articles you refer to (regarding women) and researched those and others (for all of the obvious reasons). The only credible study I have found shows a small increase in heart disease and breast cancer for those that already have a genetic pre-disposition for those diseases. Since I'd be dead today if I hadn't had the surgery back then, I'd say that one in the INCREASED longevity column!
On a broader view, an article is just one person's opinion on a topic. A study is also not conclusive proof of anything. I've seen a lot of studies waved around in the media as being fact until you look at the sampling data and realize that it either represents a very small percentage for the sampling base or that the sampling base is skewed toward the outcome desired. (BSL comes to mind). I'm all for sharing information, articles and studies but also hope that the information is taken in as a topic to discuss and not as an irrefutable fact.
If you look at the tone of my post it was stated in the tone of "more info" and something people "should consider" and ask about. Many people state as fact that there are no negative impacts to early spay and neuter and early spay neuter is "PC" so that is the line most people are told. Just like they are told to vaccinate their dogs every year.
I think presenting alternative views is acceptable. I don't see anybody saying anything is "fact"
After your post, I researcned and found plenty of artcles relating to ferrets. There are many similarities across mammalian species and found it interesting. I acknowledged your refute even though the issue with Mercola and the FDA had nothing to do with the articles being viewed and everything to do with advertising claims so it was not relevant other than to impugn her credibility.
Oh, yes, I lost my ovaries at 42......so I do have concerns about that.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.