Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neutering age and disc problems in female Dachshunds
By Doeven, L et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2024·Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Investigation of neutering status and age of neutering in female Dachshunds with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of female Dachshunds with back problems caused by intervertebral disc extrusion (a condition where the discs in the spine bulge or rupture) was studied to see if being neutered early or late affected their symptoms. The research included 154 dogs, and it found no significant differences in the age they developed these issues or the severity of their condition based on their neutering status. This means that whether a Dachshund was neutered early, late, or not at all did not seem to impact their risk of developing serious back problems.
People also search for: Dachshund back problems · intervertebral disc extrusion treatment · neutering effects on dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate neutering status and age of neutering in female Dachshunds with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion. We hypothesised that neutered Dachshunds presented with intervertebral disc extrusion at an earlier age, with a higher grade of neurological deficits and with more extensive extrusion of disc material compared with intact females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective multi-centre study of client-owned female Dachshunds with surgically confirmed thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion. Dogs were classified as early, late or not neutered (intact). Age, body condition score, duration of clinical signs before presentation, modified Frankel score at presentation, length of extruded disc material, maximum spinal cord compression and whether dogs presented for a subsequent intervertebral disc extrusion were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-four dogs were included: 36 early neutered, 69 late neutered and 49 intact. No significant difference was found between early neutered, late neutered and entire female Dachshunds in any of the variables studied. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this cohort of female dogs, neuter status and age of neutering were not found to affect age at onset nor severity of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38622029/