02/15/2026
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🐾 Early Spay & Neuter: Part 2
Hormone-Preserving Options Explained (OSS & Vasectomy)
Thank you for the thoughtful discussion on our last post. Many of our followers requested information about alternative options that prevent pregnancy while preserving hormones. Today we are continuing the conversation with the current science behind ovary-sparing spays (OSS) and male vasectomy.
As always, this is education, not instruction. Every dog is an individual, and decisions should be made with a veterinarian who understands your dog’s breed, size, and health history.
📌 Quick Recap: Why Timing & Hormones Matter
Research over the past decade has shown that early removal of gonadal hormones (before skeletal maturity, especially in large and giant breeds) is associated with increased risk for:
▪️Certain orthopedic conditions (CCL rupture, hip dysplasia)
▪️Urinary incontinence in females
▪️Changes in metabolism and body composition
▪️Possible effects on behavior and fear responses
Hormones play key roles in:
✔️ Growth plate closure
✔️ Muscle and ligament development
✔️ Joint biomechanics
✔️ Metabolic and endocrine regulation
This is why spay/neuter timing is increasingly viewed as breed- and dog-specific, rather than one-size-fits-all.
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🐕 Ovary-Sparing Spay (OSS) – Females
What it is?
🔹️Uterus is removed
🔹️One or both ovaries are left intact
🔹️Cannot become pregnant
🔹️Hormonal cycling continues
Potential Benefits:
1️⃣ Preserves natural estrogen and progesterone
2️⃣ May support:
▫️Normal skeletal and joint development
▫️Muscle mass and metabolism
▫️Urinary sphincter tone
3️⃣ Eliminates risk of:
▫️Pregnancy
▫️Traditional uterine pyometra (when uterus is fully removed)
Important Considerations & Risks ➡️
✔️ Heat cycles continue (behavioral and management consideration)
✔️ Mammary tumor risk is not reduced, since ovarian hormones remain
✔️ Stump pyometra is possible only if uterine tissue remains (a surgical complication, not inherent to OSS)
✔️ Limited long-term data compared to traditional spay
✔️ Requires a skilled, experienced surgeon; not widely offered
🗝 Key point:
OSS does NOT cause pyometra or cancer. It preserves hormones, which means it does not provide the same hormone-related cancer risk reduction as traditional spay, but it also avoids some hormone-loss consequences.
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🐶 Vasectomy – Males
What is it?
🔸️Vas deferens are severed or sealed
🔸️Testicles remain intact
🔸️Dog is sterile but hormonally intact
Potential Benefits:
1️⃣ Preserves testosterone
2️⃣ Maintains:
▫️Normal muscle mass and metabolism
▫️Bone density and joint support
▫️Typical male endocrine function
3️⃣ Prevents unwanted litters
4️⃣ Avoids some risks associated with early neuter in large breeds
Important Considerations & Risks ➡️
🔹️Does not reduce:
✔️ Roaming
✔️ Marking
✔️ Mounting behaviors (behavior training still matters)
🔹️Does not eliminate:
✔️ Testicular disease risk
✔️ Prostate conditions
🔹️Limited availability; requires a veterinarian trained in the procedure
🔹️Dogs are still hormonally intact and should be managed accordingly
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⚖️ How These Options Fit Into the Bigger Picture
Traditional spay/neuter:
✔️ Removes reproductive organs
✔️ Eliminates certain diseases
✔️ Removes hormonal influence
OSS & vasectomy:
✔️ Prevent reproduction
✔️ Preserve hormones
✔️ Shift risk profile rather than eliminate risk
None of these options are “perfect.” Each involves trade-offs, and none guarantee prevention of cancer, orthopedic disease, or behavioral challenges.
🧠 Evidence-Based Takeaway
✅️ Hormones matter — but they are not the sole driver of disease
✅️ Genetics, body condition, nutrition, and lifestyle all influence outcomes
✅️ OSS and vasectomy are valid medical options, not fringe concepts
✅️ More long-term research is still needed
✅️ The best decision is an informed, individualized one
Our goal is not to tell pet parents what to choose, but to ensure you understand why choices differ and how to weigh risks and benefits for your dog.
— The Holistic Canine 🐾 theholisticcanine.us
