A Prospective Cohort Study Investigating the Impact of Neutering Bitches Prepubertally or Post-Pubertally on Physical Development

SIMPLE SUMMARY: No previous studies have been identified that have investigated the impact of neutering before or after known puberty on growth and physical development in a large number of bitches. This study was designed to examine data on the physical development, vulval size, and conformation of 306 bitches neutered before (n = 155) or after (n = 151) puberty. Data were gathered for bitches at six- and 17-months of age using bespoke physical assessment forms and digital photographs of the vulva. Bitches neutered before puberty had significantly greater changes in height and smaller changes in measurements of vulval length and width between six- and 17-months of age than those neutered after puberty. Although not significant, bitches neutered before puberty were taller and heavier with smaller vulval size measurements at 17-months of age. At 17-months of age, significantly more bitches neutered before puberty had vulvas that appeared juvenile and recessed at the physical assessment, and significantly more bitches neutered before puberty had vulvas that appeared ‘recessed/inverted’ on the examination of digital images. The results from this study could suggest that neutering before puberty may be a suitable option for large breed bitches. However, any longer-term health consequences of the differences in physical development seen need to be investigated and better understood before recommendations can be made. ABSTRACT: No previous large prospective cohort studies have been identified that have investigated the impact of the surgical neutering of bitches before or after known puberty on their growth and physical development. This study was designed to examine the data on physical development, vulval size, and conformation for bitches neutered by ovariohysterectomy before puberty (PPN, n = 155) or after puberty (control, n = 151) using a prospective cohort study design. Data were gathered at six- and 17-months of age using bespoke physical assessment forms and digital images of the vulva. PPN bitches had greater changes in height measurements (mean difference = 2.039, SEM = 0.334, 91% CI = 1.471 to 2.608, p < 0.001) and smaller changes in the measurements of vulval length (mean difference = −0.377, SEM = 0.079, 91% CI = −0.511 to −0.243, p < 0.001) and width (mean difference = −0.221, SEM = 0.063, 91% CI = −0.328 to −0.113, p < 0.001) between six- and 17-months of age than for the control bitches. Although not significant, the PPN bitches were taller (mean 58.5 vs. 56.6 cm) and heavier (mean 28.3 vs. 27.3 kg) with smaller vulval size measurements (mean vulval length 2.8 vs. 3.2 cm, mean vulval width 1.7 vs. 2.1 cm) at 17-months of age. At 17-months of age, significantly more PPN bitches had vulvas that appeared juvenile (Yates’ Chi-square = 14.834, D.F. = 1, p < 0.001) and recessed (Yates’ Chi-square = 7.792, D.F. = 1, p = 0.005) at the physical assessment, and significantly more PPN bitches had vulvas that appeared ‘recessed/inverted’ on the examination of digital images (Chi-square = 9.902, D.F. = 1, p = 0.002). The results from this study suggest no contraindications to prepubertal ovariohysterectomy for large breed bitches. However, any longer-term health implications of these differences in physical development need to be investigated and better understood prior to recommendations being made.