Systematic Review: Does Pre-Pubertal Spaying Reduce the Risk of Canine Mammary Tumours?

Abstract

Background: Ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy (spaying) are two surgical procedures commonly performed on dogs. However, the optimum age at which to perform these procedures in dogs remains a contentious issue. Following work published in the 1960s, pre-pubertal spaying became popular largely on the basis that it reduced the risk of mammary cancer development. However, a systematic review published more than 10 years ago questioned this. The objective of this study was to examine the strength and direction of updated literature on the relationship between spaying age of dogs and mammary tumour development and to investigate whether the evidence has changed. Method: A systematic review was c..