Gonadectomy, or neutering, is a very common surgery for dogs having many positive effects on behavior, health, and longevity. There are also certain risks associated with neutering including the development of orthopedic conditions, cognitive decline, and a predisposition to some neoplasias. This study was designed specifically to identify if a correlation exists between neuter status and inherited conditions in a large aggregate cohort of dogs representing many different breeds.

The term pedigree is an old word derived from the French "pie de grue", meaning crane's foot. After more than six centuries, the tradition of using the pedigree continues to be the primary breeding tool of breeders based on the logic that when the frequency of a trait or disease occurs among several the ancestors it signals that something is likely to be heritable.

OFA serves as a central source of information for breeders and owners based on the standards for evaluation. See two useful tables for risk.

This articles focuses on the risk factors and things owners can do should their dogs bloat. The Bloat Survey and Report was the joint effort of Dr. Carmen Battaglia PhD of the AKC and Dr. Cindy Otto DVM, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary.

What everyone owner should know about the risks and long term health effects of spay and neuter