Mary Allen
Neutered dogs live on average one and a half years longer than those who are not. It shows a US study of over 40,000 animals.
Dr. Kate Creevy at the University of Georgia is one of the people behind the recently published research results. But the study shows not only the difference in life expectancy but also that neutered and unneutered dogs die of different causes.
– If you intend to sterilize your dog, it may be good to know that it can increase the risk of cancer and autoimmune diseases. And if you do not do that, the dog is at greater risk of dying from infection, says Kate Creevy in a press release.
Certain sex hormones, especially progesterone and testosterone, can have an inhibitory effect on the immune system, which is a possible explanation for why dogs that have not been neutered more easily get infectious diseases. Why neutered dogs get cancer more easily, for example, remains for researchers to find out.
