Dog Days of Summer... and Doggie Diapers!

My little puppy Piper is in need of some doggie diapers!  She's about 9 months old, so she's coming of age.  *Tear*

This may seem like a silly post, but I actually wanted to share some valuable information about a cancer study and why we're trying to hold off getting my Piper spayed.  We were talking to Linda Draper, one of Purina's recommended Rottweiler breeders, and she suggested not getting Piper spayed to prevent cancer.

Bob Barker say whhaaa??  I know we've been taught forever to spay or neuter, but new studies with Rottweilers suggest otherwise. 

Apparently, researchers found that if a rottie gets spayed or neutered before 1 year of age, their chances of cancer increases greatly.  Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone cancer and is common in big breeds like Rottweilers, Wolfhounds, Goldens, and more.

If a male rottie is neutered before a year of age, his rate of osteosarcoma ALMOST QUADRUPLES.

If a female rottie is spayed before a year of age, her rate of osteosarcoma MORE THAN TRIPLES. *

[*Read the Dog Cancer Blog]

There's more evidence that shows that the longer a Rottweiler keeps her ovaries, the longer she lives.  

Even though the study was done on rotties, it could be valuable information for other purebreeds or big breeds.  Linda suggested that if we get Piper spayed, we at least try to keep her ovaries.  She spayed two of her rottweilers and both died of cancer.  Our previous rottie, Jasmine, was also spayed and also died from bone cancer.  I feel awful because we thought nothing of getting Minnie spayed when she was a puppy.  If we could only turn back time.

So far, the diaper isn't causing any major hiccups in our daily grind.  We're not quite sure what we'll eventually do, but I think the most important thing is that we keep learning about the health care of our canines.  As funny as it sounds, we feel a big responsibility for them being on the earth, so we want to do our best while we've got them!  

If you have any advice, please share it.  I would love to hear it!  (I don't think we need to buy special doggy diapers since her only has a nub.  What do you think?)