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Low et al: The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Veterinary Surgery 2, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

Increased risk with gonadectomy:

  • Pooled OR for CrCLD:
    • Females: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)
    • Males: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.67–2.69)

Early gonadectomy (≤1 year) further increased risk:

  • OR vs >1 year:
    • Females: 3.39
    • Males: 3.13

Late gonadectomy (>1 year) had no significant difference vs intact dogs.

Breed-specific findings:

  • Female Labradors: No increased CrCLD risk from gonadectomy (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.54–2.64)
  • Male Labradors: Increased risk persisted (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.53–2.98)

Study type: Systematic review + meta-analysis of 24 observational studies (n = 1.85 million dogs)

The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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← Articles

Low et al: The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Veterinary Surgery 2, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

Increased risk with gonadectomy:

  • Pooled OR for CrCLD:
    • Females: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)
    • Males: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.67–2.69)

Early gonadectomy (≤1 year) further increased risk:

  • OR vs >1 year:
    • Females: 3.39
    • Males: 3.13

Late gonadectomy (>1 year) had no significant difference vs intact dogs.

Breed-specific findings:

  • Female Labradors: No increased CrCLD risk from gonadectomy (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.54–2.64)
  • Male Labradors: Increased risk persisted (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.53–2.98)

Study type: Systematic review + meta-analysis of 24 observational studies (n = 1.85 million dogs)

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Low 2025 et al., on gonadectomy and CrCLD, what was the quality of evidence rated using the GRADE framework?

A. High
B. Moderate
C. Low
D. Very low
E. Unrated

Answer: Moderate

Explanation: The authors rated the overall certainty in the evidence as "moderate" due to risks of bias and inconsistency, despite large sample size and robust statistics.
In Low 2025 et al., on gonadectomy and CrCLD, what was the overall pooled odds ratio (OR) for cranial cruciate ligament disease in gonadectomized female dogs compared to intact females?

A. 1.43 (95% CI: 1.22–1.67)
B. 1.89 (95% CI: 1.50–2.30)
C. 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)
D. 2.63 (95% CI: 2.02–3.41)
E. 3.11 (95% CI: 2.45–3.95)

Answer: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)

Explanation: The meta-analysis reported a pooled OR of 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95) indicating a significantly increased risk of CrCLD in gonadectomized females.
In Low 2025 et al., on gonadectomy and CrCLD, which subgroup comparison showed no significant increase in CrCLD risk?

A. Dogs gonadectomized at ≤1 year vs entire dogs
B. Dogs gonadectomized >1 year vs entire dogs
C. Gonadectomized males vs intact males
D. Gonadectomized females vs intact females
E. Male Labradors vs female Labradors

Answer: Dogs gonadectomized >1 year vs entire dogs

Explanation: Subgroup analysis showed no significant increase in CrCLD odds in dogs neutered after 1 year of age compared to intact dogs.
In Low 2025 et al., on gonadectomy and CrCLD, which timing of gonadectomy was associated with the highest relative risk for cruciate disease?

A. Gonadectomy after 2 years of age
B. Gonadectomy between 6–11 months
C. Gonadectomy at or before 1 year of age
D. Gonadectomy at >9 years of age
E. No significant difference in timing

Answer: Gonadectomy at or before 1 year of age

Explanation: The subgroup analysis showed that dogs neutered at ≤1 year had significantly increased odds (OR: ~3.4) of developing CrCLD compared to those neutered later.
In Low 2025 et al., on gonadectomy and CrCLD, what was the pooled odds ratio for male Labrador retrievers that were gonadectomized versus intact?

A. 1.12 (95% CI: 0.65–1.91)
B. 1.79 (95% CI: 1.20–2.62)
C. 2.13 (95% CI: 1.53–2.98)
D. 2.47 (95% CI: 1.77–3.54)
E. 3.01 (95% CI: 2.05–4.44)

Answer: 2.13 (95% CI: 1.53–2.98)

Explanation: Male Labrador retrievers had a significantly increased risk of CrCLD following gonadectomy, with a pooled OR of 2.13.

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