Neutering Practices, Reproductive Management, and Clinical Findings in European Endurance Sled Dogs: A Field Study from the Lekkarod® Event

Decisions regarding neutering in athletic sled dogs involve a complex balance between health, behaviour, performance, breeding objectives, and management considerations. However, evidence regarding neutering practices and their relationship with health outcomes in actively competing sled dogs remains limited. To identify factors associated with neutering status and musher-reported motivations for neutering or maintaining dogs intact, and to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of clinical findings according to reproductive status in sled dogs participating in the 2023 Lekkarod® event. A total of 599 sled dogs registered for the 2023 Lekkarod® event, including participants in the main endurance race and the associated Kraft tournament, were included. Information regarding age, sex, breed, neutering status, and owner-reported motivations was collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with neutering status. Clinical findings recorded during veterinary examinations conducted throughout the main Lekkarod race were classified and analysed according to reproductive status. Overall, 28.0% (168/599) of dogs were neutered. Neutering was significantly associated with female sex, older age, and breed category, whereas team position was not associated with reproductive status. The most frequently reported reasons for neutering were reproductive management, behavioural management, and disease prevention, whereas breeding purposes, preservation of genetic lines, performance-related considerations, and ethical concerns were the principal motivations for maintaining dogs intact. A total of 82 clinical findings were recorded, corresponding to 13.7% of the study population. Reproductive status was not associated with the overall occurrence of clinical abnormalities. However, the distribution of clinical finding categories differed significantly according to reproductive status (χ2 = 7.564, p = 0.023). Intact dogs presented proportionally more metabolic/systemic abnormalities, whereas neutered dogs presented proportionally more musculoskeletal findings. The observed distribution of musculoskeletal findings was not explained by age alone. In this population of actively competing European sled dogs, neutering was relatively uncommon and reflected a combination of reproductive management, health, breeding, and performance-related considerations. Although reproductive status was not associated with the overall occurrence of clinical abnormalities during competition, it was associated with differing patterns of clinical findings. Intact dogs presented proportionally more metabolic abnormalities, whereas neutered dogs presented proportionally more musculoskeletal findings. These findings support an individualised approach to reproductive management in canine athletes and warrant further prospective investigation of the relationships among reproductive status, metabolic adaptation, musculoskeletal health, and athletic performance.