My opinions about spay and neuter
This page is intended to provide a compilation of past opionon pages I have written. I will add to it when I have the opportunity, or feel something important has come to light.
Please remember these are just my OPINIONS, and are not intended as anything but my personal observations. I offer them here with the intention of giving help and topics of conversation for my customers and friends.
Friday May 16th, 2008
In the constant poking around I do to better the lives of my own pets, as well as my customers', I revisited the spay and neuter issue this week.
We all know that spaying and neutering is such an important part of keeping dogs and cats out of shelters, and away from the euthanasia needle. In the same breath, we also are seeing the incredible increase in juvenile spay and neuter at as early as 4 to 8 weeks of age.
This has always concerned me a great deal due to the inability of the pet’s body to complete its growth cycle physically without the appropriate hormones provided by the reproductive organs. I don’t care who you are, you cannot deny that if we did the same to our own human children the noticeable effects would be unacceptable.
Think of a dog who lives for 10 years. A dog who is spayed or neutered at 8 weeks (two months of age), would be the equivalent (for this approximation) to a child that is approximately 15 months old.
Now, I’m not saying we are the same as our dogs and cats. What I am saying is that there is no way anyone can convince me, as a free-thinking, relatively intelligent person, that spaying and neutering at 8 weeks old is not harmful to the development of the puppy or kitten subjected to it.
It is interesting to note that all the major shelters and organizations that see the influx of unwanted pets on a daily basis, as well as the veterinarians who perform the operations, are the first to hop on the proverbial band-wagon for early spay and neuter. Almost universally their websites and literature quote identical information regarding lower pet populations, no additional risks due to age, and no ill effects physically as the animals mature. They quote information regarding cancers and tumors that are seen in un-spayed and un-neutered pets. They also tend to note that animals are less likely to mark, roam or be aggressive when they are spayed or neutered.
While some of this, namely the behavior aspects, are true in SOME dogs and cats, they are not usually problems until the animals become mature by the age of one or two years. It is true, some dogs may have more “dominant” personalities, but early training is a safe solution prior to physical maturity. In some instances, dogs have been noted as more aggressive, fearful, or sexually acting out if they are spayed or neutered prior to maturity.
The physical information that is often quoted, such as the likelihood of cancer and tumors, or no physical risks at all, are simply not true for the majority of animals who are spayed or neutered after they reach maturity. Personally, I believe it is irresponsible to only focus on the aspect of animal care that is perpetuated by irresponsible pet owners, rather than looking at the whole animal that we ARE responsible for keeping alive and well. We cannot base animal health care on the lowest common denominators. I believe that is why it is in such a poor state today.
Organizations and individuals who support early juvenile spay and neuter are not quoting the percentages of say- testicular cancer in un-neutered dogs. They don’t tell you that the rate is only about 7%, and that’s in dogs that are never neutered. They also don’t tell you that it is easy to manage and/or prevent after maturity.
They don’t tell you that the risk of prostate cancer is quadrupled (that’s 4x’s greater) in a neutered male dog, than an un-neutered one. That sounds bad doesn’t it? Well, what I can tell you is that “studies have shown” that the risk of prostate cancer in intact male dogs is < 1%. That doesn’t sound so bad now, right? So if we quadruple that it’s only < 4%. Sounds pretty passable, eh? It’s less than the 7% risk of testicular cancer.
But that’s only a small portion of the picture!
Why don’t they tell you about the increase in bone cancer, heart tumors, hypothyroidism, urinary tract cancers, orthopedic disorders and adverse vaccine reactions in male dogs that are neutered prior to maturity?
What about the bone cancer, spleen tumors, heart tumors, hypothyroidism, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, vaginal dermatitis, orthopedic disorders and adverse vaccine reactions in females spayed prior to maturity?
Why not let you know the whole picture? Because they think you won’t ever spay or neuter your dog or cat.
Think about it.
If you knew that you could even POSSIBLY avoid bone or heart cancer, cruciate ligament surgery, hip dysplasia, constant urinary tract infections, immune system (allergy) reactions, incontinence, and geriatric problems in your dog’s lifetime, wouldn’t you be willing to manage your dog, for the year or two (depending on its breed) until it was mature enough to safely neuter or spay?
Wouldn’t you also be ready to go ahead and spay or neuter after that year or two of maintenance?
What is the cost of spay and neuter? A good one maybe $300- $400? Maybe less for males.
What is the cost of treating the above illnesses? $10,000? $20,000? $30,000?
Hmmmmm? Wait a year or two, deal with maintaining training and good manners, maybe two heat cycles from a female, and save about $29,700? Sounds like a good deal to me.
I know I tend to be one to get on my soapbox a bit, but I believe that juvenile spay and neuter is a high ranking factor in the exploding incidences of lingering illnesses, frequent injuries, and early deaths in our dogs and cats. We need to be responsible, and encourage others to do the same. Spay and Neuter your dogs and cats! Just give them a chance to mature and stabilize their bodies first. That’s all.
If you’d like to read a few good articles on collected information regarding early spay and neuter findings, take a look at these for a start.
Take some time to look up more information on your own. Your new puppy or kitten will appreciate it.
|
