Spay and Neuter Issues

The Spay/Neuter issue is more complex than most agencies would have us believe.
The information generally available to the public, and even that presented in many veterinary colleges, is neither balanced nor complete.

The purpose of early spay/neuter practices for dogs and cats is to reduce overpopulation of the species. The practice is therefore not primarily intended to benefit any particular animal, but rather the species relationship to human society. Certainly it is not good for our society to have unwanted dogs and cats. Also it’s not generally good for dogs and cats to be unwanted, uncared for, or improperly cared for.

In 1993 the American Veterinary Medical Association passed a resolution supporting early spay/neuter of dogs and cats in order to “stem the overpopulation problem in these species.” A good presentation of their position can be found in an article by Theresa A. Fuess, PhD, VM-3 from the Spring 1998 Illinois Veterinary Bulletin The main thrust of this article is that early spay/neuter increases compliance with having it done at all (thereby reducing the number of unwanted animals, convenience for the owner, faster recovery for the animal, and a faster, easier procedure for the veterinarian.

Other supporting arguments for having a pet spayed/neutered are secondary but do present some benefit for the individual animal. You will notice that in the above article this is not stressed. There is, in fact, no mention of health benefits to early spay/neuter other than the ease of the operation on all concerned. There had, as of the 1993 resolution, been very little study of thee long-term effects of early spay/neuter. Whether the benefits outweigh the adverse effects will depend on a number of factors including breed, gender and individual considerations.

There are a number of Studies that show adverse effects of early spay/neuter of dogs and also open questions about the wisdom of the procedure for cats or other mammals. Common sense also tells me that removing a large part of the endocrine system might possibly have some downsides. It does seem that most of the downsides of both having neutering or spaying done and of not having it done can be avoided by proceeding with vasectomy or tubal ligation at an early age and then proceeding with spay/neuter after one and a half to two and a half years. That is, once the endocrine system has matured and bone growth plates have fully closed but before other problems typically arise. There is good indication that most of the problems in both categories below can be avoided in this way. The lowest total lifetime health risk for dogs are for males neutered after 3.5 years of age and un-neutered males, for females the picture is more complex but waiting till full maturity seems generally better for the individual as long as pregnancy is prevented.
Here are links to supporting evidence for this view:
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/11/11/1434
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

 

Spay/Neuter may reduce the risk of:

  • testicular cancer, uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors.
  • non-cancerous prostate disorders in males
  • mammary tumors in females
  • perianal fistulas
  • pyometra (a hormonal abnormality often accompanied by a secondary uterine bacterial infection. Pyometra occurs in as high as 23% of intact female dogs, generally within two to four months after a heat cycle.)
  • aggressive behavior, humping, and wandering in males*

Spay/Neuter may increase the risk of:

  • bone tumors (osteosarcoma)
  • hemangiosarcoma (a tumorus cancer of vascular origin)
  • hyporthyroidism
  • geriatric cognative impairment
  • obesity
  • prostate cancer in males
  • urinary tract cancers
  • adverse reactions to vaccinations
  • urinary “spay incontinence”
  • persistent or recurring urinary tract infections
  • recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis
  • urinary tract tumors
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • sub-optimal bone density (which goes along with individuals growing taller with narrower chest and head)

*Most aggressive behavior is best dealt with through training and socialization. The effects of spay/neuter on aggression is questionable at best and often breed specific. Actual study belies the conventional wisdom in many areas. See the summary of Dr. John Verstegen's session on Non-reproductive Effects of Spaying and Neutering

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