[eevee]

Originally Posted by leorah

The ultimate decision depends upon the situation. For most animals though, the benefits of early spay/neuter outweigh the risks, at least in my opinion.

true, but what are the health benefits of an early neuter? true, it's possible that an animal may go into heat younger than 6 months, but is this (possibly remote) possibility enough of a reason?

[leorah]

Originally Posted by eevee

true, but what are the health benefits of an early neuter? true, it's possible that an animal may go into heat younger than 6 months, but is this (possibly remote) possibility enough of a reason?

There are no real health benefits over and above the standard ones for neutered pets. The real benefit is 100% of animals can be neutered prior to adoption, eliminating the need for spay/neuter deposits and follow up, and the inevitable litters that result from non-compliance.

Early and mandatory spay/neuter does work. Massachusetts and other northeastern states have seen puppy and kitten surrenders decrease significantly as a result of high spay/neuter compliance. Some rescue groups import dogs from Southern states to meet the demand for adoptable dogs.

For animals destined to be household pets, early spay neuter is beneficial. For dogs destined for competition or for working dogs, it's better to wait.

[serate]

.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

I find this trend of early spay and neutering really upsetting. I think people are doing it without understanding the full implications. And they are doing it because a certain group of vets are telling them it is okay. And some group is investing in a public relations campaigning to spread the word. Can you even consider the consequences of removing the gonads of a human at age two? What about a horse? An elephant? Animals need their sex hormones to develop properly. Since when did this ever fall into question?

Here's one thoughtful article that at least considers the consequences:

Stan Rawlinson explains the dangers of Spaying and Neutering young Dogs

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Here's another article by Chris Zink, DVM, PhD, DACVP on early spay and neuter.
Canine Sports Productions: Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete

And another one here by Alice Villalobos, DVM (she references Chris Zink)
Is Early Neutering Hurting Pets?

Some of the risks they address include:

Females

• Urinary incontinence
• Increased barking and aggression toward people and dogs
• The likelihood of getting hemangiosarcoma (a non-treatable cancer that is the most common cancer in Golden Retrievers) is increased by 5 times.
• Triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• If done before one year increases the risk of osteosarcoma
• Increases the risk of orthopedic disorders, possibly including hip dysplasia
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Increases the risks of adverse reactions to vaccines
• Increases the risk of obesity by 1.6 - 2 times

Males

• Quadruples the small risk of prostate cancer
• Increased barking and aggression toward people and dogs
• The likelihood of getting hemangiosarcoma is increased by at least 1.4 times.
• Triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• If done before one year increases the risk of osteosarcoma
• Increases the risk of CCL injuries
• Significantly increases the risk of orthopedic disorders, including hip dysplasia
• Triples the risk of obesity
• Increases the risks of adverse reactions to vaccines
• Increases the risk of geriatric positive impairment

[leorah]

To be clear: early spay/neuter is usually defined as being done at or before 6 months of age.

There are two constituencies on opposite sides of this debate. I think most would agree that if there were no pet overpopulation problem and if all pet owners were responsible owners, there would be little push to spay and neuter at an early age. But that is not the case.

One only has to read TeddieXRuxpin's descriptions and see the photos she's taken as she accompanies her friend--the woman who feeds, grooms, medicates and provides shelter for dogs whose owners don't provide for them--to know that in many places dogs are disposable. Early spaying and neutering dogs in situations such as those is a blessing because it would help prevent another generation of abused, neglected and abandoned dogs.

Making the case that spaying and neutering at an early age is beneficial to the animal's health is less than honest based on some current veterinary studies. However, in my mind there is no argument that preventing irresponsible reproduction benefits all animals and society at large. Just think of the millions and millions of dollars spent on finding and providing medical and shelter care for the thousands of animals found wandering the streets each year. Think of how much it costs to euthanize the ones that can't find homes. Without pet overpopulation that money and energy could be directed elsewhere.

This is undoubtedly an emotional issue, and I don't think there is one "right way." The decision is and should be situational, with the shelter and rescue community allowed to make the decision to spay/neuter before placement, and owners of intact animals allowed to decide, with their veterinarian, when and if spaying/neutering should be done.

Of course, the problem with this "ideal" scenario is that too many owners of intact animals are not responsible.

And so we go in circles..... back to the beginning again.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by leorah

To be clear: early spay/neuter is usually defined as being done at or before 6 months of age.

leorah,

I thought the OP was specifically discussing spay/neuters at two months and under. (Makes me cringe to even think of spaying a pup that young.) That's what I was addressing at least. A dog is much further along developmentally at six months compared to two.

W.

[Lola4]

None of our furkids (except the rescued ones) were spayed or neutered before 6 months. We have had a few go into heat before 6 months, but you do what you have to do to make sure no one gets knocked up.

[leorah]

Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!

leorah,

I thought the OP was specifically discussing spay/neuters at two months and under. (Makes me cringe to even think of spaying a pup that young.) That's what I was addressing at least. A dog is much further along developmentally at six months compared to two.

W.

Yes, the OP specifically addressed pediatric or juvenile spay/neuter procedures, which are being done as early as 6 weeks. Subsequent posts referred to early spay/neuter. I thought it was important to clarify that any procedure done prior to sexual maturity or up to about 6 months is classified by many as early spay/neuter. (Prepubertal is the technical term.)

Chris Zink's article specifically details her opinions of the health problems associated with early S/N, which is defined by her to be age 6 months or younger, and in the article by Dr. Villalobos, she used 5 1/2 months as the breakpoint. Therefore, I believe the health concerns listed in those articles are applicable to any dog sterilized before puberty and not just to dogs neutered/spayed at 6 to 8 weeks.

An article written by Dr. Jeff Young published by spayusa.org (http://www.spayusa.org/media/pdfs/pr..._neutering.pdf) cites some interesting and relevant statistics:

• 20 to 25% of all animals adopted each year come from shelters and rescues.

• 30 to 60% of adopters don't comply with their spay/neuter contracts.

• 20% of household pets have at least one litter before being spayed/neutered.

• Only 70% of dogs and 85% of cats living as household pets are neutered.

• It is generally agreed that the optimum age for puppies and kittens to be placed into adoptive homes is 8 to 12 weeks.

• Sterilization can now be done safely and humanely at 6 to 8 weeks, prior to the optimum age for adoption.

• The number one cause of death for dogs and cats in the U.S. is euthanasia.

The article goes on to state:

Humane organizations have spent too much time, effort and money on physically sheltering animals and not enough on education, counseling and spay/neuter programs.

Too many shelters still place unsterilized animals into adoptive homes, thereby helping to perpetuate the very problem they are working to solve.

The commonsense, ethical solution is to demand that 100% of animals placed for adoption are sterilized and put more effort and money into education and spay/neuter compliance.

Quote from the article cited above: "It is totally unethical for us to call ourselves a humane movement when we use euthanasia as the cornerstone for controlling companion animal overpopulation...many concerns have been raised, and many concerns have been addressed while the euthanasia has never stopped."


**stepping down from the soapbox now**

[Amazonchix]

Very well put Leorah!