One of the first things pet owners think about when welcoming a new cat, dog, kitten, or puppy into their home is spaying and neutering. In the article below, Dr. Teri Sue and Gabbie share some important factors to consider when planning your pet’s procedure.
--
In our country, pet overpopulation leaves millions of animals in shelters without homes, with many tragically euthanized simply due to a lack of space. As pet owners, we have a responsibility to prevent unwanted litters. Unfortunately, in the medical community, surgical spays and neuters have never been questioned as the best approach to desexing pets. What is best for the individual animal in the long run has never been questioned, which is why it is crucial to have the proper knowledge when it comes making this decision for your pet.
A standard spay procedure is the removal of the uterus and ovaries from a female, also called an ovariohysterectomy. A neuter removes both testicles from a male, also called castration. These organs produce essential hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – found in both sexes– that are not only crucial for reproduction but also play a vital role in regulating numerous biological functions, especially the maturation to adulthood. The sex organs that secrete these hormones are part of the endocrine system, which also consists of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal glands, thyroid and parathyroid glands, thymus, pancreas, and adrenal glands. The hormones secreted by the endocrine system work with each other and with the body to support growth and development, regulate metabolism for energy production, stimulate joint fusion during growth, maintain healthy skin and fur, and influence body shape, size, and behavior (Kerns, 2021).
When the sex organs are removed completely, the other endocrine tissues and organs must compensate to maintain healthy hormone balance. This especially impacts young animals that are still growing and developing. Early spay and neuter practices disrupt the normal growth and development of young animals, which can lead to adrenal issues, bone growth and development issues, ligament and hip issues, urinary issues, immune system imbalances, and even a shortened lifespan (Dr. Becker, 2020). Pets who have undergone spay and neuter at an early age are also more prone to obesity, hypothyroidism, incontinence, certain cancers, skin issues, and behavioral problems (Kerns, 2021).
On the other hand, leaving our pets intact can increase the risk of certain health issues. Both female cats and dogs are more likely to develop a pyometra (uterine infection) and/or mammary tumors. Male cats and dogs left intact are more prone to prostate enlargement and testicular cancer. Dr. Teri Sue believes this risk is highly dependent on the level of inflammation in the body over time, which is significantly increased on processed food diets. A species appropriate anti-inflammatory whole food diet can significantly reduce the risk of such infections and cancers.
Having intact pets can also be more difficult to responsibly take care of and manage. The female dog’s heat cycle is not always obvious, which can make it hard to keep them away from male dogs while they are in heat. A male dog can smell a female in heat from several miles away, and will often stop at nothing to find them - including digging out of the backyard, and running across traffic. An astounding 80% of dogs hit by cars are intact males. Intact male dogs are often more aggressive as well, increasing the risk of injuries from dog fights.
The same goes for cats - intact male cats have a much higher desire to roam and seek a mate, which can not only increase their risk of being hit by a car, but also increases the risk of fight injuries, FIV, and Feline Leukemia Virus as they defend their territory from other outdoor cats. Because of this desire to roam, keeping intact male cats indoors causes issues as well - they will often spray in the house to mark their territory, and have increased levels of aggression.
There are alternative procedures available that achieve the desired result of sterilization, while leaving the sex hormone producing tissues intact. A vasectomy for male dogs prevents reproduction without removing the testicles, and an ovary sparing spay (OSS) removes the uterus and therefore the ability for a female dog to reproduce, while leaving the hormone producing ovaries intact.
What is right for your pet may not be what is right for someone else’s pet - what age is considered old enough or which procedure is best is highly dependent on each individual. Recommendations for age vary for different species, sexes, sizes, and breeds. Which procedure is best can depend on your lifestyle and the individual pet’s behavior and overall health. In general, Dr. Teri Sue recommends waiting to sterilize female dogs until they have had at least 1-2 heat cycles, or reach 2 years of age. This allows them to reach full maturity, with all the hormones their body produces during that critical time. Large breed dogs don’t typically reach maturity until 3 yrs old; waiting longer for them is best. For male dogs, Dr. Teri Sue recommends waiting until they are at least 1 year old, and no earlier than 6 months, as long as they behave like a gentleman. Waiting longer, if possible (until 3 to 4 yo), is best as long as they can be controlled easily, behave well, and don’t mark or hump inappropriately. If they begin showing behaviors such as inappropriate humping/marking or aggression, this must be taken into consideration. For cats, Dr. Teri Sue recommends spaying and neutering at 6 months of age. Feeding a species appropriate, balanced diet is always ideal.
Want more information? Check out -
https://foreverdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dexsexing-pdf.pdf
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/when-is-a-good-time-to-spay-or-neuter/
We wish you a happy and healthy February! Thank you for being a part of our beloved community.
With gratitude,
Balance Vet Care Team
--
In our country, pet overpopulation leaves millions of animals in shelters without homes, with many tragically euthanized simply due to a lack of space. As pet owners, we have a responsibility to prevent unwanted litters. Unfortunately, in the medical community, surgical spays and neuters have never been questioned as the best approach to desexing pets. What is best for the individual animal in the long run has never been questioned, which is why it is crucial to have the proper knowledge when it comes making this decision for your pet.
A standard spay procedure is the removal of the uterus and ovaries from a female, also called an ovariohysterectomy. A neuter removes both testicles from a male, also called castration. These organs produce essential hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – found in both sexes– that are not only crucial for reproduction but also play a vital role in regulating numerous biological functions, especially the maturation to adulthood. The sex organs that secrete these hormones are part of the endocrine system, which also consists of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal glands, thyroid and parathyroid glands, thymus, pancreas, and adrenal glands. The hormones secreted by the endocrine system work with each other and with the body to support growth and development, regulate metabolism for energy production, stimulate joint fusion during growth, maintain healthy skin and fur, and influence body shape, size, and behavior (Kerns, 2021).
When the sex organs are removed completely, the other endocrine tissues and organs must compensate to maintain healthy hormone balance. This especially impacts young animals that are still growing and developing. Early spay and neuter practices disrupt the normal growth and development of young animals, which can lead to adrenal issues, bone growth and development issues, ligament and hip issues, urinary issues, immune system imbalances, and even a shortened lifespan (Dr. Becker, 2020). Pets who have undergone spay and neuter at an early age are also more prone to obesity, hypothyroidism, incontinence, certain cancers, skin issues, and behavioral problems (Kerns, 2021).
On the other hand, leaving our pets intact can increase the risk of certain health issues. Both female cats and dogs are more likely to develop a pyometra (uterine infection) and/or mammary tumors. Male cats and dogs left intact are more prone to prostate enlargement and testicular cancer. Dr. Teri Sue believes this risk is highly dependent on the level of inflammation in the body over time, which is significantly increased on processed food diets. A species appropriate anti-inflammatory whole food diet can significantly reduce the risk of such infections and cancers.
Having intact pets can also be more difficult to responsibly take care of and manage. The female dog’s heat cycle is not always obvious, which can make it hard to keep them away from male dogs while they are in heat. A male dog can smell a female in heat from several miles away, and will often stop at nothing to find them - including digging out of the backyard, and running across traffic. An astounding 80% of dogs hit by cars are intact males. Intact male dogs are often more aggressive as well, increasing the risk of injuries from dog fights.
The same goes for cats - intact male cats have a much higher desire to roam and seek a mate, which can not only increase their risk of being hit by a car, but also increases the risk of fight injuries, FIV, and Feline Leukemia Virus as they defend their territory from other outdoor cats. Because of this desire to roam, keeping intact male cats indoors causes issues as well - they will often spray in the house to mark their territory, and have increased levels of aggression.
There are alternative procedures available that achieve the desired result of sterilization, while leaving the sex hormone producing tissues intact. A vasectomy for male dogs prevents reproduction without removing the testicles, and an ovary sparing spay (OSS) removes the uterus and therefore the ability for a female dog to reproduce, while leaving the hormone producing ovaries intact.
What is right for your pet may not be what is right for someone else’s pet - what age is considered old enough or which procedure is best is highly dependent on each individual. Recommendations for age vary for different species, sexes, sizes, and breeds. Which procedure is best can depend on your lifestyle and the individual pet’s behavior and overall health. In general, Dr. Teri Sue recommends waiting to sterilize female dogs until they have had at least 1-2 heat cycles, or reach 2 years of age. This allows them to reach full maturity, with all the hormones their body produces during that critical time. Large breed dogs don’t typically reach maturity until 3 yrs old; waiting longer for them is best. For male dogs, Dr. Teri Sue recommends waiting until they are at least 1 year old, and no earlier than 6 months, as long as they behave like a gentleman. Waiting longer, if possible (until 3 to 4 yo), is best as long as they can be controlled easily, behave well, and don’t mark or hump inappropriately. If they begin showing behaviors such as inappropriate humping/marking or aggression, this must be taken into consideration. For cats, Dr. Teri Sue recommends spaying and neutering at 6 months of age. Feeding a species appropriate, balanced diet is always ideal.
Want more information? Check out -
https://foreverdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dexsexing-pdf.pdf
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/when-is-a-good-time-to-spay-or-neuter/
We wish you a happy and healthy February! Thank you for being a part of our beloved community.
With gratitude,
Balance Vet Care Team