| If you've recently adopted a new puppy or kitten, | | | | fight, thus preventing injuries, spread of disease, |
| you may have been presented with the option | | | | and costly veterinary expenses. It has been |
| for "pediatric spay/neuter surgery" and you may | | | | estimated that 80% of dogs killed by cars and |
| not have been familiar with the process, or even | | | | 80% of Feline AIDS cases are unneutered males. |
| comfortable with the concept. We've all become | | | | * Better-behaved pets -- neutered pets rarely |
| accustomed to the standard 6-9 month standard | | | | spray mark, roam and fight. 85% of bites involve |
| for spaying or neutering, and the idea of operating | | | | unneutered dogs. |
| on a small animal, as young as 4-6 weeks of age, | | | | * Healthier pets -- neutered males don't have the |
| sounds rather experimental, possibly ineffective, | | | | testicular cancer or prostate problems common in |
| and even dangerous. | | | | intact dogs. Females spayed before their first |
| Here are some facts about early-age spay/neuter | | | | heat cycle have 96% less breast cancer. Their |
| procedures: In the 1940's and 50's, veterinarians | | | | risk of uterine infection is dramatically decreased, |
| had much more primitive anesthetics, equipment, | | | | not to mention the many complications associated |
| and tools. Anesthetics weren't always safe, | | | | with pregnancy, whelping or raising a litter. |
| especially for young animals and the sophisticated | | | | * It's safe -- the mortality rate is lower than that |
| surgical instruments that veterinarians use today | | | | of the standard 6-9 month sterilization procedure. |
| to find a tiny uterus didn't even exist yet. Since a | | | | * It's less traumatic for the pet -- young animals |
| uterus is larger and easier to find after an estrus, | | | | heal faster and are lower surgical risks than older |
| or after having a litter, the advice veterinarians of | | | | animals who may be obese, in heat, pregnant, or |
| the past frequently gave was to wait until after | | | | ill. Young animals generally wake up faster after |
| the first estrus or after the animal had had one | | | | anesthesia. |
| litter. Waiting made the procedure easier for | | | | Many humane shelters across the country now |
| them. | | | | endorse spaying and neutering at the time of |
| For many years, animal shelters and humane | | | | adoption. If yours didn't, then please ask your vet |
| organizations have had policies requiring new pet | | | | to perform a pediatric or early-age spay/neuter |
| owners to have the animal neutered 'as soon as | | | | (also sometimes called juvenile spay/neuter) on |
| possible', but realistically, there has never been a | | | | your new pet. They should be able to address |
| way to enforce this requirement, and too many | | | | any questions or concerns you may have. For |
| animals have left the shelter unsterilized, only to | | | | more information, you may also visit |
| end up contributing to our already overwhelming | | | | Each day 10,000 humans are born in the United |
| pet overpopulation problem, despite the shelter's | | | | States, while each day 70,000 puppies and kittens |
| good intentions. | | | | are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there |
| From the standpoint of effectively controlling pet | | | | will never be enough homes for all the animals. |
| populations, the best time for sterilizing dogs and | | | | Early spay/neuter is one of the easiest, most |
| cats - the optimum time - is prior to puberty, | | | | obvious solutions to the problem. |
| eliminating any possibility of the animal producing | | | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| offspring. It's important to remember that the | | | | 1. "A case for neutering pups and kittens at two |
| single largest cause of death in companion animals | | | | months of age" by Leo L. Lieberman DVM, a |
| is homelessness due to overpopulation. | | | | special commentary in the Journal of the |
| The arguments for early-age spay/neuter: | | | | American Veterinary Medical Association, Volume |
| * Overpopulation and the resulting neglect, | | | | 191. |
| suffering, euthanasia -- early-age spay/neuter | | | | 2. "Early spay and neutering helps solve |
| completely eliminates the possibility of unwanted | | | | overpopulation problem" by Greg A. Lewis DVM, in |
| litters. | | | | Veterinary Forum. |
| * It avoids heat cycles completely: unwelcome | | | | 3. "Should dogs in animal shelters be neutered |
| 'visitors' fighting on the lawn, females howling and | | | | early?" a peer-reviewed article by Walter E. |
| yowling! | | | | Crenshaw DVM and Craig N. Carter MS, DVM, |
| * Neutered males are less likely to roam and | | | | PhD, Dipl. ACVPM in Veterinary Medicine. |