Dog Community

early spaying and neutering

dvet

Posted : 12/27/2006 10:06:28 PM

here is a portion of a long article from one of the vet journals on early spaying and neuutering...I have eliminated a lot of technical stuff due to the length but this is the veterinary information on early neutering...take it for what it is worth but I found it true in practice..

In: [linkRecent>http://www.ivis.org/advances/Concannon/toc.asp]Recent Advances in Small Animal Reproduction[/link], Concannon .W., England G., Verstegen III J. and Linde-Forsberg C. (Eds.)
International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca NY (www.ivis.org), 2000; A1201.0400
Prepuberal Gonadectomy - Early-Age Neutering of Dogs and Cats (Last Updated: 25-Apr-2000)
L. M. Howe1 and P. N. Olson16[/size][/color]17
1819[size=2]College of Veterinaty Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
1Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., San Rafael California, USA.
Summary
Early-age neutering of puppies and kittens (as early as 6-7 weeks of age) is increasing in popularity in the United States. This increase likely results from accumulating information on the safety of the procedure and lack of long-term adverse side effects. As veterinarians become comfortable and familiar with the procedure, they are likely to encourage more clients to consider early-age neutering. Puppies and kittens neutered at early ages have shorter recovery times than those neutered at more traditional ages; mortality and morbidity rates have also been reported as lower. Early-age neutering is also one tool used to combat pet overpopulation, a problem whereby millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the U.S. because they are unwanted. Thus, the prepuberal gonadectomy may be good for individual animals and for controlling birth rates in populations of dogs and cats.
Introduction
Prepuberal gonadectomy is not a new procedure. Veterinarians in the U.S. have often recommended that female dogs and cats be neutered prior to the first estrus (i.e., prepuberal) to reduce the risk of mammary neoplasia and eliminate the possibility of unwanted pregnancy. What is new, however, is the age of the prepuberal animal that many veterinarians are now neutering. Traditionally, female dogs and cats not intended for breeding were neutered at approximately 6 months of age and male dogs and cats were neutered at approximately 6 to 9 months of age. However, in an attempt to reduce the number of unwanted pets in the U.S., veterinarians began to question whether it was also safe to neuter puppies and kittens at an even younger age [34[color=#cc0000]35[size=2]].
Although animal shelters often request neuter contracts be signed at the time of adopting a pet, many new owners fail to comply with the contract. This compliance failure occurs even when financial reimbursement is available for the neuter surgery. In a survey published by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) and conducted by the Dorr Research Corporation of Boston, 73% and 87% of 500 households with dogs and cats, respectively, stated that their pets were neutered, but nearly 20% of the neutered animals had produced at least one litter of offspring prior to being sterilized [38[/size]39]. Prepuberal gonadectomy performed prior to adoption, on puppies and kittens, could offer a tool for animal shelters that desire to adopt only neutered animals to control pet overpopulation.
Concerns by Veterinary Profession - Risks vs. Benefits
Although the anesthetic and surgical procedures for prepuberal gonadectomy have been reported as safe, veterinarians have also been concerned about long-term health risks. Veterinarians questioned whether the immune system of puppies and kittens would be adversely affected by the stress of anesthesia and surgery at early ages, and at a time when animals are being immunized against potentially fatal infectious diseases. Veterinarians also were concerned about the risk of urinary-tract obstruction in male cats and the risk of urinary incontinence in female dogs neutered at early ages. Based on clinical experience, some practitioners were also concerned that neutered animals might have a propensity for obesity or have abnormal growth patterns Until the 1990's, few studies had been published that critically evaluated these concerns among dogs and cats neutered at different ages prior to, and following, puberty.
Propensity to Disease
In studies conducted at animal shelters, puppies and kittens neutered at early ages had no higher risk to infectious diseases than older animals. One study involved dogs and cats from 2 animal shelters undergoing neuter surgeries in association with the fourth-year student surgical teaching program of an university teaching hospital [5051[size=2]]. Twelve of 1988 (0.6%) animals died or were euthanized because of severe infections of the respiratory tract or as the result of parvovirus infection during the 7-day postoperative period. All of the deaths were in animals from the shelter with the shortest animal holding period. Animals neutered at > 24 weeks of age had a significantly higher (P<0.004) minor complication rate than animals neutered at <12 weeks of age, but did not differ from animals neutered at 12 to 23 weeks of age. Minor complications during or after gonadectomy included complications such as incisional swelling or suture reactions, scrotal swelling, cardiac rate and rhythm abnormalities, and mild gastrointestinal upsets. Differences in major complications were not detected among the groups. Overall, younger patients did relatively better than older animals, even when immunity to infectious diseases may not have been possible due to their young ages, or when veterinary students were performing delicate pediatric surgeries.
Growth
Many veterinarians once held the belief that puppies and kittens neutered at early ages might be stunted in growth. Several research studies have now refuted these once-held beliefs. In a 15-month study conducted at the University of Florida, the effects of prepubertal gonadectomy on skeletal growth, weight gain, food intake, body fat, and secondary sex characteristics were investigated in 32 mixed-breed dogs [5859]. Growth rates were unaffected (P>0.05) by gonadectomy, but the growth period in final radial/ulnar length was extended in all neutered male dogs (neutered at 7 weeks or 7 months) and in bitches neutered at 7 weeks of age. Thus, animals were not stunted in growth but were actually slightly (as determined by radiographs) taller. In a similar study at the same university [6263], thirty-one cats were neutered at 7 weeks or 7 months or left intact. No differences (P>0.05) were detected between neutered cats, regardless of when they were neutered, for mature radius length or time of distal radial physeal closure. Distal radial physeal closure was delayed (P<0.05) in neutered cats when compared to intact cats. Similar findings in cats were reported by work from the University of Minnesota [66[/size]67]. In males and females, distal radial physeal closure was delayed (P<0.01) in both groups of neutered cats (neutered at 7 weeks or 7 months of age) compared to intact animals. In female cats, proximal radial physeal closure was also significantly delayed (P=0.02) in cats neutered at 7 weeks of age.
Obesity
Although obesity can occur in both neutered and intact animals, and is influenced by a number of factors such as diet and activity level, there are data to suggest that neutered cats may gain significantly more than those remaining intact. The information on whether dogs are more likely to experience weight gain following neutering is conflicted in the literature.
When comparing neutered cats to sexually intact cats, intact cats were found to weigh less (P<0.05) that cats neutered at 7 months, but there was no difference between intact cats and those neutered at 7 weeks [74[/color]75]. Root [78[/size]79, 82[/font]83] assessed obesity by body mass index at 24 months of age in 34 cats. Body condition scopes and body mass index values were higher (P<0.01) in animals gonadectomized at 7 weeks or 7 months than in intact animals, indicating that animals gonadectomized at either age were more likely to be obese than intact cats. Heat coefficient, a measure of resting metabolic rate, was higher in intact cats than in gonadectomized cats. Based on these data, the author suggested that neutered male cats require an intake of 28% fewer calories than intact cats and neutered female cats require an intake of 33% fewer calories than intact female cats [86[/font]87].
Information on over 8,000 dogs was gathered from 11 veterinary practices in the United Kingdom during a six month survey [9091[font=arial][size=2]]. In this retrospective study, spayed female dogs were about twice as likely to be obese as intact female dogs. Salmeri et al., [94[color=#cc0000]95], however, found no differences in food intake, weight gains, or back-fat depth among neutered and intact animals during a 15-month prospective study.

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ottoluv

Posted : 12/27/2006 10:13:54 PM

That's interesting, the obesity issue seems to be the hot one around here. The prosepective study has a higher level of evidence and shows no difference. I'm still not sure when I'm going to take otto in, he's about 5 months now but I'll probably wait until 6-7 months so my vet doesn't have to do microsurgery

Thanks for the info!

rwbeagles

Posted : 12/27/2006 10:22:40 PM

Interesting. Think I've read this before on some site or another...

Shelters do early s/n out of necessity and god help us all if that DIDN'T get done because "bring the puppy back in 4 months and we'll do it free" works about as well as lead filled life vests.

I am pretty sure the epic amount of obesity in pets today has more to do with the concurrent rise in obese owners...than with their reproductive organs or lack thereof. That's MO of course.

And for every study...anecdotal evidence abounds to the contrary.

We have in our family a 10 year old mix that's in great shape, not overweight even tho she gets minimal exercise and that's been steady thruout her life. She is a large dog also at about 70lbs...Rottie x Akita x Husky. She was spayed at 7 weeks by the rescue we obtained her from. Still has a steel canister for a bladder as well...so go figure..lol.

dvet

Posted : 12/27/2006 11:00:31 PM

Ottoluv..regardless of this article or any other thing that you have heard..you go with what you and your vet is (are) most comfortable with..I have done spays as early as three weeks old and of course as old as ten or twelve years (ie pyometras) but just ignore the statistics and the stories you hear...you go with what you and your vet are most comfortable with..

dvet

Posted : 12/30/2006 4:30:30 PM

non specific but a couple sundays ago I helped a vet out in a stray feline spay and neuter clinic...one thing you never forget how to do is neuter a tom cat...remember that if any ever asks you what sticks in the mind of retired veterinarians.....interesting ?????? No???? Sheesh, i thought it was

DPU

Posted : 1/1/2007 1:33:07 AM

ORIGINAL: dvet

Ottoluv..regardless of this article or any other thing that you have heard..you go with what you and your vet is (are) most comfortable with..I have done spays as early as three weeks old and of course as old as ten or twelve years (ie pyometras) but just ignore the statistics and the stories you hear...you go with what you and your vet are most comfortable with..

Dvet,
I have 2 Great Danes, sisters that are 8 yo. One was spayed early while the other stayed natural. Yes, Blizzard is taller but she is also bigger. Blizzard adult weight ranged 180-185 while Drizzle has the weight range 117-135. Drizzle is much more active than Blizzard and in Drizzle#%92s younger years it was hard get weight on her. In their senior years both are healthy but it seems Blizzard is aging faster than Drizzle. Both have 2 checkup visit a year with their vet. Anyway, I just wanted to give some confirmation to the article and your stated experience.

I know with a natural female, as they age, there is risk of pyometras. And you mentioned this condition in your post. I know what signs to look for, reduced activity, loss of appetite, drinking more water, discharge. Is there some daily check that I can do for early detection?

mrv

Posted : 1/1/2007 8:36:30 AM

The only folks who I believe have to be more careful about early spays or neuters are those planning on a serious competive program in a sport like agility. Apparently there is also some concern about dew claw removal as well, but I have yet to find any specific information on that topic....dvet? do you have any information on that topic.

I would think serious gun dog, herding and SAR folks might want to wait until full maturity prior to spaying and neutering. I have absolutely no problem with the average pet owner having an early procedure.

DPU

Posted : 1/1/2007 10:43:00 AM

Mrv, I find your post casual especially in the face of a daddy#%92s worry for a girl#%92s health that maybe declining as a result of early spay. I also have another long term worry because Petro, a 2yo male GD had a early spay. How did you come to this “no problem with” conclusion? The article did not convince me and my take is early neuter/spay results in a physical change in the dog. I then assume the result of the physical change can have any number of health effects in later years.

Misskiwi67

Posted : 1/1/2007 11:33:27 AM

You have great danes.. they are 8 years old... how can you expect us to believe that their health is related ONLY to the spay or lack thereof. You have your story, we have ours...

mrv

Posted : 1/1/2007 11:58:32 AM

I do not have a problem with the typical dog owners or cat owners opting for early spay and neuter. These folks often are the grocery store dog food, annual boosters, minimal exercise and training. There are multiple other issues impacting health but the result in no reproductive status is worth it in my opinion.

I have had spayed and neutered dogs previous to my participation in conformation. I have always allowed my dogs to reach physical maturity (with the exception of the undescended testicle neutered at 6 months) and my bitches to never go into season. With life spans ranging from 10 years to 17 years 9 months and grocery store food and annual boosters, I would say the early spay and neuter question is more a personal decision than any thing else.

Based on a recent reproduction seminar I attended, the degredation of the uterus following each season is more of a health risk. In fact the recommendation was to spay a bitch if she was not to be bred based on that fact.

DPU

Posted : 1/1/2007 12:05:17 PM

ORIGINAL: Misskiwi67

You have great danes.. they are 8 years old... how can you expect us to believe that their health is related ONLY to the spay or lack thereof. You have your story, we have ours...

It is not "You have your story, we have ours”! It is real life experience versus no experience and arm chair judgements. Walk in my shoes and see if you don't worry. What bothered me about the article was that the conclusion were based on mixed breeds and not the large breeds. What bothered me about mrv response other than its casualness conclusion, is that Drizzle is not spayed and she is an agility dog. If Drizzle was an early spay then my thoughts are I would have lost her before her time. These are legitimate questions to ask of the advocates.

mrv

Posted : 1/1/2007 12:11:04 PM

I have no problem with folks delaying a spay.... I do think folks who will be in competive dog spot should delay the spay (or neuter) to full physical development because the growth plates do not close as early when the sex based hormones are removed and that could lead to greater risk of injury.... Not does lead, but could lead.

As to the spay for non breeding bitches, each time the bitch goes through a season her uterus (the tissue) is degraded by the action of the progesteron (inflamation of the tissue). This may lead to increase in pyometritis. I do not wish to risk pyo at all. So, when my bitch as been bred (as per my purchase contract) she will be spayed. Now she will have reached full growth by that time and there is a specific time limit in which the breeder has the option.

I still stand by my position that is personal choice. I do think folks should have as much information as possible to make their decision.

DPU

Posted : 1/1/2007 12:38:04 PM

Mrv, I think your statement that it#%92s a personal choice is a cop out. As a behaviorist your personal choice influences non dog professionals. What owner does not want to keep their dog healthy and prolong the dog#%92s life. How do you expect people like me to make a good educated choice when there is such a debate in your professional community? When it comes to the dog#%92s health and the ultimate impact an early spay, then the conclusion should be black and white. You have taken a definitive side so what did you reject to come to your conclusion?

I do hope my question on a daily check for pyometritis does not get overlooked.

mrv

Posted : 1/1/2007 12:47:52 PM

At the present time, the only specific and firm data of which I am aware involves the growth plate issues. I do not feel it is inappropriate for people to make personal choices about their animals medical care. I offer my opinion for their consideration if they ask it.

I continue to support spaying and neutering of most dogs following full physical growth. I continue to support the use of titres over vaccines.

I do not however see any adequate docuementation that indicates problems with early spay and neuter for many typical pet owners. I have deal with urinary incontinence in spayed bitches, but I do not believe that my choices to have those bitches spayed prior to their first heat impacted their health negatively. After living through my first heat cycle, I am not sure that JQP is equipped to deal with that level of monitoring and vigilance. So, early spay and neuter for population control makes sense to me.

I do not have a problem with agencies dealing with animal abandonment and other animal control issues doing early spay and neuterers on puppies and kittens.

I do not find that many of the average folks in my dog obedience classes have the desire or intent to provide the kind of monitoring I feel would be necessary to check for pyo.

I am sorry you feel my response is inadequate and that I am copping out. I dont see it that way.

calliecritturs

Posted : 1/1/2007 1:08:38 PM

DPU *your* experience may be experience with those particular dogs, but of the 12 dogs I've had in recent years there have been two who were intact for a long period of time.

The male developed a perianal hernia at 10 and I very nearly lost him to that. Post surgery he remained healthy and I lost him at 2 months shy of the age of 19. A sheltie/corgi mix and neither breed is particularly long-lived for its size. The neuter decision had not been mine - my ex husband adamantly refused to allow him to be neutered. Got rid of ex, dog got the hernia literally a few months later and I had him neutered despite the 'risk' of his age.

We took an older female (10+) when the local rescue got her and she was majorly heartworm positive. She was spayed as she came thru rescue and she had some pretty major health issues but thrived with us for another 6 1/2 years (boxer/pit mix). She had an infection at the time she was brought in and it was suspected it could be early pyo but the late spay left her quite incontnent (but the drugs she took for her heart also made her incontinent).

My other dogs have been about half early spay/neuter. Generally the ones altered early have been far more healthy. I have no way of validly drawing a conclusion from that because the ones who weren't generally were "purebreds" likely from mills who were either used as potential breeding stock by completely irresponsible people or who WERE used as breeding stock (badly -- many many health-related/breed-related severe health issues)

My general experience definitely follows all the major studies -- that spayed/neutered animals live longer and live healthier.

there is no daily test for pyo -- and when a dog is 8 years old the onset of pyo is SO incredibly slow you are **not** gonna catch it. Because it completely mimics just plain general aging and maturing.

However, just to add one more thing to dvet's study -- another study currently being done has to do with I spoke to one of the vets at U of Florida recently who has been doing research on spay incontinence (ways to 'fix' it, etc.)

They are discovering that when a female is spayed in an 'early' (VERY early -- as in 8-10 weeks laser spay which is a one stich surgery where they simply cauterize the 'buds' of the sex organs and they literally don't develop, rather than a removal of the actual organs by surgery) -- these dogs seem NEVER to develop spay incontinence.

When a spay is done it can leave the bladder kind of 'hanging' because it was originally sort of connected to the uterus. As those muscles sag that can cause spay incontinence as the bladder/urinary tract lose elasticity. If the surgery is done badly spay incontinence can resulte more quickly. The general rule of thumb seems to be the older a bitch is before she IS spayed, the more apt they are to have problems.

The pups spayed at 8-10 weeks simply grow and develop where the bladder grows and anchors itself more solidly so there is less potential problem.

So one outgrowth of this particular study is there are more benefits to very early spay/neuter than were originally thought.

I'm not trying to convince you - you seem to like to voice your views regardless. Yes, it's a "personal decision" to a degree, but one often badly and irresponsibly done by most folks ... which makes others tend to want to legislate it.

I've honestly never lost a dog to cancer who was spayed/neutered early. Can I leap and say that's a conclusion? NO. However, a lot of the problems I've inherited by adopting sick dogs others hadn't cared for properly WOULD have been either elminated or far less in their severity had the dog been altered early. I do tend to seek out animals with problems to take and bring back to health -- I can tell you that the one statement above truly sums it up pretty accurately -- both in what I've read in various studies and in what I've seen in my years dealing with dogs:

"Shelters do early s/n out of necessity and god help us all if that DIDN'T get done because "bring the puppy back in 4 months and we'll do it free" works about as well as lead filled life vests"