Most responsible people living with pets believe neutering and spaying is important to reduce risks of certain diseases or to avoid contributing to homeless animals due to free mating.
Yes, the female version of this post will be up soon.
Yes, the typical shelter policy is now to alter the animals at 2 pounds or 2 months - whichever comes first! It's a blanket policy for everyone. Completely throwing the animals under the bus because we don't have good social policies around animal 'ownership'.
Yes, those are infants still at 2 months old - very underdeveloped bodies, immune systems, and brains.
The authors of this research and the updated research, which I will post soon, had the intention of helping vets and pet parents to make educated decisions about when to do the surgeries. They (the authors, who were vets too) were met with hostility 20 yrs ago and probably much the same in the last 2 years with their latest findings. Thankfully, pet parents are questioning these policies.
Yes, the female version of this blog will be posted soon.
Yes, the now customary policy of shelters is to neuter or spay at 2 pounds or 2 months.
The vets who did this research and the more current research had the intention of helping vets and pet parents decide more appropriate ages to alter the animals. Instead, they were met with hostility and rejection of their findings. It continues today, as do the policies from what I can surmise is most of the shelters in this country. Sadly.
Great question, Cheryl! Although, there are no studies to show this, you could extrapolate many of the same issues for the feline variety! But, their joint issues might be closer to small dog joint issues. Unfortunately, many, many cats have joint issues that show up as they age. I would say a most cats are spayed and neutered much, much earlier in life than dogs because people will not tolerate howling male or female cats, attempts to escape, marking territory, or other natural behaviors for intact cats.
I know I waited 2 years to neuter my male cat, until I couldn't take it any more! But, his muscles are strong, his teeth are perfect, gums are pink and not inflamed, his bones are strong and big, and he acts like an adult, not a kitten! I wanted him to have the longest time I could offer him with testosterone influence in his body.
I made a very unfortunate decision to neuter my GSD prior to age 1 from Vet pressure. He died of bone cancer and several hip and joint problems. Will never spay or neuter another animal for as long as I live. American vets are highly I’ll informed and people trust them way too much
My male cat was neutered at 7 months but he had very early arthritis. He started showing signs at the age of 10. One leg was completely withered when he died at 18. He was in pain for almost half his life and he had thyroid problems. I hope this new research will make it possible for cats (and dogs) everywhere to live longer, healthier lives. Your cat can be a test case. Has there been any research done on females of either species? Animal shelters are doing this surgery on infants, or at least that's what I've heard.
10 Good Reasons You Should NOT Neuter Your Male Dog
Yes, the female version of this post will be up soon.
Yes, the typical shelter policy is now to alter the animals at 2 pounds or 2 months - whichever comes first! It's a blanket policy for everyone. Completely throwing the animals under the bus because we don't have good social policies around animal 'ownership'.
Yes, those are infants still at 2 months old - very underdeveloped bodies, immune systems, and brains.
The authors of this research and the updated research, which I will post soon, had the intention of helping vets and pet parents to make educated decisions about when to do the surgeries. They (the authors, who were vets too) were met with hostility 20 yrs ago and probably much the same in the last 2 years with their latest findings. Thankfully, pet parents are questioning these policies.
Yes, the female version of this blog will be posted soon.
Yes, the now customary policy of shelters is to neuter or spay at 2 pounds or 2 months.
The vets who did this research and the more current research had the intention of helping vets and pet parents decide more appropriate ages to alter the animals. Instead, they were met with hostility and rejection of their findings. It continues today, as do the policies from what I can surmise is most of the shelters in this country. Sadly.
Great question, Cheryl! Although, there are no studies to show this, you could extrapolate many of the same issues for the feline variety! But, their joint issues might be closer to small dog joint issues. Unfortunately, many, many cats have joint issues that show up as they age. I would say a most cats are spayed and neutered much, much earlier in life than dogs because people will not tolerate howling male or female cats, attempts to escape, marking territory, or other natural behaviors for intact cats.
I know I waited 2 years to neuter my male cat, until I couldn't take it any more! But, his muscles are strong, his teeth are perfect, gums are pink and not inflamed, his bones are strong and big, and he acts like an adult, not a kitten! I wanted him to have the longest time I could offer him with testosterone influence in his body.
I think an 'untesticular' dog is already neutered! Or am I missing something? Or are you talking about a cryptorchid dog?
I made a very unfortunate decision to neuter my GSD prior to age 1 from Vet pressure. He died of bone cancer and several hip and joint problems. Will never spay or neuter another animal for as long as I live. American vets are highly I’ll informed and people trust them way too much
My male cat was neutered at 7 months but he had very early arthritis. He started showing signs at the age of 10. One leg was completely withered when he died at 18. He was in pain for almost half his life and he had thyroid problems. I hope this new research will make it possible for cats (and dogs) everywhere to live longer, healthier lives. Your cat can be a test case. Has there been any research done on females of either species? Animal shelters are doing this surgery on infants, or at least that's what I've heard.
These issues would be significant in neutered male cats as well?
Should a unitesticular dog be mandatorily neutered