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.
Thank you for addressing this topic. As a foreigner, I was shocked by the blanket castration of all male dogs in the US (NY, NJ and vicinity), have never encountered this before.
Thank you for your reply Buckwheat Blues! What you write is exactly what I hear from many, many folks who come from other countries. Our 'conditioning' in the US about neutering, vaccinations, pesticides for fleas/ticks/heartworm, and processed foods really leaves these wonderful animals with little room to be truly healthy. This should be more troubling to all pet owners, but sadly it is not. Only a view from the outside, such as yours, can give a meaningful perspective! Thank you!
I’m no professional but as a person who loves my dog, I try to look at what the majority of developed countries are doing, and most of all what is best for the dog’s health and quality of life according to available studies. It seems cruel and unethical to base decisions only on what is convenient for the owner. Take this creature and cut around it with scissors like it’s a toy or craft project.
I noticed about the vaccines! Pushing the extra ones (not rabies) annually, when even the local associations say every three years. Some things I hadn’t encountered before like heartworm, I give the meds but I find giving them year round in freezing winters is excessive. Also the very early neutering stood out.
The environment seems to be extremely conformist in terms of there is only this one way of doing things and that’s it (meaning outside legal requirements like vaccines and microchips).
Thank you for having the empathy and integrity to advocate for animals!
I have volunteered in dog rescue for decades, and I am concerned about rescue group requirements that all intakes have to be vetted, tested, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, spayed or neutered immediately upon intake and may even have dentals or other surgical procedures before going into foster care. Realize that these poor babies have been taken away from every living and material thing they’ve ever known, may be fearful of humans, possibly in pain or at least not optimally nourished nor in optimal health. No wonder they are traumatized. Some take years to recover even in an ideal situation. When possible, some of us move more gradually, assessing the needs and temperament of each dog while building his/her health and healing. Thank you for being “heretical”. I’m glad I found you.
Oh Kathy, thank you so much for writing and sharing your concerns! I completely agree with you on all counts!! Even the smallest of rescue groups are subscribing to these aggressive policies and the animals don't have a chance of even the slightest adjustment to their new situation...... I just adopted a dog from a shelter (not really what I had planned) who was surrendered as an adult and had all the assaults. I am still working to detox her body..... my experience with dogs and cats from these sorts of situations is tragic - people want to do the right thing and adopt an animal out of a 'shelter' and then their new animal is sick, toxic and they have to spend a lot of money at the regular vets who then suppress the toxic reactions, neuter them far, far too early - often then left have a lifetime of illness. .....it's gone off the deep end - like so many things in our world. ... And thank you for helping so many animals and writing here today!
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.
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.
Was it Gandhi who said a nation could be judged on how its animals are treated? Thank you for your advocacy.
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?
Thank you for addressing this topic. As a foreigner, I was shocked by the blanket castration of all male dogs in the US (NY, NJ and vicinity), have never encountered this before.
Thank you for your reply Buckwheat Blues! What you write is exactly what I hear from many, many folks who come from other countries. Our 'conditioning' in the US about neutering, vaccinations, pesticides for fleas/ticks/heartworm, and processed foods really leaves these wonderful animals with little room to be truly healthy. This should be more troubling to all pet owners, but sadly it is not. Only a view from the outside, such as yours, can give a meaningful perspective! Thank you!
Thank you!
I’m no professional but as a person who loves my dog, I try to look at what the majority of developed countries are doing, and most of all what is best for the dog’s health and quality of life according to available studies. It seems cruel and unethical to base decisions only on what is convenient for the owner. Take this creature and cut around it with scissors like it’s a toy or craft project.
I noticed about the vaccines! Pushing the extra ones (not rabies) annually, when even the local associations say every three years. Some things I hadn’t encountered before like heartworm, I give the meds but I find giving them year round in freezing winters is excessive. Also the very early neutering stood out.
The environment seems to be extremely conformist in terms of there is only this one way of doing things and that’s it (meaning outside legal requirements like vaccines and microchips).
Thank you for having the empathy and integrity to advocate for animals!
I have volunteered in dog rescue for decades, and I am concerned about rescue group requirements that all intakes have to be vetted, tested, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, spayed or neutered immediately upon intake and may even have dentals or other surgical procedures before going into foster care. Realize that these poor babies have been taken away from every living and material thing they’ve ever known, may be fearful of humans, possibly in pain or at least not optimally nourished nor in optimal health. No wonder they are traumatized. Some take years to recover even in an ideal situation. When possible, some of us move more gradually, assessing the needs and temperament of each dog while building his/her health and healing. Thank you for being “heretical”. I’m glad I found you.
Oh Kathy, thank you so much for writing and sharing your concerns! I completely agree with you on all counts!! Even the smallest of rescue groups are subscribing to these aggressive policies and the animals don't have a chance of even the slightest adjustment to their new situation...... I just adopted a dog from a shelter (not really what I had planned) who was surrendered as an adult and had all the assaults. I am still working to detox her body..... my experience with dogs and cats from these sorts of situations is tragic - people want to do the right thing and adopt an animal out of a 'shelter' and then their new animal is sick, toxic and they have to spend a lot of money at the regular vets who then suppress the toxic reactions, neuter them far, far too early - often then left have a lifetime of illness. .....it's gone off the deep end - like so many things in our world. ... And thank you for helping so many animals and writing here today!
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