Optimal Age for Spay and Neuter of Cats and Dogs

[SemaviLady]

Dr Gail C. Golab, PhD, DVM, Director of the Animal Welfare Division of the American Veterinary Association, member of the Pet-Law forum, has secured free public access to the following PDF from the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association.

Citation
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
December 1, 2007, Vol. 231, No. 11, Pages 1665-1675
doi: 10.2460/javma.231.11.1665

Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats

Margaret V. Root Kustritz, DVM, PhD, DACT
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108. (Kustritz)


If sharing the article with others, please direct them to the above link to the PDF, rather than forwarding the document itself. This in order to honor the American Veterinary Medical Association's Copyright.

Thanks!

Happy New Year to all!

[Catlady711]

You mean in Europe it's ILLEGAL to spay/neuter your pet? And someone in MN is advocating that? Now that's going a bit far to me!

"In some parts of the world, elective gonadectomy
is considered unethical and is strongly discouraged or
disallowed by professional veterinary associations.2
Elective gonadectomy is illegal in at least 1 country.3
In 1 article4 published in Europe, elective gonadectomy
Determining the optimal age
for gonadectomy of dogs and cats
From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108.
is decried as “the tool of despots and tyrants throughout
history,” and the author of that article claims that
gonadectomized dogs are “canine eunuchs, condemned
to live their lives in a physical and mental twilight.”
That author also questions how a profession that publicly
declares itself the guardian of animal welfare can,
with impunity, perform elective surgery on animals for
human convenience."4

[Jessika]

I don't think that it states that it's illegal in Europe, they just used an example of someone from Europe... I've NEVER EVER heard of it being illegal in Europe, but then again I could be wrong... anyone from Europe clear this up?

In either case I've been reading about the "optimal" age for awhile, and I honestly think it depends on how responsible the pet parents can be. Personally I have chosen that I will wait for my dog's to be physically mature before neutering or spaying them, unless for health reasons it needs to be done sooner (retained testicles, etc). This choice isn't for everyone, however, and definitely not for those who can't be responsible and watch their dogs adequately when they are outdoors or in heat.

Personally, Jamie is not spayed, but Charlie has been neutered since six months of age because he had both retained testicles. Jamie will be spayed this month, she already has her appointment made. There is a significant difference between Jamie and Charlie's physique, albeit one is male and one is female, there are still some differences that are regardless of gender. Jamie has much more muscle tone than Charlie, etc. But as I said this is a personal choice that I have made for myself and my dogs, and it is not hte choice for everyone. I fully push for speutering at any age.

[SemaviLady]

... I've been reading about the "optimal" age for awhile, and I honestly think it depends on how responsible the pet parents can be. Personally I have chosen that I will wait for my dog's to be physically mature before neutering or spaying them, unless for health reasons it needs to be done sooner (retained testicles, etc). This choice isn't for everyone, however, and definitely not for those who can't be responsible and watch their dogs adequately when they are outdoors or in heat.

I agree. Medical care of individuals, both human and animal, should never be put under broad mandate and control of individuals and career politicians whose backgrounds lack accredited medical training and board review.

[SemaviLady]

You mean in Europe it's ILLEGAL to spay/neuter your pet? And someone in MN is advocating that? Now that's going a bit far to me!

Heehee, no it's a citation. Maybe you read it too fast.

The references (bibliography) of the section you refers points to this abstract:

Gunzel-Apel, A.R. (1998). Fruhkastration von Hunden und Katzen unter Tierschutzgesichtspunkten. [Early castration of dogs and cats from the point of view of animal welfare]. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 105(3): 95-98. ISSN: 0341-6593.

NAL Call Number: 41.8 D482

Abstract: The castration of dogs and cats is regulated in section 6 of the German Law for Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (Tierschutzgesetz) dated February 17, 1993. Gonadectomy in juvenile and prepuberal as well as in adult vertebrates is only permitted by law in case of a medical indication or a special using of the animal. On account of his special knowledge, the veterinarian is made responsible by law for the estimation of the indispensibility and for the performance of castration. As early-age castration means usually the surgical removal of healthy gonads from a healthy organism, it is principally forbidden by law at present. The bill of June 30, 1995 points to the legitimation of castration for contraception. This does, however, not dispense the veterinarian from deciding in each individual case under consideration of unwanted side effects and consequences that can be caused by castration and early-age castration, respectively.

Descriptors: animal welfare, prepubertal gonadectomy, castration, ovariectomy, sex maturation, cats, dogs

Note: Language of text: German; Summary in English.

[Catlady711]

Heehee, no it's a citation. Maybe you read it too fast.

The references (bibliography) of the section you refers points to this abstract:

Gunzel-Apel, A.R. (1998). Fruhkastration von Hunden und Katzen unter Tierschutzgesichtspunkten. [Early castration of dogs and cats from the point of view of animal welfare]. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 105(3): 95-98. ISSN: 0341-6593.

NAL Call Number: 41.8 D482

Abstract: The castration of dogs and cats is regulated in section 6 of the German Law for Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (Tierschutzgesetz) dated February 17, 1993. Gonadectomy in juvenile and prepuberal as well as in adult vertebrates is only permitted by law in case of a medical indication or a special using of the animal. On account of his special knowledge, the veterinarian is made responsible by law for the estimation of the indispensibility and for the performance of castration. As early-age castration means usually the surgical removal of healthy gonads from a healthy organism, it is principally forbidden by law at present. The bill of June 30, 1995 points to the legitimation of castration for contraception. This does, however, not dispense the veterinarian from deciding in each individual case under consideration of unwanted side effects and consequences that can be caused by castration and early-age castration, respectively.

Descriptors: animal welfare, prepubertal gonadectomy, castration, ovariectomy, sex maturation, cats, dogs

Note: Language of text: German; Summary in English.

Maybe I'm missing something but what I read from this article is that they've made it illegal/cruel to castrate an animal unless it's medically necessary. Is that what it's saying? The wording is a bit confusing to me. If not someone break it down for me because I'm completely misreading it then.

[Karen]

Maybe I'm missing something but what I read from this article is that they've made it illegal/cruel to castrate an animal unless it's medically necessary. Is that what it's saying? The wording is a bit confusing to me. If not someone break it down for me because I'm completely misreading it then.

What you are missing is that it is the spaying or neutering of juvenile or prepuberal animals that is not recommended - in other words, spaying/neutering too young.

[Catlady711]

What you are missing is that it is the spaying or neutering of juvenile or prepuberal animals that is not recommended - in other words, spaying/neutering too young.

That would make more sense to me. It's just how they have it worded (bold) that had me thinking ALL spay/neuters. Probably explains why I'm not a lawyer or deal with alot of really legal type documents.

Gunzel-Apel, A.R. (1998). Fruhkastration von Hunden und Katzen unter Tierschutzgesichtspunkten. [Early castration of dogs and cats from the point of view of animal welfare]. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 105(3): 95-98. ISSN: 0341-6593.

NAL Call Number: 41.8 D482

Abstract: The castration of dogs and cats is regulated in section 6 of the German Law for Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (Tierschutzgesetz) dated February 17, 1993. Gonadectomy in juvenile and prepuberal as well as in adult vertebrates is only permitted by law in case of a medical indication or a special using of the animal. On account of his special knowledge, the veterinarian is made responsible by law for the estimation of the indispensibility and for the performance of castration. As early-age castration means usually the surgical removal of healthy gonads from a healthy organism, it is principally forbidden by law at present. The bill of June 30, 1995 points to the legitimation of castration for contraception. This does, however, not dispense the veterinarian from deciding in each individual case under consideration of unwanted side effects and consequences that can be caused by castration and early-age castration, respectively.

Descriptors: animal welfare, prepubertal gonadectomy, castration, ovariectomy, sex maturation, cats, dogs

Note: Language of text: German; Summary in English.

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