Dear Pet Parent,
It's not
easy being one of a few holistic veterinarians in the southeast. I am constantly stretching my clients' thinking. I get a LOT of crazy looks. It's also not unusual for a new client to look at me as if I'm lying to them...
This new information we are sharing at our practice is often the exact
opposite of what most pet parents have heard from their conventional veterinarian.
While the information we share with our clients is DIFFERENT, it is NOT necessarily NEW information.
The vaccine debate has been going on for well over 20 years. Over 15
years ago, my colleagues and I were all taught the dangers of over vaccination but the decision to continue routine boosters was, in the end, left up to us.
The same is true about spaying/neutering. In vet school we were taught that performing these routine procedures prior to growth plate closure (which usually occurs between 18-24 months) results in the lengthening of bones which
increases the pet's incidence for developing orthopedic diseases. It was also common knowledge that early spaying/neutering resulted in a much greater chance of urinary incontinence as the pet matured. I've seen incontinence begin as early as 1.5 year old!
However, the debate regarding endocrine diseases such as
cushing's, hypothyroidism and even cancer was not as clear as it is NOW.
Hopefully, it is becoming clearer to each colleague of mine, as they watch their own population of pet patients mature into their geriatric years. They should be comparing the data and health scores of their gonadectomized (spayed/neutered) vs NON gonadectomized
patients.
Obviously, this controversy is gaining some light in our field as we are seeing more randomized research studies being performed.
The decision of early spay/neutering really comes down to 2 choices:
a) convenience
b) well-being and longevity.
In a large busy conventional practice, convenience is preferred.
The average veterinarian spends approximately 20 minutes with their client/patient 1-2 times a year during wellness exams and/or spay/neuter
procedures and/or routine annual dental cleanings.
Unfortunately this results in convenience medicine and what some of us call maintaining "Herd Health."
What is right for ONE, is right for ALL.
BUT, the greatest gift of having a holistic practice is getting to spend hours with our clients weekly, monthly and quarterly. Our clients and our patients become like family.
What is right for ONE, is NOT right for ALL. Our goal is to guide our clients with their pets' health, as if they were our
own.
The information we give is specific for pet owners that we know are responsible. When we educate our clients to WAIT on spaying/neutering and/or avoiding it completely, we know the clients we are talking to are NOT going to carelessly add to the over population issue the shelters face every day.
Over population and unnecessary euthanasias are REAL. I have done my share of working with shelter pets and even partnering with spay/neuter clinics around the west.
I am not negating this issue.
However, what I recommended back then is not the same as what I recommend now.
*You are not a HERD. You are our family.
The pressing issue of overpopulation in shelter medicine and the convenience of conventional practice has resulted in even earlier spaying/neutering. Sadly, most shelters and some vet practices are now performing these
procedures as early as 6-8 weeks old.
THE REASONING FOR EARLIER SPAY/NEUTERS :
1. The surgery is easier.
2. The surgery is faster - most are done in under 6
minutes.
3. The surgery is cheaper - takes less sedation/anesthesia and less materials.
4. The pet has a quicker recovery time and is less painful . (Mostly due to the tiny incision and minimal invasiveness).
As a shelter vet, the list above is what makes your day better. You can spay/neuter more pets and therefore adopt more pets.
BUT, as a general practitioner, the list above is DESTROYING our pet population.
We are setting these fur babies
up for a shorter life, including one with much greater risk of orthopedic diseases - hip and elbow dysplasia, ACL/tendon injuries, OCD (of shoulder and elbow), endocrine disorders - Cushing's, Hypothyroidism and even CANCER!
Yes, Cancer.
I recently came across an article put out by the University of
Georgia and I was floored to see that they were willingly admitting the dangers of early spay/neuters.
Below I am going to outline some of their findings:
Neoplasia:
1.Mammary and Urogenital cancers:
- Among some of the most common reasons the field has recommended spaying/neutering is reducing the potential of mammary, ovarian, uterine and testicular cancers.
2. Prostate Cancer:
- While neutering greatly reduces the risk of canine prostatic diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BNP), it is NOT protective against prostatic neoplasia. Neutered males are 2-4 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than intact males.
3. Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC)
- TCC is generally more common in females than males. Spaying/neutering increases the incidence in both sexes AND up to 3 times more in castrated males.
4. Hemangiosarcoma ;Splenic Hemangiosarcoma (HSA)
- females were at a 1.6 to 2.2 times
higher risk of developing HSA when compared to intact females.
5. Osteosarcoma
- Gonadectomized (Spay/Neutered) dogs risk is 2 times greater than an intact dog, regardless of sex.
6. Mast Cell Tumors
(MCT)
- Spayed females are at a 4 times higher risk of developing a grade 2 or 3 MCT over intact females
- Castrated males are at a 1.4 times higher risk over intact males.
- In one study, gonadectomized vizslas seemed to develop
MCTs at a much younger age than intact vizslas.
7. Lymphosarcoma (LSA)
- Male golden retrievers castrated before 12 months of age were 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with LSA compared to intact male golden retrievers. LSA was NOT DIAGNOSED in males CASTRATED AFTER 12 months of
age.
- Gonadectomized vizslas were 4.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with LSA than intact vizslas across both sexes.
NON NEOPLASITC DISORDERS
BEHAVIOR:
1. Fear
- These studies need more attention but currently the verdict is out that pets may show more fear after spaying/neutering
- One study involving
vizslas showed that thunderphobia was more common in males neutered prior to 6 months of age. (From a TCM perspective this makes total sense, seeing this is a kidney yin deficiency that would be affected by the removal of hormones).
- Another study found that separation anxiety was increased in the gonadectomized dogs. (This is a yin and blood deficiency affecting the heart).
- Castrated male dogs seem to have more cognitive decline with age than intact male dogs
2. Urogenital Disorders, Urinary incontinence:
- Urinary incontinence occurs in 1% of intact female dogs, compared to >20% in spayed female dogs (Estrogen
is necessary for bladder strength)
3. Immune Mediated Diseases
- Increases in multiple immune-mediated disorders in gonadectomized dogs of both sexes, including atopic dermatitis (allergic skin disease), immune mediated hemolytic anemia, HYPOTHYROIDISM, immune mediated thrombocytopenia,
HYPOADRENOCORTICISM (CUSHINGS) and inflammatory bowel disease.
4. Orthopedic Disorders
- An increased risk of hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture
- In one study, castrated male golden
retrievers had nearly double the risk of hip dysplasia
- Male labrador retrievers castrated before 6 months of age had a significantly higher incidence of CCL rupture and elbow dysplasia than intact males.
5. Obesity
- Without sex hormones, weight gain is inevitable. Metabolism slows down, we see lower thyroid function and higher cortisol levels.
FELINES:
- While the studies are limited, it has been shown that spayed/neutered cats have a much higher incidence
of:
- Obesity,
- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
- Diabetes.
We understand that for some this information can be overwhelming. If your pet was spayed or neutered early, there is still much we can do to keep your pet from becoming a statistic. There are many avenues within holistic medicine that we use to correct imbalances and deficiencies to prevent chronic illness.
We aim to help our patients live long, healthy lives!
This is also
why we love to educate on topics such as this; To give you,the pet parent, knowledge to provide the best life possible for your pets.
