The American Veterinary Medical Association has long advocated spaying and neutering of dogs, and continues to do so, under the belief that the benefits outweigh the risks. However, recent research has led many individual veterinarians to seriously question this premise.
A 2007 analysis of the research by Dr. Larry Katz of Rutgers University concluded:
"Tradition holds that the benefits of (sterilization) at an early age outweigh the risks. Often, tradition holds sway in the decision-making process even after countervailing evidence has accumulated. Ms (Laura) Sanborn has reviewed the veterinary medical literature in an exhaustive and scholarly treatise, attempting to unravel the complexities of the subject. More than 50 peer-reviewed papers were examined to assess the health impacts of spay / neuter in female and male dogs, respectively. One cannot ignore the findings of increased risk from osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, hypothyroidism, and other less frequently occurring diseases associated with neutering male dogs. It would be irresponsible of the veterinary profession and the pet owning community to fail to weigh the relative costs and benefits of neutering on the animal's health and well-being. The decision for females may be more complex, further emphasizing the need for individualized veterinary medical decisions, not standard operating procedures for all patients."
Sanborn's review of the research concluded:
The number of health problems associated with neutering may exceed the associated health benefits in most cases.
On the positive side, neutering male dogs
* eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer
* reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
* reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
* may possibly reduce the risk of diabetes (data inconclusive).
On the negative side, neutering male dogs
* if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a common cancer in medium/large and larger breeds with a poor prognosis. * increases the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 1.6 * triples the risk of hypothyroidism * increases the risk of progressive geriatric cognitive impairment * triples the risk of obesity, a common health problem in dogs with many associated health problems * quadruples the small risk (<0.6%) of prostate cancer * doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract cancers * increases the risk of orthopedic disorders * increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations.
For female dogs, the situation is more complex. The number of health benefits associated with spaying may exceed the associated health problems in some (not all) cases. On balance, whether spaying improves the odds of overall good health or degrades them probably depends on the age of the female dog and the relative risk of various diseases in the different breeds.
On the positive side, spaying female dogs
* if done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs * nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs * reduces the risk of perianal fistulas * removes the very small risk (_0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
On the negative side, spaying female dogs
* if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis * increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of >5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds * triples the risk of hypothyroidism * increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6-2, a common health problem in dogs with many associated health problems * causes urinary "spay incontinence" in 4-20% of female dogs * increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4 * increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs spayed before puberty * doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors * increases the risk of orthopedic disorders * increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations
Sanborn concluded: "One thing is clear - much of the spay/neuter information that is available to the public is unbalanced and contains claims that are exaggerated or unsupported by evidence. Rather than helping to educate pet owners, much of it has contributed to common misunderstandings about the health risks and benefits."
It is ASDA's opinion that these research findings cast enough doubt on the practice of universal sterilization to make it inadvisable if not reckless for any level of government to mandate spaying or neutering at this point in time.
Moreover, such a mandate would expose any governing body to substantial legal and financial liability if individual pet owners successfully claim damages based on current or future research.
Please Help Dog Owners
We urge our members and readers to support local dog owners in Santa Barbara County. American Sporting Dog Alliance members and county residents Steve and Susan Sakauye ( <mailto:SSakauye@aol.com> SSakauye@aol.com) and Allison Iwamoto ( <mailto:alohabyallison@aol.com> alohabyallison@aol.com) are helping to coordinate citizen opposition to this ordinance.
In addition, American Sporting Dog Alliance Veterinary Advisory Board member Dr. Charles Hjerpe, professor emeritus of veterinary medicine at the University of California - Davis, Legal Committee member and California attorney Tom Griffin, and Bay Area businessman, ASDA Director and dog law activist Mike Spies are willing lend assistance. These officers can be reached through <mailto:asda@csonline.net> asda@csonline.net.
Also, please contact the Santa Barbara County Supervisors to voice your opinion about mandatory pet sterilization.
They are:
Salud Carbajal, Chair (He is in favor of the ordinance)
Today, April 14, the Concerned Dog Owners of California is joining Rep. Tony Mendoza, who is introducing legislation calling for a tax refund check-off to fund voluntary spay and neuter programs in the state. The legislation also calls for a special vehicle license plate to fund these programs.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) lends our unqualified support to this fine organization, and also to Rep. Mendoza for this extraordinary legislation, which approaches the problem proactively.
Rep. Mendoza earned the respect and admiration of dog owners last year for his leadership in the successful effort to block a statewide spay and neuter mandate.
It is estimated that this legislation realistically can provide $10 million a year to fund no-cost spay and neuter programs in California.
ASDA urges all Californians to send letters of support for AB 2291 to Rep. Mendoza , by writing to Robert Baird, State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento, CA 94249-0056, or by fax to (916) 319-2156. The measure is before the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. We also urge our readers to support the Concerned Dog Owners of California. This fine group can be reached at <http://www.cdoca.org/> http://www.cdoca.org.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can continue to work to protect the rights of dog owners. You can reach us at <http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org/> http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. We are funded solely by the donations of our members, and maintain strict independence.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance <http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org> http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Christina Ghimenti PawPrint Boxers
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