{"id":430,"date":"2014-11-01T18:25:14","date_gmt":"2014-11-01T18:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phosdev.com\/todaysveterinarypractice\/?p=430"},"modified":"2022-02-18T19:58:23","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T19:58:23","slug":"the-case-for-neutering-at-five-months-of-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/preventive-medicine\/the-case-for-neutering-at-five-months-of-age\/","title":{"rendered":"The Case for Neutering at Five Months of Age"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Richard Speck, DVM<\/em><\/p>\n

The majority of presterilization litters can be eliminated by performing neutering at 5 months of age rather than 6. In this article, Dr. Speck explains the current state of population control, benefits of early neutering, and implementing the recommendation into your practice.<\/em><\/p>\n

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I graduated from veterinary school in 1982. As I look back, I don’t recall hearing the words “pet overpopulation” or “shelter medicine,” which is likely because I was not listening. Most of us were zeroed in on pharmacology, pathology, physiology, and dermatology\u2014and\u00a0bracketology\u00a0during March Madness. <\/em><\/p>\n

As I entered practice, I was informed that the local humane society was overrepresented with irrational people who did not pay their bills. I agreed to a request by the new humane society president to teach two of their veterinary assistants how to draw blood from cats, and I also began to see the world from a somewhat different perspective.<\/p>\n

I saw that the tears shed for injured, abused, and homeless animals were not, for the most part, from crazy people, but rather from normal dedicated, hard-working, caring individuals. They did their best without many supplies, no room to spare for animal housing, and little money.<\/p>\n

As I gradually became more involved with the local humane society, I realized that no matter how many unwanted pets were given to good homes, the supply of new homeless pets was continually overwhelming. As a result of this hopeless situation, my specialty became pet population control, specifically neutering.<\/p>\n

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Nomenclature Challenges<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many terms are associated with surgical sterilization of dogs and cats. While\u00a0<\/span>neutering<\/span>\u00a0is often associated\u2014especially by the general public\u2014with male pets, it technically applies to both female and male animals. For this article, neutering is used to describe surgical sterilization of male and female dogs and cats\u2014<\/span>castration<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>spaying<\/span>, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

STATE OF POPULATION CONTROL<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Real Culprits<\/span><\/h3>\n

We all understand the importance of neutering to control pet overpopulation, and for years I placed the blame for overpopulation on older breeding females that, year after year, produced litter after litter.<\/p>\n

However, a Massachusetts survey found that female cats and dogs that had been sterilized after having at least one litter accounted for 87% of all litters born.1<\/sup>\u00a0The researchers found that local reproductive rates were not driven by dogs and cats that remained intact their entire lives; instead, it was the reverse. Cats and dogs that remained intact accounted for < 15% of all litters born.<\/p>\n

More than 4 out of every 5 litters were born to female dogs and cats whose owners had them sterilized, but not until they had at least one litter. Pet population rates were not being driven by animals that would remain intact, but rather by those that would eventually be spayed.<\/p>\n

The majority of presterilization litters can be eliminated<\/span>\u00a0by performing recommended neutering just one month earlier\u2014at 5 months of age rather than 6 months.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Full of Uncertainty<\/span><\/h3>\n

A 2009 study of pet owners, conducted by PetSmart Charities and Ipsos Marketing,2<\/sup>\u00a0found that 65% of pets were neutered. Of the 35% that were not neutered, 75% of their owners were considering neutering at some point in the future.<\/p>\n

The survey found that owners were unsure of the proper time to spay.<\/p>\n