My Pet World: Readers chime in with challenges to common pet practices and phrases
The question of whether pediatric spaying and neutering can stunt an animal's growth has been debated among veterinarians and researchers for many years. While there isn't conclusive evidence to definitively state this, the American Kennel Club suggests dogs not be fixed until after sexual maturity and states that "different breeds and different sized dogs mature at different ages, which means that early spay/neuter may not be bad for all dogs."
I haven’t seen any health issues or stunted growth from my 65- to 100-pound dogs who were all neutered at three months old. Research has shown that pediatric spaying and neutering can also reduce the chances of certain types of cancer, especially when female dogs are spayed before their first heat cycle.
In addressing your belief that people can easily prevent their dogs and cats from getting pregnant, I haven't seen evidence of that in my three decades of animal welfare work. Most dogs and cats get pregnant before the pet owner even realizes their pet is in heat. When male dogs get out of their houses and yards for a day, their owners aren’t making the connection that their intact dog was looking for a female in heat.
Ultimately, when to spay or neuter a dog or cat should be made in consultation with one’s veterinarian. If the veterinarian recommends holding off for a particular reason, then that is between the pet owner and the veterinarian.
However, many veterinary clinics and animal welfare organizations promote and provide pediatric spay/neuter services as part of their efforts to promote responsible pet ownership and control animal populations. It's a safe and effective solution for reducing unwanted litters and the euthanasia of healthy pets.
Dear Cathy,
You recently said, “Veterinarians generally recommend that dogs and cats be fixed at around six months old.”
It’s way past time to drop that ridiculous term “fixed,” the implication being that something is broken. And yes, it’s also time to stop using the words “spay and neuter” together. Why are people afraid to use the “C” word? Females are spayed. Males are castrated. Dogs and cats of both sexes are neutered.
— Sue, Harwinton, Connecticut
Dear Sue,
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