Forwarded message - for info, please visit
http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/PedSpayNeuter.htm
Pediatric Spay/Neuter
This web page has a wealth of excellent information about Pediatric
Spay/Neuter, including LOTS of links to articles, vet testimonials,
and more!
http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/PedSpayNeuter.htm
Statement from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA)
"Lowering the number of stray dogs and cats is a high priority for
anyone who cares. The AVMA is on record as endorsing early age
spay/neuter. As president of the AVMA, I feel it is unconscionable
not to use early spay/neuter since it is safe and very very effective
in achieving our goals."
-Dr Sherbyn Ostrich, President, AVMA, 1996
Dr Leo Lieberman, while president of the Connecticut Vet Medical
Assn, started doing pediatric spay/nueter in 1970.
Research shows that other vets had been performing early spay/neuter
for at least 20 years before him. Source: AHA
History of Spay/Neuter Surgery
In the 1940's and 1950's, veterinarians had primitive anesthetics,
monitoring equipments, and surgical tools. Anesthetics were not
terribly safe, especially for young animals; sophisticated surgical
instruments that are now used to find a tiny uterus did not exist.
Veterinarians were mainly men, working with horses and cattle —
heavy, physical work. They had big hands, and had to find that uterus
with their fingers. Since a uterus is bigger and much easier to find
after an estrus or after having a litter, the advice of waiting until
after the first estrus or after a litter began and persists decades
later. Often the practitioner selected the spay/neuter age of the
animals based on his convenience and what was appropriate to his
skill and equipment.
Now jump forward to the 1960's. It is discovered that the incidence
of mammary cancer (which is four times higher in intact bitches than
in human women) can be reduced by over 96.4%, if we spay before the
first estrus. So the veterinary profession begins teaching this, and
now with better equipment, better drugs, and safer methodologies,
veterinarians began to spay before the first estrus. Determining
when the first estrus begins presents problems, however. It differs
among large dogs (12-14 months), small dogs (around 6 months), and
cats (as early as 4-5 months). Since it's too confusing to tell
owners different ages for different size dogs (and how do you guess
on the mixed breeds) six months becomes the standard, with the goal
being to neuter the majority of dogs before their first estrus.
Although this practice is not based on objective scientific data (and
is too late for many cats), for decades this is what veterinarians
are taught.
As for cats, they received little attention and respect until the
1980s. Veterinarians were trained, for the most part, to treat them
like little dogs and the 6-month standard was applied, with no
thought to the fact that many cats became pregnant at 4 and 5 months
of age. The 6-month standard simply evolved. It was not based in
research or particular scientific reason.
At this time, pediatric spay/neuter is the best way to stem the
staggering pet overpopulation and allows us to combat the single
largest cause of death in companion animals: homelessness due to
overpopulation. Regardless of the industry, with the continual and
sometimes rapid technological improvements and trends, some will be
on the leading edge, some in the middle, and others left behind.
This is no different for the animal industry. In over 100 years of
adopting animals in the United States, the overpopulation problem
continues to increase. It is not possible to adopt our way out of the
overpopulation crisis. A "neuter before adoption" policy is a
solution that is practical, possible, and healthy.
by Marci Hess
Rescues, Shelters, Reputable Breeders, and Pet Stores
If you are a rescue, shelter or humane society, join us and many
other humane organizations that are helping to stop the problem at
the source. Sterilizing the adult dogs & cats is good...but it won't
solve our problem. Statistics report that less than half the coupons
given for low cost spay/neuter are even used. Stop the problem
before it starts, don't allow a dog/pup, cat/kitten to leave your
humane organization without being sterilized....after all, if a
dog/pup, cat/kitten leaves your care being able to
reproduce....aren't you perpetuating the problem that you work so
hard to overcome?
1. Start by spaying all the females
2. Add neutering of all adult males
3. Add neutering of all young males
Pediatric Spay/Neuter is Endorsed By:
Columbus Academy of Veterinary Medicine
AVMA-American Veterinary Medical Assoc
HSUS, Humane Society of the US
The Ohio State University
FranklinCountyDogs.com
Cat Fanciers Association
Texas A & M
College of Vet Med, Univ of Minnesota
Knox County Humane Society
Massachusetts Soc for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Humane Association
Doris Day Animal League
AKC
AVAR (Assoc of Vets for Animal Rights)
The American Animal Hospital Assn
ASPCA
http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/PedSpayNeuter.htm
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group 11/24/06