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Newsletter 5, March 2018 – Advise on sterilization practises for breeders to pass on to new puppy owners

Dear dog breeding enthusiasts

Semen can now be frozen on demand at our premises with as little as 1 weeks’ notice. Contact Gigi at reports@rantendal.co.za to make a booking. 

More information about breeding matters can be obtained from our website and my book “Breeding is a bitch. For further details go to http://www.rantendal.co.za.

We now offer safe and effective sterilization (vasectomy or castration for males and spaying for females) in dogs and cats in animals as young as 10 weeks on the condition there is proof of at least 2 vaccinations and that the animal is healthy.

Advise on sterilization practises for breeders to pass on to new puppy owners

Breeders are often called upon to make recommendations regarding sterilisation of pets to new puppy or kitten owners. This newsletter will help you in this regard.

There is a lot of talk on sterilization pros and cons and often misleading information. I have reviewed (in collaboration with a colleague) all the current information in order to get the most of up to date proven truths. This article was published for continued professional development purposes in the Vet 360 magazine and is distributed to you with their knowledge and permission. Because this article is very longwinded you can request Gigi reports@rantendal.co.za to send the entire document to you. Also do not hesitate to comment for my response reports@rantendal.co.za.

Summary of recommendations regarding gonadectomy (spaying and neutering)

 1.     Can sterilization have negative effects?

Indeed, sterilization can have adverse effects. These adverse effects are almost absent in small breeds; and more pronounced in a small percentage of sterilized animals of many if not all large breeds. (see document for type of problems and in which breeds those are most common).

2.     Are there problems associated with not sterilising dogs - male or female?

Most certainly yes. Females can get mammary gland cancer which can be almost 100% avoided if sterilised before puberty and a chance of potentially fatal uterine infections later in life. Non castrated males have a high chance of prostate problems. In most cases sterilization advantages far outweigh disadvantages. Main disadvantage of non-sterilized bitches is risk of unwanted litters and nuisance associated with recurrent heats. Main disadvantage of non sterilized dogs is territorial urine marking (particular problem with mainly indoor dogs) and unwanted roaming. Vasectomy in male dogs is most certainly the preferred method of sterilization for all working dogs. Vasectomised dogs can still get prostate issues but that can be addressed when it presents or when their working lifetime is over by means of castration or hormone treatment. Clearly, unwanted litters are the greatest risk with unsterilized dogs and cats.

3.     Method of sterilisation

Once the decision has been made to permanently sterilise the pet, surgical sterilisation is recommended. This can be done by conventional surgical methods or by laparoscopic surgery. If pre-pubertal sterilisation is practised, ovariectomy should be recommended rather than is ovariohysterectomy.

4.     Age of sterilisation

In dogs and cats, male and female, pre-pubertal gonadectomy (3-5 months) has advantages over both gonadectomy at early ages (6-12 weeks) and traditional ages (6-12 months).

5.     Male cats and female cats

All cats (male and female) not intended for breeding should be sterilised as soon as they have completed their primary vaccinations but not later than 5 months of age. This is recommended because there is no evidence of adverse effects of early gonadectomy in cats and the risk of unwanted pregnancies is far greater in cats than in dogs due to the difficulties involved in confining cats.

6.     Male dogs

For most owners, the benefits of castration will outweigh the possible disadvantages. However, many dog owners may elect not to castrate their male dog. These owners will assess the individual risk profile of their dogs and discuss with their veterinarian the implications of castration when and if medical or behavioural problems arise. Veterinary surgeons should respect this scientifically sound view. Working dogs should not be castrated as it will affect their drive and for those dogs vasectomization offers an alternative if sterilization is required.

7.  Bitches

Overall, it appears justified to recommend spaying all females not intended for breeding, because the procedure is more likely to prevent rather than cause disease. Therefore, for most owners and most breeds, despite the many possible adverse effects of spaying in bitches, the benefits will outweigh the possible disadvantages. This is due to the fact that most owners cannot guarantee that they will be able to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in their bitch and are not willing to put up with the nuisance of the bitch being “on heat”. However, for some owners, the recommendation must be made on an individual case-by-case basis, after evaluating the breed of the dog, the lifestyle of the owner and dog itself. In all cases it might be prudent to include some of the more common adverse effects (particularly USI) in the standard written consent form for surgery. This allows the owner of the pet to make an informed decision following discussion of the risks and benefits of gonadectomy with their veterinary surgeon.

8.     Alternatives to spaying bitches and cats

There is an implant not yet currently available in south Africa but which might be available to pet owners in the future to temporarily sterilise their pets (dog and cat, male and female) this offers owners that do not currently want to breed or may later want to breed or pet owners whom wish to avoid risks of sterilization an alternative to permanent surgical sterilization.

9.     Effective treatment for prostate enlargement

Effective treatment for dogs suffering from prostate enlargement is now available for breeding dogs. Such treated dogs may still be fit for breeding. This is also an alternative to castration for dog owners that are averse to castration for whatever reason or the dog involved appears to be an anaesthetic risk.

10.  Conclusion

For most owners and most pets, early sterilization is the most appropriate recommendation. However, there are studies that indicate that there may be a very slight increase in certain neoplastic conditions (osteosarcoma, haemangiosarcoma) as well as cranial cruciate ligament rupture. It is important to note that these adverse effects are in many cases affected by breed, age of sterilization and gender. Finally, it is important for veterinary surgeons to interpret the results of such studies with circumspection. It would be wrong to interpret the results as saying that sterilization causes neoplasia. A slight increase in a specific neoplasia and a specific breed may be a more appropriate interpretation. Urinary incontinence (particularly in large breed bitches) is perhaps the most common adverse effect of surgical sterilization in dogs (almost absent in queens). Ovariectomy and prepubertal gonadectomy both make sound scientific sense. Laparoscopic surgery in competent hands is less invasive results in quicker recovery and certainly shows potential for the future. Laparoscopic surgery is currently not commonly available in South African private practice. Given all the circumstances and factors it remains sound practice for all dog rescue organisations and all animal shelters to sterilise all dogs and cats (male and female) before rehoming.

For those that want the more detailed article, contact Gigi.