As a child, we called getting our pets spayed or neutered getting them 'fixed'. When we decided to get a dog, it was in the back of my mind right from the get go that we'd need to get him or her fixed.
Let's quickly define fixing - to put in order or in good condition (thanks online dictionary!).
Talos was spayed on Monday. She came through A-ok, and a day after her surgery, when I got home from work and my relief at seeing her just fine (bouncy happy puppy) overwhelmed me a little, she held my hand.
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| Yes, I'm holding her chewy stick, but still... 'holding my hand' is totally legitimate interpretation of what she was doing. It was a long day, ok? |
Before her spay, I believed what everyone believed, and what you read on almost every website out there on the topic of spaying and neutering.
In short, you should spay because:
- Spaying leads to a happier, healthier, longer life.
- Reduces hyperactivity.
- Prevents constant crying and pacing of a dog in heat.
- You never have to deal with messy heat cycles.
- Increases affectionate behaviour to owners.
- If you spay before the first heat, you eliminate the risk of breast cancer.
- No chance ever for uterine infections or cancers.
- No chance ever for ovarian cancers.
- Decreases aggressive tendencies..
- Decreases bad behaviours related to trying to escape.
My sources include the American Humane Association and the Humane Society, and the South African Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They also include numerous vet's websites, and the procedure was recommended to me by our own vet at a routine vaccination appointment. I dare say that I, and anyone else finding this info, has/have every reason to trust these sources, since these are our usual sources for best practice regarding our animals.
A very big feature of the discussions around spaying and neutering also center around responsibility, specifically our responsibility to help decrease the number of unwanted pets. By spaying and neutering our pets before they ever have a chance to breed, we may just get to a point where they don't have to put down millions of dogs and cats a year. I feel obligated to add here that I really wish this weren't the case. I really wish for a world where every pet has a happy home from birth to death, after a long, healthy life. I feel very emotionally invested in trying to change the fact that millions of furry creatures are killed simply because we have nothing else to offer them.
In light of this looming mass euthanasia of dogs (and cats too), many humane societies and vets have started advocating what they call a pediatric spay, this is a spay that you do as early as 8 weeks. That means that this little belly:
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| Talos on her second day with us, 8 weeks old |
In technical, surgical terms, that is what a spay entails. They cut the dog open from the belly button down, between four and seven cms is typical. The cut happens in stages, first the skin, then the subcutaneous layer, then the sac that holds the internal and reproductive organs. They dig out her ovaries, pulling them out one by one, clamping them and cutting them off. Then they pull the uterus through the incision, clamp it, and remove it. Everything is sutured off, leaving a 'stump' of tissue where the uterus used to be. Then, everything is sewn closed, the internal-most suture often being stainless steel and present forever more.
Here is a video that shows a spay being done, for those who want more graphic info (warning - actual surgery footage, it's not blood spurting everywhere, jack the ripper style, but it's not for the very squeamish either):
Part 1:Part 2:
Pediatric spays are said to be a good thing because of how quickly such young dogs heal after the procedure, and how simple the procedure is for vets - there is not very much abdominal muscle or fat yet. At the very least, we hear, you should spay your dog before the first heat cycle to eliminate the chance of pregnancy.
The main reason for pediatric spay is to prevent irresponsible pet owners from ever even having the temptation of breeding - this is why it's done at many humane associations. Again, - if I had to kill pets day in and day out, I would also be on a crusade to prevent this from continuing.
What these websites don't tell you, though, is the negative effects of early spaying and neutering - nevermind pediatric spay, we're now simply talking about spaying before your pet reaches complete maturity.
Research has shown that spaying does not, in fact, reduce the risk for mammary tumours. It substantially increases the risk for cardiac tumours. In large breeds especially, early spaying/neutering pretty much doubles the risk for bone cancer. Spaying early makes dogs grow taller and leaner than non-spayed dogs (or dogs spayed later), due to a lack of hormonal regulation of their growth plates. It leads to a much increased incidence of knee injuries (specifically canine anterior cruciate ligament tears). It increases the risk of hip displasia. The remaining stump after a spay can develop stump granuloma, which needs surgery. It may lead to incontinence in female dogs, an increased risk for hypothyroidism, an increased risk of adverse reactions to vaccines and if you spay really young, a greater chance for your pet to get a variety of infectious diseases. Oh, and just to add to this list, early spaying increases certain behavioural problems, like noise phobias, fearful behaviour, aggression and it may even lead to a dog that humps more, not less. The behavioural benefits attributed to a spay can all be achieved through training.
In short, this procedure can shorten a pet's lifespan by 30%!
If you look at that list again of positives again, all you're left with are the benefits of the stuff you've removed not being able to get cancer or infection, no messy heat cycles, and, the big one, no puppies.
Surely, though, there is a better way to prevent puppies?
There is, you can either just remove the ovaries (this eliminates the risk of uterine infections too, by the way, since they're caused by cysts forming due to hormones released by the ovaries). You can even go for a tubal ligation, like they do for humans (you'd still have heat cycles in this case). Both of these are considerably less invasive surgeries, with considerably better outcomes.
Not in South Africa just yet, though. Perhaps at veterinary schools. If you find out, let me know. We NEED this info to get out there.
This has been an astonishingly difficult post to write. I've tried being lighthearted, stunned and angry, naive ... nothing seemed to work. In the end, factual and grimly resigned is where I've ended up - and that's how I feel about spaying as well. Talos is sleeping on my lap, having had the procedure that may well have cost us 30% of our time with her.
Why did I do it, knowing the above?
My little pup lives near unneutered males, and will live near them her whole life. Not my dogs, but dogs near her. There will always be some fool who didn't want his dog to lose his balls (because his dog is a projection of his own masculinity?), that is both off lead, with zero training, and in my face. (I don't mind intact males with sensible owners, and it is never the dog's fault in this case). Probably even in my yard, or in my house, while I'm harbouring a female in heat. While I am a responsible person, I cannot absolutely guarantee that I can keep her safe from these other dogs, all the time, 100%. I can keep her indoors for the two months and a bit out of a year her two heat cycles would make her able to breed, but I cannot keep my doors permanently closed (I need in and out), nor can I absolutely guarantee that my little girl won't escape. Now, never mind the 'too many puppies already' spiel, a little pug like Talos is not a good candidate for random matings with almost definitely larger males. It could well kill her. Either in his attempts, or in her birthing.
Spring is coming, which would have brought her first heat cycle. We waited as long as I (and our vet) felt was reasonable, but that said, we could probably have stretched it by a few weeks.
And that would be my advice to others. Consider your own situation. Maybe you can absolutely guarantee the safety of your female. If you can, please, for her health, for her wellbeing, for her happiness in general, let her mature fully. Let her reach one and a half, two years old, maybe more if she is a large breed - a lot of the above mentioned problems are not an issue if she is given a chance to fully mature.
Also, if you can, find a vet, demand a vet, campaign for a vet that will do either a tubal ligation or an ovariectomy.
Seriously, though, don't breed more puppies because you couldn't be bothered. Of course, that's not who will read this, and be troubled by this, and despite all the dreadful things you're causing, still spay your puppy. I need to say this again - go and volunteer at an SPCA. Lead a few hundred dogs to the euthanasia room, then come back here and tell me how you didn't spay (or take measures to prevent any puppies ever).
(I'm not talking to you responsible breeders out there. Please, keep fighting the good fight.)
At the very least, it's high time we stop saying that we should spay/neuter all pets because it's the best thing for them. It isn't. It may well be the best thing for us, but we need to own up to the fact that that is the real reason. I want to say that again - spaying and neutering is something we're doing to accomplish a human end, not something we're doing for the good of our pets.
We are not 'fixing' them.
Here are a list of references:
Vet Practice News Columns: is early neutering hurting pets
And academic articles:
Stöcklin-Gautschi N. M., Hässig M., Reichler I. M., Hubler M., Arnold S., The relationship of urinary incontinence to early spaying in bitches. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 2001 (57) Pp. 233-6.
Slauterbeck J. R., Pankratz K., Xu K. T., Bozeman S. C., Hardy D. M.,
Canine ovariohysterectomy and orchiectomy increases the prevalence of ACL injury.
Clinical Orthopeadics and Related Research 2004 (429) Pp. 301-5.
Grumbach M. M., Estrogen, bone, growth and sex: a sea change in conventional wisdom. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2000 (13) Supplement 6, Pp. 1439-55.
Ru G., Terracini B., Glickman L. T., Host related risk factors for canine osteosarcoma. Veterinary Journal 1998 (156: 1) Pp. 31-9.
Ware W. A., Hopper D. L., Cardiac tumors in dogs: 1982-1995. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medecine 1999 (13:2) Pp. 95-103.
For the boys:
Cooley D. M., Beranek B. C., Schlittler D. L., Glickman N. W., Glickman L. T., Waters D. J., Endogenous gonadal hormone exposure and bone sarcoma risk. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 2002 (11:11) Pp. 1434-40.
Obradovich J., Walshaw R., Goullaud E.
The influence of castration on the development of prostatic carcinoma in the dog. 43 cases (1978-1985).
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medecine 1987 (1:4) Pp. 183-7.
Howe, L. M., Slater, M., Boothe, H. W., Hobson, P., Holcom, J. L., Spann, A. C., Long-term outcome of gonadectomy performed at an early age or traditional age in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2001 ( 218: 2
) Pp. 217-221
Spain, C. V., Scarlett, J. M., Houpt, K. A., Long-term risks and benefits of early-age gonadectomy in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2004 (224: 3) Pp. 380-387
And lastly, a link to alternatives:
Alternatives to Spay/Neuter
