Affenpinscher

Pediatric Spay/Neuter

Definition

This is the surgical sterilization of kittens and puppies as early as eight weeks of age. Early spay/neuter is also referred to as: early-age spay/neuter, pediatric spay/neuter, juvenile spay/neuter and prepubertal sterilization.

Pediatric Spay/Neuter Endorsements

Pediatric spay/neuter is endorsed by the following national organizations:

* AHA American Animal Hospital Association
* ACA Alley Cat Allies
* AHA American Humane Association
* American Kennel Club
* ASPCA American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - Since 1972
* AVAR American Veterinarians for Animal Rights
* AVMA American Veterinary Medical Association - July 93 Resolution in support
* CFA Cat Fanciers Association
* FoA Friends of Animals
* HSUS Humane Society of the United States
* ISAR International Society for Animal Rights
* MSPCA Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
* NACA National Animal Control Association
* NHES National Humane Education Society
* SOS Save Our Strays
* Spay/USA
* Many state and local veterinary associations including California Veterinary Medical Association and California Animal Control Director's Association, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, and an increasing number of local animal shelters nationwide as well as Cornell University and UC-Davis.
* Bob Christiansen of Save Our Strays estimates only 5% of vets nationally perform early-age spay/neuters and was startled to find that many animal shelters with public spay/neuter clinics are not even practicing early age spay/neuters for the public. - USA Tour Summary, December 00
* The Southern Oregon Humane Society in Medford, Oregon began practicing prepubertal sterilization in 1975.

Videos:

From the November-December 2000 Issue

Early-Age Neutering: A Practical Guide for Veterinarians
http://www.avar.org/avar_early_age_video.html
...from the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights and the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine
Length: 19 minutes
If you need help convincing the veterinarians in your community of the merits of pediatric sterilization, consider this new video from the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) and the University of California, Davis. Illustrating the veterinarian's role in reducing the numbers of homeless animals, the video promotes the sterilization of cats and dogs who are 6 to 16 weeks old.
Demonstrating actual surgeries on pediatric kittens and puppies, Early-Age Neutering touts the safety and ease of the procedure. Viewers learn that the recovery process is rapid, with most animals returning to normal activity within an hour of surgery.

Two Videos Promote Early-Age Sterilization:

* "Early-Age Neutering of Puppies and Kittens" from MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and AHES (American Humane Education Society)

* "The Case for Early Neutering" from AHA (American Humane Association) http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pb_animals_spay_neuter From HSUS Animal Sheltering Mar-Apr 96

Online articles and resources:

"Early Age Neutering: Perfect for Every Practice" by Dr. Marvin Mackie
http://www.ahimsatx.org/easn/easnmm.htm

Early Spay/Neuter in the Cat
www.winnfelinehealth.org/reports/early-neuter.html

Pediatric or Early Spay/Neuter
Dr. Tracy Land, Project Spay/Neuter, Inc., GA
http://www.projectspayneuter.com/html/why.html

"Prepubertal Gonadectomy in Dogs and Cats - Parts I and II" by Lisa M. Howe, DVM, PhD from Texas A&M University, Feb 99
http://www.ivis.org/advances/Concannon/olson/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1

"Early Spay/Neuter in the Cat" by Susan Little DVM, CFA Health Committee
http://www.catvet.homestead.com/EarlyAlter.html

"Early Age Spay and Neuter in the Cat" by Susan Little, DVM
www.cfainc.org/health/early-spay-neuter.html

"Early Age Sterilization: The New Standard for Performing Castrations and Spays in Shelters, Private Practices, and Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospitals"
Downloadable pdf file from Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR):
http://avar.org/EarlyAge%20Sterlization3.pdf

"Early Age Spay/Neuter - A Tool Against Unnecessary Euthanasia"
A factsheet published by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies by Clayton MacKay, DVM, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
http://www.cfhs.ca/Programs/HumaneEducation/GeneralPublic/EarlyAgeSpay/index.htm

"The Truth about Juvenile Spay/Neuter"
By Richard Allen, DVM, Best Friends Sanctuary, Utah veterinarian
Downloadable pdf file:
http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/pdf/juvenilespayneuter.pdf

Early Age Spay/Neuter Before Adoption – Sterilization from 7 to 16 weeks of age.
Downloadable pdf file from Alley Cat Allies (ACA)
http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/early.pdf

Early-Age Spay/Neuter: "A Growing Consensus by Mary Eno and Sally Fekety," Nov 93
http://www.hsus2.org/sheltering/library/early-age.html

"Early-Age Spay/Neuter Medical Issues"
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
http://www.hsus2.org/sheltering/library/early_age2.html

Early Spay Neuter page with other links
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/3960/early.htm

"Early Neuter Saves Lives" by Katy White, DVM, Veterinarian/Shelter Manager, Longmont Humane Society
http://www.longmonthumane.org/
Click on Publications, Spring/Summer 2001 Newsletter

Professional Information on the Benefits of Early Spay/Neuter
http://www2.dgsys.com/~ermiller/earlys-n.html ermiller@dgsys.com

No More Homeless Pets (NMHP)Weekly Forums:
http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/weeklyforum/

August 2 – 6, 2004 [Recent forum archives are not posted for some weeks.]
The Future of Spay/Neuter
Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida and Dr. Brenda Griffin of Auburn University are answering your questions about the future of non-surgical contraception for animals, high-volume spay/neuter, juvenile spay/neuter, and more. Everything you want to know about spay/neuter and the future strategies for ending pet overpopulation.

February 16– 20, 2004
Getting Veterinarians Involved Dr. Leslie Appel of Shelter Outreach Services will answer your questions about communicating with veterinarians. How can you talk to your vet about doing juvenile spay/neuter? Or feral cats? How can you create more harmonious relations between your group and the vets in your community?
Subject: Convincing vets that pediatric spay/neuter is safe
http://www.bestfriends.org/archives/forums/021604vets.html#one

February 24 - 28, 2003
Dr. Dave Sweeney, veterinarian and chief of staff at No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s Big Fix mobile van, talks about early age spay/neuter. http://www.bestfriends.org/archives/forums/pediatric.html

The following articles are print copies which could be reproduced, obtained from the authors or publishers, or possibly found online:

"Early Age Gonadectomy Practitioner Participation Needed" by John A. Hamil, DVM in Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, PULSE, Jul 95.

"Evaluation of anesthetic protocols for neutering 6- to 14-week-old pups" by Alica M. Faggella, DVM, and Michael G. Aronsohn, VMD, in JAVMA, Jul 94, Original Study

"Spaying/Neutering comes of age" - AVMA News in JAVMA, Sep 93

"Early-age neutering of dogs and cats" by Peter Theran, VMD, from JAVMA, Mar 93, Animal Welfare Forum

"Early neuters could safely cure overpopulation, study says" by Robin L. Daugherty, Associate Editor, from DVM, Mar 93

"It's Time for Early Age Neutering" by W. Marvin Mackie, DVM from Veterinary News, about 92

"A case for neutering pups and kittens at two months of age" by Leo L. Lieberman, DVM from JAVMA, Sep 87

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Copyright 2001-2005
Researched and compiled by ~Barb,
AnimalResources@aol.com
Animal Advocate/Volunteer
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