Pediatric Spay and Neuter

What is Pediatric Spay and Neuter?

Pediatric spaying and neutering is spaying and neutering of animals less than 6 months of age. Six months of age, traditionally, has been the standard age for spaying and neutering. Six months was selected as the standard age because it was the simplest for veterinarians to convey to their clients.

In the 1960s veterinarians discovered that spaying before the first estrous (heat) significantly reduced the risks of developing mammary cancer. Because different size dogs and cats have their first estrous at different ages, it was less confusing for veterinarians to recommend 6 months as the best age. It is not based upon any research or scientific reason.  The difficulty with this rule of thumb lies in that many cats may have their first heat at 4 months. Thus waiting until 6 months to spay risks an accidental pregnancy.

Now, with the anesthetics available today, more advanced monitoring equipment and surgical techniques, spaying and neutering is safe in animals as young as 8 weeks. In fact, the risks associated with spaying and neutering are the same or lower in young kittens and puppies, as in those 6 months or older. They also recover much faster from the surgery. Concerns about adverse effects have been proven unfounded. Some veterinarians still recommend 6 months or older to their clients. Veterinarian’s preferences will depend on their familiarity with the surgical technique and anesthesia, rather than on medical evidence of physiological reasons.

Making sure it’s done!

Pediatric spaying and neutering is ideal for shelters. Historically, shelters had to rely on spay/neuter agreements with adopters and fewer than half of those promises were kept. Pediatric spay and neuter ensures that all the shelter animals are spayed and neutered prior to adoption without waiting until puppies and kittens are 6 months old. This is vital to controlling and preventing pet overpopulation.

How is pediatric spaying and neutering different?

The major concern with young puppies and kittens is making sure that body temperatures and blood glucose levels remain at adequate levels. Veterinarians must pay careful attention to dosing of anesthesia and monitoring of the patient. The procedure is ultimately the same as for older animals. Many veterinarians actually prefer pediatric spay and neutering because the patients are handled easily, bleeding and fat are minimal, and the patients recover very quickly.

Common Concerns Addressed

Does Pediatric Spay and Neuter cause Obesity?

No. The age at which a pet is spayed and neutered is not at all related to obesity. Obesity is the result of a poor diet and lack of activity.

Will it stunt a pet’s growth?

No. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Spaying and Neutering at an early age has actually been found to cause delayed closure of the growth plates of long bones. This results in bones that are slightly longer. No statistically differences in size were noted between pets spayed at 7 weeks and those at 7 months. This means that early spaying and neutering does not cause animals to be noticeably larger than others. (Note that is prolonged growth, rather than more rapid growth, thus bone density is not compromised).

How will spaying or neutering a pet so young affect their behaviour?

As of yet, there is no evidence that pediatric spaying and neutering is associated with behavioural changes other than those already known to be linking with spaying and neutering at any age. In other words, it makes pets more affectionate, males are less likely to roam, mark territory with urine and fight with other males. All are very desirable outcomes.

How does pediatric spaying and neutering affect a pet’s secondary sex characteristics?

In females spayed at a young age the vulva (external genitals) is smaller in size, as well as the mammary glands and nipples. In males, the penis and prepuce remain juvenile in appearance. There are no known clinical problems associated with these outcomes.

Is pediatric spaying associated with urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence, the inability to control urination, is sometimes seen in older female dogs whether spayed or not. There is no indication that urinary incontinence occurs at a higher rate in animals that have been spayed at any early age.

"The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) strongly recommends neutering of all cats and dogs not intended for breeding. The CVMA supports the use of early spay/castration programs by animal shelters to sterilize pets before adoption."