The AVMA may be changing its tune on spay/neuter. According to an article last month on MSNBC (yeah, I'm just catching this), some groups within the AVMA are considering a postion paper that speaks out against laws that mandate the spay/neuter of dogs. Some recent studies have shown that spay/neuter can cause an increased risks of certain cancers, thyroid disorder, incontinence and even aggression.
The increased risk varies depending on the type of dog and the age of the dog when the surgery is performed.
“What they’re saying is that because there have been problems associated with spay/neuter surgery, they think it’s improper for it to be mandated, much less at an early age," says John Hamil, a member of the American College of Theriogenologits' task force, a group of reproduction specialists that advises the AVMA. "They feel the decision should be made after discussion between the owner and veterinarian.”
Patty Khuly, a veterinarian in Miami, notes:
"I don’t believe that the fourth month is a reasonable window,” she says. “Most veterinarians would agree on that. I think low-cost spay/neuter, making it more available, is the solution, as opposed to mandating a time frame, especially when we don’t know the real impact of early spay/neuter.”
It also appears that the impact is greater for large breed dogs. In the MSNBC poll, over 75% of the 5300 respondents don't support mandatory surgeries.
This article talks about the negative health impact of the laws, and doesn't note that the laws have not proven to be effective at controlling the animal population.
Comments