Population Control - ASCI 227 Companion Animal Science

sterilization decreased risk

• mammary gland tumors

• prostatic enlargement

• unwanted behaviors

  • wandering behaviors (seeking mate)

sterilization to eliminate

• ovarian/ uterine cancer

• pyometra

• dystocia

• testicular cancer

• androgen driven bladder stone formation

  • bully breeds

pyometra

• forms after diestrus

• forms pseudopregnancy

• ascending infection to uterus

androgen driven bladder stone formation

• bully breeds predisposed

• cysteine stones

• driven by testosterone

• lots of small stones in urethra → blocked

possible risks to sterilizing pets

• urinary incontinence

• prostatic neoplasia

• hypothyroidism

• diabetes mellitus

• breed related orthopedic conditions

  • CCLR

  • hip dysplasia

  • elbow dysplasia

• breed related cancers

  • cardiac and splenic hemangiosarcoma

incidence of pyometra

• 15% by 4 years of age

• 24% by 10 years of age

in dogs with a heart tumor

• hemangiosarcoma most common with incidence of 0.19%

• strong breed predilection exists

• spayed females reportedly have 5 times the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma compared with risk for sexually intact females

early age neutering

• kittens - no issues at neutering very young/ small

• some specific large breed dogs - waiting decreases very slight risk of some orthopedic diseases

increased

_________ life expectancy

• mean age of death (intact): 7.9 years

• mean age of death (sterilized): 9.5 years

• sterilization was assoc. with increased life expectancy of 

appropriate age for sterilization

• for most animals, before 5 months

• or prior to adoption for shelter animals

• exception: large breed male house dogs: after growth plates close (15-18 mos)