Pet sterilization laws raise health concerns

Catherine · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 6:05 pm

[url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24597888/]Pet sterilization laws raise health concerns
Spayed or neutered dogs more at risk for cancers, other ills, research shows[/url]

BY: Kim Campbell Thornton

As legislators push for more mandatory spay and neuter laws for pets as young as 4 and 6 months in hopes of reducing the number of unwanted animals, critics are crying foul over research showing that such surgeries may raise certain health risks in dogs and therefore shouldn't be required.

Studies have shown that dogs that undergo spaying (removal of the ovaries and uterus) or neutering (removal of the testicles) are at increased risks for certain cancers, thyroid disorder, incontinence and some of the same behavior issues, such as aggression, that the surgeries are said to prevent.

A Proud Liberal · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 6:15 pm

I adopted a male cat that was neutered at a young age. He was subject to painful and life threatening bladder infections and blockages as a result. He was unable to eat dry cat food because its ash content was too high and a bladder blockage would result. He lived to be a ripe old age eating only canned cat food. These procedures need to be done but only after the animals reach some level of maturity, if you're performing the procedures on too young of animals, you are condemning them to a life of pain and illness. Is this any better than just euthanizing them?

Catherine · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 6:37 am

I agree that we need to spay and neuter, but spaying and neutering needs to be done when the animal is mature enough so that the procedure doesn't cause it pain and suffering later on.

I hope this information is passed around enough so that vets and humane societies will get the message and act on it.

Pet sterilization laws raise health concerns

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