neuteringat6weeks

RSPCA Admit to Spaying and Castrating Puppies

AT SIX WEEKS OLD

RSPCA Shock Admission

The RSPCA, the UK's largest animal welfare organisation and the nation’s conscience regarding animal cruelty, has today admitted to a program of castrating and spaying dogs as young as six weeks old.

These actions could possibly contravene the Animal Welfare Act of 2007. The RSPCA along with other organisations were to some extent instrumental in the inclusion of the “duty of care” part of that legislation.

The bill, possibly the most important legislative move on captive and domestic animals since the Protection of Animals Act of 1911, came into neut1

effect on 6th April 2007. It makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. These requirements include the following:

The need:

For a suitable environment (place to live)

For a suitable diet

To exhibit normal behaviour patterns

To be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)

To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

I spoke to David Yates BVSc MRCVS the RSPCA's hospital director for the Greater Manchester animal hospital, who stated categorically, that neutering before puberty and as young as six weeks old is acceptable. He told me that the RSPCA had pursued this position since 2007.

This is not just a national disgrace, I believe it shows a woeful lack of knowledge on how and when animals, and in particular dogs mature.

Spaying and Castration can make for a better and more affectionate family pet. It is a medical fact that neutering can prolong the life of our pets and may reduce the number of health problems in later life. However, spaying and neutering at this age could inhibit many dogs from exhibiting normal behaviour patterns, such as cocking and marking. And may affect normal psychological maturity.

Allowing an animal to exhibit normal behaviour patterns is as mentioned earlier, is one of the main constituents of the Animal Welfare Act. I therefore believe the RSPCA may be acting in contravention of the very ACT they helped create.

(Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have stated that they recommend cats and dogs are neutered from around six months of age upwards, taking into consideration the breed and behaviour of the animal. We would not recommend neutering kittens and puppies at 6 weeks old as the animal has not had time to mature and develop properly.

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The Kennel Clubs Geneticist Jeff Sampson, stated quite equivocally , “In our view neutering puppies at 6 weeks old seems totally irresponsible. Regardless of the potential health benefits, which are far from universally accepted, neutering at 6 weeks old is just too young.’

Chris Laurence MBE QVRM TD BVSc MRCVS. Veterinary Director of The Dogs Trust, stated that they never spay or neuter at such an early age, and would wait until pre puberty ie around 6 months. Dr Lawrence told me that spaying and neutering at 6 weeks could have a detrimental effect on these young pups.

He lists early socialisation as a major factor and that these animals can be spayed or castrated at a later time, therefore why do this so young?

The Blue Cross have confirmed, that if a dog is adopted from the Blue Cross when it is under six months old they will provide the adopter with a voucher supporting payment of the procedure, to be carried out by a vet at a later stage. Alternatively, where practical, the procedure will be undertaken by a vet employed by a Blue Cross animal adoption centre.

The Blue Cross have therefore stated that neutering under six months is not advisable!

A number of people have stated we are following the American trend in these actions. Why? We do not have the same problems they have in the USA. With dogs that are effectively latch key dogs that are let out to fend for themselves. Therefore the uneutered pets could cause unwanted litters. This is not a problem we have in the UK. Unless I am missing something here. When I look out of my house or car windows I never see packs of dogs roaming the streets looking for mates.

There have been many scientific studies on the beneficial outcome of neutering especially on a physiological level. But very little I can find on a neut3

psychological and behavioural level. To this end I started asking relevant questions within my dog behaviour practice some six years ago.

I started noticing frustration, lack of attention, inability to concentrate, and puppy like behaviour. This was considerably more prevalent in dogs that were neutered at a younger age, rather than those that were allowed to mature naturally.

I call this (paedomorphic behaviour) in other words dogs that retain perpetual puppy like characteristics. I also observed that bitches spayed too early, may be far more interesting to intact males; which may cause the female to become aggressive and protective of this attention in adulthood.

Despite popular belief, spaying does not calm a female down. It may help to calm certain behaviour's in males, but not females. calming hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen are totally removed. These work as serotonin uplifters which affect mood and well being. Remove these from a fractious dog and you can get a dog that is more bad tempered and aggressive.

The immature castrated male dog may often squat for the remainder of its life, never showing normal adult marking behaviour, and can often appear more sexually interesting to intact males, causing unwanted attention and aggressive retaliation.

There appears to be testosterone surges by the time the male pup reaches 4 to 5 months, reaching a peak at 10 months of age, and then they fall to adult male levels by around 18 months of age .depending on breed and size, which clearly turns on a dormant hard-wired program that establishes natural cocking behaviour.

Many of these hard-wired behaviour's are not isolated to just one action, therefore other functions that are not so obvious may be switched on at this time. These have social and behavioural implications that aid in the development of dogs psychological and physical growth. Without these hormonal surges. full maturity may not occur.

Progesterone receptors are found in brain cells, in nerve sheaths and in bone cells, indicating that progesterone is involved in their function. It also appears to be involved in a range of other biological activities. Therefore neutering which removes testosterone, progesterone, and oestrogen before both physical and psychological maturity, could have numerous other long-term detrimental effects.

Can it also cause physiological problems?
Because early neutering removes sex hormones, this delays maturation of “osteoclasts” resulting in the delayed closing of the growth plates of the long leg bones, creating leggy taller than average dogs, therefore increasing the risk of some orthopaedic disorders such as cruciate ligament disease, joint disorders and possibly bone cancer.

It was long believed that eunuchs (castrated humans) were castrated to stop them being interested is the ladies of the harem. However in reality their main function was palace guards, therefore castration and the affect on the “osteoclasts” made these eunuch's appreciably taller and more imposing as guards and soldiers.

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It has also been observed that spaying can significantly increase the risk of urinary incontinence in bitches. Early neutering also increases risk of urethral sphincter incontinence in males (A. Aaron et al., Vet Rec. 139:542-6, 1996.)

In conclusion, I am all for spaying and neutering, but at the right time, thereby allowing your dogs to reach full maturity in both body and mind.

David Yates the RSPCA's Hospital Director stated that the observations by my colleagues at PAACT “The Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers” who gave observational data and input, are just observations. And without a peer reviewed scientific tests and experiments are therefore meaningless.

It do not agree, all these observations show psychological and a physiological evidence that the impact of early neutering appears to have a detrimental effect on our pets. they should not even be separated from the mother at this age, never mind being put through a traumatic, and to my mind needless operation.

I they feel so strongly about it, why do they not perform tubal ligation or vasectomy, which is a far less invasive techniques than neutering, and which allows the production of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, thus an animal’s normal urges and social development will not be impeded. If the behaviour at maturity then suggests that neutering would be of benefit, then it could be done at that time

I was recently surprised to find that a trainer who also claims to be a behaviourist. who has stated that she is in favour of very early spaying and neutering, the earlier the better. She applauds the stance of the RSPCA. Her name is Vera Marney she describes herself as the head trainer of Wagging Tails Dog Training, in South Norwood.

All the other trainers and behaviourists I have spoken to are very aware of the behavioural and physical problems that could occur. And were strongly opposed to these operations on young puppies. Everyone is entitled to a opinion,. however the general public should be aware of that opinion and make their own choices.

These are other rescue centre's that have stated they support early spaying and neutering of very young pups.

The Mayhew Animal Home
Trenmar Gardens
London NW10 6BJ
www.mayhewanimalhome.org

Furry Friends Animal Rescue
Tel: 020 8407 1080/0797 356 9371
Email: Adrs@aol.com

Hope Rescue
www.hoperescue.org.uk

AllBreeds Rescue
allbreedsrescue@btinternet.com
www.allbreedsrescue.co.nr

Allbreeds were so proud of what they did, they e mailed me to ask me to include them on this list and that they always neutered at 12 WEEKS. If you believe they are right support them, if not e mail them and state your concerns.

Why do we have these hormones in the first place? Do these people think that they are there by accident? Oestrogen Progesterone and Testosterone play a major role in allowing maturity to occur in all animals including mankind. There will be many thousands of people who own dogs with physical and behavioural problems down in part to the RSPCA and the centre's listed above.

I believe the RSPCA and these other charities could possibly be held accountable under the “Duty of Care” of the Animal Welfare Act, by detrimentally affecting animals in their care and trust, specifically the part which insists owners and keepers must allow animals in to be able to and I quote; “ exhibit normal behaviour patterns”. These are called the five freedoms. What freedoms are these organisations allowing, when dogs cannot even be allowed to mature past tiny puppy's before being denied the hormones they need to become adults.

I totally believe that spaying and neutering at this ludicrously young age is wrong. This practice should cease immediately until scientific data shows otherwise.

I believe that a full psychological and physiological set of tests and experiments should be scientifically undertaken to study the effect of early castration and spaying on all our animals, not just dogs and cats. The RCVS should consider clinical tests that will determine if removing these critical hormones at such a desperately young age has a effects I have outlined and observed.

At present they sit on the fence. This is their quote when I asked them their position on neutering at such an early age.

The RCVS does not advise veterinary surgeons, either in the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct or elsewhere, on the age at which animals should be neutered. This, along with other areas of clinical veterinary practice, is a matter for decision by the individual veterinary surgeon based on his or her professional judgment and the best available clinical evidence at the time.
Until proven conclusively (that no adverse affect occur) the RSPCA should give an undertaking not to use charitable donations to repeat these deplorable operations. It is the general public that will initially make the difference. Therefore I urge you to e mail or write to

RSPCA , Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS.
Or contact their press office E Mail cpitt@rspca.org.uk

If you want to know when you should spay and neuter your dog, see the full article at http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/spaying_neutering.shtml

Stan Rawlinson MTCBPT.MPAACT
Doglistener, Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer
H 0208 979 2019 M 07976 153161
enquiries@doglistener.co.uk
www.doglistener.co.uk

Chairman of PAACT
The Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers
www.paact.co.uk

I am starting a list of those welfare and dog organisations that neuter at around six months or after please see below:

Farplace Animal Rescue
www.farplace.co.uk
Follow their vets advice not to neuter under 6 months unless there is an overriding medical reason

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
http://www.dogshome.org/

The Dogs Trust
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/

The Blue Cross
http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/home/home.asp

The Kennel Club
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/

This article was written by Stan Rawlinson, a full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer.
You can visit his website at www.doglistener.co.uk for more articles and training information. You may freely distribute this article or save to any electronic media as long as it is left intact, including this copyright box above. Please let me know out of courtesy where and when you publish. E.mail will suffice.