In April, the American Kennel Club (AKC) adopted changes to its Canine Legislation Position Statements related to spaying and neutering. The AKC Board of Directors, when considering the changes, took into account recent scientific studies that found that sterilizing a dog, particularly before it has fully matured, can lead to significant future health issues, including several types of cancer, hip dysplasia, ligament damage, chronic incontinence, and shorter lifespans. Because many factors should be considered by owners before their pets endure major sterilization surgery, the AKC believes that important health care decisions should be made on an individual basis by the owner of a dog in conjunction with his or her veterinarian.
Now, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has created a new online resource to help veterinarians re-examine the medical and societal risks and benefits of individual pet sterilization. The Elective Spaying and Neutering of Pets website also provides continuing veterinary education videos on elective spaying and neutering and other resources to assist practitioners and their clients in determining best courses of action for pets.
For more information, go to AVMA’s Elective Spaying and Neutering of Pets website–https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/AnimalWelfare/Pages/Elective-Spaying-Neutering-Pets.aspx?utm_source=email-optin&utm_medium=aw-focus-1608&utm_campaign=spay-neuter&utm_term=link&utm_content=gonadectomy.
Click here to visit the AKC Legislative Action Center’s Mandatory Spay/Neuter Issues page for more background on AKC’s position and talking points on this important issue.