Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/855118
Page 56 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com Dr. Marlene Siegel Pasco Veterinary Medical Center www.pascovet.com 813-973-2929 There are however alterna ve procedures that prevent reproduc on while preserving the sex hormone producing ssues. Examples include tubal liga ons, hysterectomies and vasectomies. However, these procedures may not be the best op on for all pet owners. With tubal liga on or hysterectomies, female dogs will s ll have a heatcycle, bleed and a ract male dogs. During their heat cycle, a female can NEVER be le alone! They are highly a rac ve to intact male dogs that will jump over, dig under and persevere to find their love mate. Male dogs are so determined to breed, they will accomplish their quest even through a chain link fence! Females will be responsive to breeding though they can not get pregnant. Female dogs can s ll get cancer in the remaining reproduc ve ssues or be at risk for an infected uterus. Male dogs with a vasectomy may exhibit strong roaming behavior when there is a female in heat along with humping behavior and urinary marking. With diligence, training and special aids (like a belly band that keeps the penis against the belly to prevent marking while owners give posi ve reinforcement un l the dog learns not to mark) some undesirable behaviors can be removed. These males are s ll suscep ble to tes cular and prosta c disease (cancer and hyperplasia) and perianal hernias. And last but not least, there is the risk of vasectomy failure and the male could impregnate a female. In our hec c, fast paced society, people are challenged to find quality me to parent their 2-legged kids, let alone the addi onal me, effort and knowledge needed to have a pet with intact sex hormones. These procedures are for owners who understand the ramifica ons, the extra work and responsibility required to have a pet sterilized with these hormone sparing techniques. Delaying the spay/ neuter un l later in life (2-4 years of age) has its challenges as well. Besides the addi onal diligence required to keep an intact pet (to prevent accidental pregnancy) and the behavior issues described above, the surgery becomes more difficult and expensive as the fur child gets bigger (and fa er) along with the increased risk of surgery on an older animal. Interes ngly, the only reason tubal liga ons; hysterectomies and vasectomies are not performed more rou nely for dogs are simply that, it is not taught in veterinary schools. 3 CLEAR CONCERNS: 1. Popula on control 2. Maintaining the health of the pet while doing popula on control 3. Managing the behavioral challenges of pets that s ll have sex hormone influence There are other details to be worked through, such as being able to iden fy animals that are sterilized (remember the tes cles will s ll be present) because the evidence of the vasectomy/tubal liga on or hysterectomy won't be visible and the pet behaves as if it were s ll intact. With the alarming number of pets that end up in shelters, this will be a serious concern and will likely result in the animals undergoing a second surgery. While the issues surrounding pet steriliza on are a huge topic affec ng every pet and their owner, don't forget that the pet's health starts in the gut. Always seek to feed a balanced species appropriate raw diet with essen al vitamins, minerals, fa y acids, probio cs and clean filtered water. Minimize environmental toxins and reduce stress, both physical and emo onal! Careful considera on and long-term responsibili es need to be thought through before deciding what method of steriliza on is best for you and your pet.