De ce este bine sa sterilizam animalele si cand anume este indicat sa o facem?Why is it wise to spay and neuter animals and when is the proper time to do it?

Conform celor mai recente si ample studii medicale:

Tumorile mamare sunt de 3 ori mai frecvente la catea decat la femeie. Dintre tumorile mamare, sunt maligne 53% la catea si 90% la pisica.
Fata de catelele nesterilizate, catelele sterilizate inainte de primele calduri (care apar la varsta de 7-9 luni) au un risc de cancer mamar redus de 200 de ori, iar catelele sterilizate dupa primele calduri au un risc de cancer mamar redus de 12.5 ori.

According to the most recent and extensive medical research:

Mammary tumors are three times more frequent for the bitch than the woman. Among which, 53% prove to be malign for the bitch and 90% for the cat.

Compared to the non spayed bitches, the ones that are spayed before the first estrus (occurring at about 7-9 months) have a risk of mammary cancer diminished by 200 %, and for the bitches spayed after the first estrus the risk is 12,5% lower.
(sursa: The Merck Veterinary Manual, Eighth Edition, 2003, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA)

In plus, sterilizarea prin ovariohisterectomie (eliminarea ovarelor si a uterului) elimina complet riscul de aparitie a cancerului ovarian sau a piometrului (puroi in uter). Piometrul este o boala frecventa la femelele nesterilizate, este dificil de diagnosticat in stadiile initiale si prezinta risc letal in stadiu avansat.

In concluzie, cel mai bine pentru sanatatea unei femele, catea sau pisica, este sa fie sterilizata la o varsta intre 3 si 6 luni (dupa imunizare si inainte de primele calduri).

Studiile recente indica o varsta recomadata similara si pentru sterilizarea masculilor.

Sterilizarea timpurie nu are efecte negative asupra sanatatii. Efectele secundare ale sterilizarii pre-puberale sunt minore: pe de o parte organele genitale externe isi reduc marimea, iar pe de alta parte cresterea oaselor lungi se prelungeste uneori cateva luni.

Exista si alte avantaje importante ale sterilizarii:

la motanii castrati, reducerea bulbului penian face ca riscul aparitiei blocajului uretral sa fie mai mic decat la cei ne-castrati
masculii de caine castrati sunt feriti de bolile prostatei, care apar mai ales la varsta inaintata
masculii castrati sunt feriti de riscul aparitiei cancerului testicular
exista o corelatie demonstrata statistic intre starea de animal sterilizat si un nivel redus al agresivitatii. Este adevarat ca sterilizarea in sine nu rezolva automat si sigur probleme de comportament ale unui animal: acestea se trateaza prin efort de dresaj si educare. Dar este cert, verificat statistic, ca incidentele cu oameni muscati de caini implica in 6 cazuri din 10 caini nesterilizati. (Vezi, de pilda, http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html)
statistic, durata de viata creste semnificativ la animalele castrate.

Reprodus de pe www.ortovet.ro cu acordul dr-lui Liviu Gaita.

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(source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, Eighth Edition, 2003, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA)

Moreover, spaying by ovary hysterectomy (extraction of ovaries and uterus) eliminates completely the risk of ovary cancer and infection of the uterus, pyometra. Pyometra is a frequent disease for the unspayed bitches, difficult to diagnose in the initial stage and of lethal risk in the advanced stage.

The conclusion is that for the sake of the female animal, cat or dog, it is best to be spayed between 3 and 6 months, after immunization and before the first estrus.

Recent studies indicate a similar age for neutering the dogs.

Early neutering doesn’t have negative effects on the dog’s health. Side effects for the early neutering are minor: on one side, the growth of external genital organs is reduced, and on the other side the long bones may grow for a few more months. There are important benefits to neutering:

– For the neutered tomcats, reducing the penile bulb diminishes the risk of urethral blockage

– Neutered dogs are spared the incidence of prostate diseases, occurring at old age.

– Neutered dogs are spared the incidence of testicular cancer.

– There is a proven correlation between the state of neutered pet and a reduced level of aggresivity. It is true, nevertheless, that neutering per se doesn’t automatically solve the behavioural problems for the animal, which can be solved through training and education. But it is statistically proven than in people bitten by dogs incidents, 6 out of 10 cases involve unneutered dogs. (for example: http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html)

– according to statistics, life expectancy for neutered animals is higher.

Reproduced from www.ortovet.ro, with dr. Liviu Gaita’s permission.