Neutered male urinary blockage

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RobZip - 21 Nov 2005 14:08 GMT

With new postings on urinary blockage in males, especially neutered ones, a
question comes to mind. The vet who dealt with my cat years back also told
me that he was opposed to extremely early neutering - 10 - 12 weeks of age.
His view was that the males need to grow and develop closer to maturity
before removal of the testes. The lack of hormones is responsible for sexual
organs and the external urethra not developing to a full adult size, thus
increasing the odds of a blockage problem later. When neutered closer to
full growth - 6 months of age or more, he felt that the risk of urinary
problems was more greatly diminished.

I realize that the push to spay and neuter at an early age is partly if not
primarily to ensure that it gets done before the animals reach reproducing
age, but is it possible that in our zeal to control population we jeopardize
the health of the animal? Is there anything to what my old vet from years
back says in clinically supportable statistics?

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-L. - 21 Nov 2005 15:31 GMT

> With new postings on urinary blockage in males, especially neutered ones, a
> question comes to mind. The vet who dealt with my cat years back also told
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> the health of the animal? Is there anything to what my old vet from years
> back says in clinically supportable statistics?

No. In fact there are dozens of reports stating that early spay/neuter
has no adverse effects on animals. Google search "early spay" or
"early S/N" and you will pull up the links.
-L.

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zuzu22@webtv.net - 21 Nov 2005 15:43 GMT

The idea that early neutering has adverse effects has not been proven to
be true:
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/reports/early-neuter.html

Megan

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Phil P. - 21 Nov 2005 17:55 GMT

> With new postings on urinary blockage in males, especially neutered ones, a
> question comes to mind. The vet who dealt with my cat years back also told
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> full growth - 6 months of age or more, he felt that the risk of urinary
> problems was more greatly diminished.

That's an outdated myth that has been debunked by controlled, clinical
studies and years of clinical experience. There is no difference in urethral
diameter or urethral pressure. The vet is a little behind on his continuing
ed.

Another myth was early neutering stunts growth. Actually, early-neutered
cats are normal size and sometimes even *larger*. Early neutering delays
physeal closure (growth plate at the end of the long bones) so the long
bones continue to grow. The sex hormones control physeal closure- without
the hormones, the long bones grow a little longer.

Many vets still question and resist early-age neutering simply because
they're unfamiliar/uncomfortable with surgery and anesthesia on young
kittens. Early-age neutering wasn't taught in vet schools until the last
few years. Many vets learned neutering on traditional-age cats.

> I realize that the push to spay and neuter at an early age is partly if not
> primarily to ensure that it gets done before the animals reach reproducing
> age, but is it possible that in our zeal to control population we jeopardize
> the health of the animal?

Absolutely not. Early neutering is less traumatic for the cat and healing
is *much* quicker because there's less abdominal fat and muscle to cut
through and heal. Less fat and muscle also affords much better
visualization of the ovarian pedicle- which dramatically reduces the risk of
ovarian remnant syndrome- leaving a piece of the ovaries that can be
functional at any time in the future.

Young kittens also require less anesthesia; their vessels are also much
smaller which allows for precise hemostasis and virtually *no* bleeding-
which shortens operative time. The shorter the anesthesia and surgery- the
better- less chance of complications.

Early neutering was originally devised to control population and allow more
cats to be neutered before adoption, but it also affords many benefits for
the individual cats. Its a win-win-win situation.

Here's a short clip of an early neuter. The entire surgery takes <5
minutes. The kittens are up and playing a few minutes after surgery and
eating within an hour! They pay virtually no attention to the incision-
which is a good indication that it doesn't bother them. Many cats that are
neutered at six months must have an E-collar so they don't rip out the
stitches

http://www.maxshouse.com/Early_Age_Spay-1.wmv

Is there anything to what my old vet from years

> back says in clinically supportable statistics?

Only in outdated literature that has been debunked by long-term studies.

Phil

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Rhonda - 21 Nov 2005 18:48 GMT

> When neutered closer to
> full growth - 6 months of age or more, he felt that the risk of urinary
> problems was more greatly diminished.

The only male cat we have with urinary problems was neutered at almost a
year old. the ones we had neutered at 3 months are both fine!

Rhonda

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