The Views of the UK Public Towards Routine Neutering of Dogs and Cats

Wongsaengchan, Chanakarn; McKeegan, Dorothy

doi:10.3390/ani9040138

Cited by 28 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…We wanted to better understand how dog owners' decisions to desex their dogs are influenced by professional advice and the common beliefs about the behavioural consequences. This is especially important as presently prospective causal data in this area are missing [5,6], but individually based advice is recommended in areas where population management does not apply [6,31]. Consequently, advising professionals such as veterinarian practitioners, behavioural trainers and behavioural therapists could benefit from information on how dog owners decide to castrate their male dog or not.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reports of Dutch dog owners on received professional advice, their opinions on castration and behavioural reasons for castrating male dogs

2020

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Male dogs are often castrated based on the thought that it facilitates well-behavedness. However, the causal evidence for this from prospective studies lacks and the existing associative studies present mixed results depending on the studied behaviours. We aimed to gain insight into possible factors driving an owner's decision to castrate their male dog, through a quantitative survey based on a convenience sample. We determined the advice owners received from three types of dog professionals (veterinarian practitioners, behavioural trainers, behavioural therapists) and the owners' assessments of castration's behavioural effects. Data on 491 Dutch owners of castrated and intact male dogs were analysed with Chi-square tests. Results indicate that owners of both castrated and intact dogs received castration advice most often from veterinarian practitioners, with pro-castration at higher frequencies for owners of castrated dogs (Chi-square, P<0.001). Overall, most owners disagreed with or were neutral about statements on castration positively affecting male dog behaviour at a population level. Nevertheless, 58% (N = 145) of the owners of castrated dogs (N = 249) reported that correcting unwanted behaviour was a reason to castrate their own male dog. Unwanted behaviour involved aggression in 50% (N = 70) of the owner-dog dyads. Castrated dog's aggression changes were reported on most as 'no change'. The second most common answer indicated an aggression decrease in dogs castrated to correct unwanted behaviour and an increase in dogs castrated for other reasons (Chi-square, P<0.001). The increase in aggression in a subset of castrated dogs is concerning, as aggression can pose risks to the dog's welfare. We acknowledge the limitations of our study which identifies associations rather than provides causal evidence. Still, we recommend professionals' awareness of possible negative behavioural changes following castration, like increased aggression. Future research on behavioural consequences of castrating dogs needs to build a more solid knowledge base for balanced advice regarding castration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reports of Dutch dog owners on received professional advice, their opinions on castration and behavioural reasons for castrating male dogs

2020

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“…Surgical methods are the most widely used form of desexing in dogs, and are the most commonly performed surgeries in the species overall [7,10,[13][14][15][16]. They can be differentiated into surgeries that remove the gonads (orchiectomy, ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy) and surgeries that do not (vasectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy), the former methods being considerably more common than the latter.…”

Section: Surgical Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Desexing is somewhat less common in anglophone Western Europe, with prevalences reaching 54% in the UK [3] and 47% in Ireland [4]. In contrast, desexing is considered illegal without a clear medical indication in Germany [5] as well as some of the Nordic countries [6][7][8], with prevalences below 10% in Sweden [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desexing Dogs: A Review of the Current Literature

Urfer

Kaeberlein

2019

Animals

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Background: Desexing dogs is promoted for population control, preventative healthcare, and behavior modification. Common methods are orchiectomy and ovariectomy/ovariohysterectomy. GnRH superagonist implants are available in some areas. Alternative methods like vasectomy and salpingectomy/hysterectomy are uncommon. The terminology used to describe desexing is inconsistent and contradictory, showing a need for the adaption of standardized terminology. Population Control: Surprisingly, empirical studies show no effects of desexing on population control in companion and shelter dogs despite desexing being consistently recommended in the literature. There is evidence for a population control effect in free-roaming dogs, where desexing also has benefits on zoonotic disease and bite risk. Population control in free-roaming dogs is mostly correlated with female, not male desexing. Health and Lifespan: Desexing affects numerous disease risks, but studies commonly neglect age at diagnosis and overall lifespan, age being by far the most important risk factor for most diseases. We argue that lifespan is a more important outcome than ultimate cause of death. A beneficial effect of desexing on lifespan is consistently demonstrated in females, while evidence for a beneficial effect in males is inconsistent. Studies are likely biased in desexing being a proxy for better care and desexed dogs having already lived to the age of desexing. Desexing reduces or eliminates common life-limiting diseases of the female reproductive system such as pyometra and mammary tumors, while no analogous effect exists in males. Disease risks increases across sexes and breeds include cruciate ligament rupture, various cancers, and obesity. Urinary incontinence risk is increased in females only. Various other disease risk changes show considerable variability between breeds and sexes. Behavioral Effects: Desexed males show reduced libido, roaming, conspecific mounting, and urinary marking frequency, as well as reduced male dog-directed aggression in a majority of males desexed for behavioral reasons. There is a detrimental effect on the risk and progression of age-related cognitive dysfunction. Desexed dogs may be less likely to cause bite injuries across sexes. The evidence for other effects such as human-directed aggression, human or object mounting, resource guarding, or shyness and anxiety is inconsistent and contradictory. There are few studies specific to females or individual breeds. Conclusions: The evidence for a beneficial effect of desexing is stronger in female than in male dogs; however, there is significant variation between breeds and sexes, and more research is needed to further elucidate these differences and to arrive at individualized evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice.

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“…Even so, some participants’ responses suggest that experience with castration in pets may contribute to castration of animals being somewhat normalized. A survey in the UK found that citizens were predominantly supportive of dog and cat neutering [ 76 ]. Dog owners in The Netherlands said that correcting unwanted behaviors was an important reason to have their male dogs neutered [ 77 ], supporting that perception of necessity may lead to support of the practice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Road to End Pig Pain: Knowledge and Attitudes of Brazilian Citizens Regarding Castration

Hötzel

Yunes

Vandresen

et al. 2020

Animals

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We explored the attitudes of Brazilians towards different methods to deal with boar taint in pork (surgical castration without pain control, SC; surgical castration with pain control, SC+PC; immunocastration, IC; raising entire males, EM). Two surveys (Sv1, n = 441 and Sv2, n = 768) containing closed and open questions were conducted. Nearly 70% of Sv1 and Sv2 participants were unaware that meat of entire males may have boar taint and that SC is widely used in pig production in Brazil. In Sv1, acceptability of SC+PC (63%) and IC (53%) was greater than of SC (15%). In Sv2, acceptability of IC (55%) and EM (52%) was greater than of SC (18%). Open-ended responses indicated that participants objected to inflicting pain to pigs to attain a production goal, and were concerned with organoleptic traits and risks of exogenous residues in pork. Participants’ views regarding the potential increases in the cost of meat due to adoption of alternative methods varied; some argued that avoiding pain justifies an increase in the price of pork and others that this would impact especially lower income citizens. Our findings indicate that participants opposed surgical castration without pain control, and supported alternative methods. However, the concern with potential risks of presence of residues in meat, expressed by a few participants, may need to be addressed among consumers.

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The Views of the UK Public Towards Routine Neutering of Dogs and Cats

Cited by 28 publications

References 51 publications

Self-reports of Dutch dog owners on received professional advice, their opinions on castration and behavioural reasons for castrating male dogs

Self-reports of Dutch dog owners on received professional advice, their opinions on castration and behavioural reasons for castrating male dogs

Desexing Dogs: A Review of the Current Literature

On the Road to End Pig Pain: Knowledge and Attitudes of Brazilian Citizens Regarding Castration

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