Pre-pubertal neutering of bitches

1. Pre pubertal neutering of bitches
Canine Research Team

2. Introduction to the study
 Current practice is for bitches to be neutered between 12 and 16 weeks
after the end of their season
 Neutering preferentially takes place prior to the bitches entering training
as anecdotally, if surgery takes place during early training, it can put the
bitch’s development back up to four weeks (pers comm Miller, 2010)
 Health code searches revealed that 52 bitches were neutered during
early training in 2009 and 84 bitches in 2010
 In some cases the ‘spay window’ for some bitches encroaches on the
time for commencing early training
 For operational reasons, some bitches may need to be brought into
training early, prior to having been neutered
 Anecdotal evidence has suggested that the restriction around timing of
neutering has prevented some bitches from commencing training at the
optimum time, which negatively affects production targets (pers comm,
Miller, 2010)

3. Introduction to the study (cont’d)
 This problem could be eliminated by neutering bitches
pre-pubertally
 Further health code searches established that in 2009 and
2010 37 and 27 bitches respectively were neutered when
they were over 13 months of age
 Recent research suggests that pre-pubertal neutering is
not associated with an increased incidence of health and
behavioural problems (Reichler, 2009)
 Pre-pubertal neutering is currently carried by Guide Dogs
Victoria at five months of age, and also by Irish Guide
Dogs and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT at six months of age.
These centres do not have any data to suggest that pre-
pubertal neutering has any detrimental effect on
behaviour or health

4. Objective of the study
 To determine whether the pre-
pubertal neutering of bitches
(at six months of age) is
associated with any health or
behavioural problems
compared to bitches neutered
12 to 16 weeks after their first
oestrus
 To determine whether pre-
pubertal neutering of bitches is
associated with any differences
in physical development
compared to bitches neutered
at 12 to 16 weeks post-oestrus

5. The design of the study
 Long term six year study following
150 bitches neutered at six months
of age and 150 bitches neutered
as per normal practice
 All bitches will be Lab x GRet,
GRet x Lab or first generation
crosses
 All bitches will be neutered by
centre vets
 Puppies will be identified within
three years of the study
commencing

6. The design of the study (cont’d)
 Data collected:
– All bitches have a physical assessment by the centre vet at 6 months of age
including height, weight, BCS and the physical appearance of the vulva
– All bitches have a physical assessment by the centre vet (or DCWA for
withdrawn dogs) at 18 months of age including height, weight, BCS and the
physical appearance of the vulva
– At the time of neutering the centre vets will complete a neutering
questionnaire including duration of surgery and any post-op complications
– Two weeks post neutering the puppy walker will complete a questionnaire to
monitor how the puppies recover after surgery
– Canine Research will examine CAS and health records for all puppies from six
months of age onwards to monitor health, behaviour, weight and BCS
– Training times and final outcome will be recorded (qualified, withdrawn) as well
as any incidences of early withdrawal up to three years post-qualification
– At three years of age a behavioural questionnaire will be completed by the
carers of the dogs and vets may be contacted to obtain further health data
 All data recorded will be analysed to determine if there are any differences
between the two groups of dogs in physical development, health and behaviour.
The statistical significance of any differences.

7. Recruiting puppies
 Puppies should be suggested as suitable for the study by
SPTS or PTS in each region
 A minimum of100 puppies each year are required
 Puppy names and computer numbers are sent to Canine
Research who allocate the puppies to either the 6 month
neuter or control group
 Canine Research then email the
PTS to confirm the puppy is on the
study, the study group and the six
month physical assessment (and
neuter) window dates

8. What happens as the puppies
approach six months of age?
 Puppies to be neutered at six
months should have a Kennel
Cough vaccine one month before
they come into centre kennels
 Canine Research will send out the
physical assessment forms for the
bitch approximately one month
before the assessment window
 Canine Research will also send out
neutering forms and recovery from
neutering forms
 Forms will be sent to PTS and DC
supervisors or advisors as instructed
 PTS / DC should pass the recovery
forms to the walker

9. Puppies at neutering
 Most puppies are taken to the GDTS the day before their
spay on the vet visit day
 They have their physical assessment which includes
checking they are okay to be neutered
 They either stay overnight in kennels and DC take them to
the spay or go home with their walker and the walker
takes them to the vets
 The pups are okay to go home to their walker as soon
after the surgery as the vet is happy
 Three common scenarios are:
– PW delivers pups direct to vets and collects in the afternoon after
surgery
– Pup comes into kennels night before, taken to vets and returns to
kennels that night then goes home 24/48 hours after surgery
– Pup stays in kennels for 10/14 days until stitches removed etc

10. Returning data to Canine
Research
 Completed forms can be
emailed or posted back to
Canine Research
 Please don’t forget the recovery
forms, they are very important!!!
Canine.research@guidedogs.org.uk
Canine Research, NBC, Banbury Road,
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9WF.

11. An update on progress to date
 54 puppies have been enrolled so far
– 30 to be neutered at 6 months and 24 to be neutered
after their first season
 11 puppies have been neutered at 6
months of age
– Neutering forms have been received from vets for 9
bitches
– Neutering questionnaires indicated that
• surgery length was between 12 and 25 minutes
• There were no complications during the surgery, with
anaesthetic or post operative complications
reported

12. An update on progress to date
- Recovery from neutering forms have been
received for 8 bitches
 4 bitches were reported to experience some
discomfort for 1-2 days post spay, 2 paid a lot of
attention to the wound area for <1 day or 3 to 4
days, no bitches had discharge from the wound and
no bitches had complications which required
veterinary treatment and six bitches had returned to
their normal selves after between 1 and 2 days
“We think it
worked very well
and the wound
healed very
quickly”