Tell Me More: The Importance of Spays and Neuters

World Spay Day has been celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of February each year since 1995. In this month’s instalment of Tell Me More! we interview Dr. Michael Bradley from the Stanley Veterinary Centre to discuss the importance of spays and neuters of all species. Dr. Bradley has practiced in both Ireland and Hong Kong, treating everything from Irish Draught Horses and Lantau Buffalo to Teacup Poodles and canaries.

What does spaying and neutering actually mean for domestic animals? Is it different when it relates to wild animals?

Spaying means surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries and neutering the removal of the testicles. This is done both to prevent unwanted pregnancies and also to modify behaviour. For example urine spraying in male cats.

With wild animals, it is often important to maintain sexual and social behaviours related that would be expressed if the sexual organs were removed. In many circumstances with wildlife it is difficult or impossible to safely perform anaesthetics and surgical procedures. In these cases we can use different approaches, such as vasectomy where the testicles are still present but the animal is infertile or chemical contraceptives.

Can you tell us about the spay and neuter work that you do? Is it limited to domestic animals like cats and dogs?

In my work in companion animal practice we perform spays and neuters routinely on dogs and cats. We also commonly desex rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.

Tell us more about your work with Ocean Park in the macaque contraceptive programme. Are there other (spay/neuter) programmes you are part of?

I have been involved through Ocean Park Conservation Foundation with a government project to rabies vaccinate and sterilise the wild macaques in Hong Kong. The population has exploded on recent years and there have been lots on incidences of human/macaque conflict - both mostly as a result of people feeding the monkeys.

Sexual behaviour is very important for social structures in primates so we don’t spay and neuter them. The boys have endoscopic vasectomies and we tie the fallopian tubes girls. In this way all the normal behaviours are expressed but the birth rate drops.

I used to be involved a little with a similar project with the wild boar in Hong Kong but this was recently ended.

Why is spaying and neutering so important? What are the benefits for (i) the animal receiving the treatment; and (ii) the wider ecological system?

The benefits of spaying and neutering are not just in preventing unwanted litters.

Female rabbits for example are incredibly prone to uterine cancer as they get older and spaying prevents this.

Bitches that are not spayed are also much more prone to mammary cancers and life threatening uterine infections.

In terms of the ecosystem effects there are instances where it can be massively beneficial. The critically endangered Scottish Wildcat is threatened by both interbreeding with domestic cats and the spread of diseases from its close cousin. Desexing domestic and feral cats in rural Scotland is one of the best ways to help this species.

Australian and New Zealand also have huge problems with feral cats preying on native birds and marsupials and reducing the population obviously helps with this.

Is spay/neuter mandatory in Hong Kong for pets? Do you know if there are jurisdictions if it is, and if so, would you suggest that Hong Kong implement similar requirements down the line?

There is no requirement to spay or neuter domestic pets in Hong Kong. We do have a big problem with over population and there are thousands of animals in rescue centres and sadly many are euthanised every year by the government as there is simple nowhere for them to go. I would strongly support measures encouraging people to have their animals desexed, for example making the dog licensing fee vastly more expensive for non desexed animals. I’m not aware that there are any jurisdictions where desexing is compulsory.

Is there a recommended age for spaying and neutering dogs and cats?

With cats, I normally like to wait until both boys and girls are around 6 months old. This way they are mature enough for surgery but young enough to prevent unwanted behaviours starting, such as urine spraying.

Selecting the right age for dogs really depends on the breed. With smaller dogs I am usually happy to proceed around six months old. With larger dogs it is better to wait a little later. Larger breed females can be prone to urinary incontinence in later life if they are spayed at too young an age.

Are there financial assistance schemes to get pets spayed or neutered?

In Hong Kong, the SPCA has some great programmes to assist with spaying and neutering, including a mobile surgical unit that travels around the new territories and a scheme to help with neutering of village dogs.