Updated neutering guidance from BVA and BSAVA moves away from one-size-fits-all approach

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) are encouraging vets to take a contextualised approach to neutering that considers a range of factors such as age, breed and lifestyle when making decisions for or against the procedure, especially when it comes to male dogs.

The advice follows the publication of an updated policy position, which draws together insights from current research on neutering to consider how, why and when a dog or cat should be neutered. It looks at the scientific evidence for long-term health and welfare impacts of neutering, and how these could be reduced by using different methods – whether medical or surgical, delaying the procedure, or perhaps not neutering at all.

To help vet teams, BVA and BSAVA have also produced a handy FAQs resource that summarises the conclusions and recommendations from the updated policy position.

Key recommendations include an emphasis on a contextualised approach to individual animals, a case-by-case assessment of whether neutering would benefit male dogs, and a shift away from early neutering for both male and female dogs. The advice for cats remains unchanged, with the consensus supporting the view that male and female cats should be neutered at around four months of age, before they are likely to reach sexual maturity.

When reviewing all the evidence, the general consensus now is that male and female dogs are neutered at around 12-24 months, an age when many breeds of dogs are considered to have reached skeletal maturity, which reduces the risk of developing orthopaedic conditions. New data from BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that more than half of all vets (55 percent) support a contextualised approach to neutering, particularly in male dogs, with almost a third (31 percent) of this group already carrying out the procedure between 12-24 months. In female dogs, the data is similar, with 48 percent of vets backing a contextualised approach, taking into account breed or size of dog, with over a third of them (36 percent) undertaking the procedure between 12-24 months.

Other key conclusions from BVA and BSAVA’s policy position are:

1. Spaying is generally recommended for female dogs due to the health and welfare impacts of pregnancy and whelping, and the risks of uterine and ovarian conditions later in life.
2. Depending on the breed and expected age at maturity, female dogs should be spayed between twelve and twenty-three months of age unless they are intended for breeding.
3. Castration in male dogs is complex and should be assessed case-by-case in the context of the breed and lifestyle of the dog. If the decision is made to neuter, medical or surgical castration should not be carried out before physical maturity for the breed, unless there is a compelling contextual reason for doing so.
4. Vets should have a careful discussion with the owner to ensure the implications of both medical and surgical neutering are fully understood before a decision is taken to proceed.

BVA Senior Vice President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux said:

“Neutering cats and dogs is a firmly established and important part of preventive pet healthcare in the UK, with benefits outweighing risks in many cases. It‘s also an important factor in ensuring rescue centres are not overwhelmed with unwanted or neglected puppies and kittens. However, since our policy was first published in 2019, new and emerging evidence has put a spotlight on its potential longer-term health and welfare impacts for dogs depending on their breed, size and age at which they are neutered.

“The updated policy position brings together the latest evidence to support small animal vets with making context-based decisions on a case-by-case basis and what that might mean for discussing neutering options with clients. Of course, these decisions may be different for rescue charities, rather than owned dogs. Along with BSAVA, we have also produced a handy FAQs resource that summarises the conclusions and recommendations from our updated policy, which I’d encourage all colleagues in small animal practice to have a look at.

“Given the complexities around neutering dogs, we are calling for more comprehensive research that summarises evidence gaps and risk factors of neutering for common breeds to further help vets in advising owners. More studies are also needed into the impacts of neutering on male and female cats.”

BSAVA President Julian Hoad said:

“Neutering of cats and dogs is routinely performed in small animal practices across the country on a daily basis. Our joint policy position focuses on the impact of neutering on both the health and welfare of individual animals and its role in the prevention of unwanted litters.

“However, although routine, neutering is not a trivial procedure and there are multiple contextual and clinical factors to consider before deciding when, how and if to neuter. Factors include the pet’s age and breed, the impact on long-term health, and also the lifestyle of both the owner and animal. As with any medical or surgical procedure, both the advantages and the risks need to be considered. Therefore, it is important that veterinary professionals in clinical practice have in-depth conversations with their clients to fully understand the reasons and expectations for neutering, the specific procedures being agreed to by both parties, and the resulting potential impact for both the client and the pet.

“The evidence base underpinning decision-making continues to evolve and although the policy position covers many key research outputs, ambiguities still exist. BVA and BSAVA have made recommendations based on existing knowledge and how best this can be applied in practical scenarios. The resulting aim of the policy is to support veterinary professionals in clinical practice by equipping them with the tools that help them in offering tailored neutering advice to pet owners.”

BVA and BSAVA’s new policy position and the neutering FAQs resource can be viewed here.