title: [Early castration of dogs and cats from the point of view of animal welfare].
abstract: The castration of dogs and cats is regulated in section 6 of the German Law for Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (Tierschutzgesetz) dated February 17, 1993. Gonadectomy in juvenile and prepuberal as well as in adult vertebrates is only permitted by law in case of a medical indication or a special using of the animal. On account of his special knowledge, the veterinarian is made responsible by law for the estimation of the indispensibility and for the performance of castration. As early-age castration means usually the surgical removal of healthy gonads from a healthy organism, it is principally forbidden by law at present. The bill of June 30, 1995 points to the legitimation of castration for contraception. This does, however, not dispense the veterinarian from deciding in each individual case under consideration of unwanted side effects and consequences that can be caused by castration and early-age castration, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Reproduktionsmedizin, Tierärztlichen Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Günzel-Apel
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012741:Sexual Maturation
vernacular_title: Frühkastration von Hunden und Katzen unter Tierschutzgesichtspunkten.