title: When to neuter dogs and cats: a survey of New York state veterinarians' practices and beliefs.
abstract: Practicing veterinarians in small-animal or mixed-animal practice in New York state were surveyed about their beliefs and practices regarding the age at which dogs and cats should be neutered and their attitudes toward early neutering (at 4 months of age or younger). The majority of veterinarians routinely recommended neutering for all client animals (70.6%) and supported the routine neutering of shelter animals before adoption (90.3%). More veterinarians in this study reported at least one perceived benefit (91.3%) for early neutering than reported at least one perceived risk (84.4%). Veterinarians with experience neutering early were less likely to believe that the procedure was associated with one or more risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: C Victor
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Spain
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Scarlett
authors.forename: Siobhan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cully
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000601:surgery; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002369:Castration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data