Stress & Environment

Find Doctors

• Find a vet that perform ovary sparing spays (hysterectomies) and vasectomies
• Find a wellness-oriented vet
• Find an animal chiropractor in North America
• Find members of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine
• Find members of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association
• Find members of the Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy Association:
• Find members of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
• Find members of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
• Find members of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork
• Find Raw Feeding Veterinary Society
• Find members of the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association

Natural Parasiticides

• Essential oils of Cupressus funebris, Juniperus communis, and J. chinensis (Cupressaceae) as repellents against ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and as toxicants against mosquitoes
• Bioactivity-guided investigation of geranium essential oils as natural tick repellents
• Essential oils as tick repellents on clothing
• Field studies on the mosquito repellent action of neem oil

Journal articles and additional information about spaying and neutering

• Dr. Becker on Spay/Neuter
• When to neuter, by breed
• Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence
• Association between life span and body condition in neutered client‐owned dogs
• Non-Reproductive Long-Term Health Complications of Gonad Removal in Dogs as Well as Possible Causal Relationships with Post-Gonadectomy Elevated Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Concentrations
• Neutering of German Shepherd Dogs: associated joint disorders, cancers and urinary incontinence
• Long-term risks and benefits of early-age gonadectomy in dogs
• Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs
• Neutering of German Shepherd Dogs: associated joint disorders, cancers and urinary incontinence
• Gonadectomy effects on the risk of immune disorders in the dog: a retrospective study
• Dog Neutering is an emotive subject for welfare and population reasons but let's take a look at the facts
• Aaron, A., Eggleton, K., Power, C., Holt, P.E. (1996). Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence in male dogs: a retrospective analysis of 54 cases. Veterinary Record,139:542-6
• Brodey, R.S., Goldschmidt, M.A., Roszel, J.R. (1983). Canine mammary gland neoplasms. Journal of American Animal Hospital Association, 19:61-90
• Hagman, R.. (2004). New Aspects of Canine Pyometra: Studies on Epidemiology andPathogenesis. Doctoral thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala 2004.
• Hart, B.L. (2001). Effect of gonadectomy on subsequent development of age related cognitive impairment in dogs. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(1):51-6.
• Katherine Salmeri, DVM, Mark Bllomber, DVM, Sherry Scuggs, BS, Victor Shille DVM, Journal of American Vet Med Association, Volume 198, No 7 1991
• Meuten, D.J. (2002). Tumors in Domestic Animals. 4th Edn. Iowa State Press, Blackwell Publishing Company, Ames, Iowa, p. 575
• Spain, C.V., Scarlett, J.M., Houpt, K.A. (2004). Long-term risks and benefits of early age gonadectomy in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 224:380-387.
• Stubbs, P. and Bloomberg, M. (1995). Seminars in Vet Med & Surgery, Small Animal, Volume 10, No 1 Feb 1995 Dept of Small Animal Clin Sci, Univ of Florida
• M. Christine Zink, Parvene Farhoody, Samra E. Elser, Lynda D. Ruffini, Tom A. Gibbons,Randall H. Rieger. (2014) Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 244:3, 309-319. Online publication date: 16-Jan-2014.
• Sandra L. Lefebvre, Mingyin Yang, Mansen Wang, Denise A. Elliott, Preston R. Buff, Elizabeth M. Lund. (2013) Effect of age at gonadectomy on the probability of dogs becoming overweight. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 243:2, 236-243. Online publication date: 3-Jul-2013.
• Kara M. Forsee, Garrett J. Davis, Emily E. Mouat, Katharine R. Salmeri, Richard P. Bastian. (2013) Evaluation of the prevalence of urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs: 566 cases (2003–2008). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 242:7, 959-962. Online publication date: 21-Mar-2013.
• Victoria A. Light, Ron D. Montgomery, Benson T. Akingbemi. (2012) Sex hormone regulation of collagen concentrations in cranial cruciate ligaments of sexually immature male rabbits. American Journal of Veterinary Research 73:8, 1186-1193. Online publication date: 31-Jul-2012.
• Michael DeTora, Robert J. McCarthy. (2011) Ovariohysterectomy versus ovariectomy for elective sterilization of female dogs and cats: is removal of the uterus necessary?. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 239:11, 1409-1412. Online publication date: 16-Nov-2011.
• Margaret V. Root Kustritz. (2007) Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 231:11, 1665-1675. Online publication date: 4-Dec-2007.
• Felix M. Duerr, Colleen G. Duncan, Roman S. Savicky, Richard D. Park, Erick L. Egger, Ross H. Palmer. (2007) Risk factors for excessive tibial plateau angle in large-breed dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 231:11, 1688-1691. Online publication date: 4-Dec-2007.
• Early Age Desexing of Cats and Dogs Cruden, Diana, PhD. A Winn Feline Foundation Report on Early Spay/Neuter in the Cat.
• Haughie, Anne. Early-age neutering – a veterinary perspective concentrating on cats (with some reference to dogs).
• Hess, Marci. Early Spay/Neuter Research on Dogs and Cats (8-12 weeks)
• Kislak, Paula, DVM. Early Age Spay/Neuter
• Mackie, Marvin, DVM. Early Age Neutering: Perfect for Every Practice. Paws to Think, Autumn 2002, Vol 1, Issue 3.
• Rand, Jacqui; Hanlon, Corinne. Report on the Validity and Usefulness of Early Age Desexing in Dogs and Cats.
• Salmeri, Katherine R., DVM; Bloomberg, Mark S., DVM, MS; Scruggs, Sherry L., BS; Shille, Victor, DVM, PhD. Gonadectomy in immature dogs: Effects on skeletal, physical and behavioural development. JAVMA, Vol 198, No. 7, April 1, 1991. Abstract: Sanborn, Laura J., MS. Long-term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay/Neuter in Dogs.
• Spain, C. Victor, DVM PhD; Scarlett, Janet M. DVM PhD; Houpt, Katherine A. VMD, PhD, DACVB. Long-term risks and benefits of early age gonadectomy in cats. JAVMA Vol 224, No. 3, Feb 1, 2004. Abstract:
• Spain, C. Victor, DVM PhD; Scarlett, Janet M. DVM PhD; Houpt, Katherine A. VMD, PhD, DACVB. Long-term risks and benefits of early age gonadectomy in dogs. JAVMA Vol 224, No. 3, Feb 1, 2004. Abstract:
• Studdert, Virginia P., Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Vet Science, University of Melbourne. Dispelling the Myths about long-term side-effects of early age desexing. In Early Age Desexing of Puppies and Kittens, State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries 2004.
• Thrusfield, M.V., Hold, P.E., Muirhead, R.H. Acquired urinary incontinence in bitches: its incidence and relationship to neutering practices. Journal of Small Animal Practice (1998) 39, 559-566. Young, Jeff, DVM. The Controversy is over: Prepubertal Neutering is the Surgery of Choice.
• Forsee KM, Davis GJ, Mouat EE, Salmeri KR, Bastian RP Evaluation of the prevalence of urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs: 566 cases (2003-2008)
• Effect of age at gonadectomy on the probability of dogs becoming overweight
• Demographic risk factors for lymphoma in Australian dogs: 6201 cases