BVA and BSAVA call for ‘contextualised’ neutering
Fifty-five per cent of vets supported a contextualised approach to neutering male dogs.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) is calling on veterinary surgeons to take a contextualised approach to neutering dogs.
Under new guidance, veterinary surgeons will be advised to consider a range of factors including age, breed and lifestyle – especially for male dogs.
The advice, published as part of an updated policy position, draws on research into how, why and when a dog or cat should be neutered. This includes evidence on the long-term health and welfare impacts of neutering.
Their findings also explored how these impacts can be reduced through medical or surgical methods, delaying procedures or avoiding neutering at all.
As well as emphasising a case-by-case assessment of neutering, especially for male dogs, the organisations also call for a shift away from early neutering of both male and female dogs. The new consensus is that male and female dogs are neutered at around 12-24 months, when many breeds of dogs have reached skeletal maturity.
BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey revealed that 55 per cent of vets support a contextualised approach to neutering, particularly for male dogs. Almost a third of vets were already carrying out the procedure when male dogs were aged 12-24 months.
The data was similar for female dogs, with 48 per cent of vets supporting a contextualised approach and 36 per cent undertaking the procedure between 12-24 months.
Elizabeth Mullineaux, senior vice president at BVA, said: “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.”
Full details can be found on BVA and BSAVA’s new policy position here.
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Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
