In the face of pet overpopulation, spaying and neutering have become critical tools in ensuring responsible pet ownership. However, as a society deeply concerned about our pets' well-being, it's time we reassess the timing and approach to these procedures, considering each animal's health and individual needs. Rules have been implemented for many decades.

The main adherents of these rules are shelters and various rescue organizations, which sometimes add their own spin to these rules, like deciding the age at which pets are eligible for these procedures. It is not an exception to see spay/neuter procedures to be performed on pets at age 3 months and up.

They often perform operations, vaccinations, and deworming on the same day, along with administering additional chemicals for fleas, ticks, and parasite prevention. Interestingly, this has also become a normal standard approach in general veterinary practice, where the recommendation for spaying and neutering often follows right after the vaccine protocol.

That is generally between 6-9 months of the pet’s age. This is more or less influenced by our busy lifestyles. Veterinarians and the general public have adopted the belief that spaying and neutering make life easier for everyone. There are fewer hormonal swings, less bleeding, less aggressive behavior, etc. It's basically more convenient. The intention is good.

Economically, it costs taxpayers less to care for unwanted pets. Also emotionally, it's beneficial since we are helping to find homes for them. We're trying to prevent diseases and illnesses in a large, healthy population right from the start. When I started working as a general veterinarian, I followed the mainstream. I performed many of these procedures. However, after completing my acupuncture education, I began to see things differently. Not everything fits one rule, and it's important to pay attention to individual needs and situations.

Time is of the essence for everything in our lives, and this applies to this topic as well. Let's then look at castration/spaying and neutering from a different point of view, rather than from the Western perspective and herd mentality. Let's consider other aspects we should know about to increase our awareness and assist us in decision-making. Reproductive organs belong to a big family, along with the Kidneys and Bladder.

This is how energy flows through the body and how organs affect each other. In other words, A influences B and vice versa. If one of these close "friends" has a problem and/or is removed, then the remaining partner either has to work harder or gets weaker. In the case of castration, we remove the reproductive organs and weaken the Kidneys. The Kidneys are the main storage of Life Energy and, along with the reproductive organs, support the early proper development of bones, joints, ligaments, brain, spine, and teeth.

This happens in the first 24 months of a pet's life. Thus, removing the reproductive organs weakens Kidney energy. What follows is that the above-mentioned areas start to receive less energy and have negative effects on their development. This doesn't happen within a week or a month but over a longer period. Every young body can balance and hide the shortage, but in a few months or years, we very often start seeing weakened joints, rupturing ligaments, hip and elbow dysplasia, changes in vertebrae, etc. This could explain the increased promotion of supplements for young pets to support muscles, joints, and ligaments.

The Kidneys are not only part of development but also work as one of the main detoxification centers, which is much needed in the first part of their life. Our modern life brings extra work for the Kidneys with vaccine protocols, starting early in pets' lives, overuse of certain medications such as antibiotics, multiple dewormings, and early use of chemicals for fleas, ticks, and other parasite control products. Lastly, pet food, with its varying qualities, additives, and chemicals, can put extra hard work on the Kidneys as well.

Finally, let me share one of the first basics of acupuncture that one learns as a student. Weak Kidneys increase fear, stress, and anxiety. Isn't this something we see and hear more and more about? Let me tell you about two cases of my own.

In our family, we had a dog, a Labrador mix, who came to us just as I started to practice holistic medicine. At 5-6 months, I would have neutered him at that time. However, I noticed his spine was slightly arching, and his reproductive organs were rather small for his body size. I chose not to neuter him, and by the age of 16-18 months, he developed a nice back and body. He is now 14 years old, still intact, and enjoying life. He has never shown any aggression, even with chickens and rabbits around, nor towards other dogs in forests and parks.

The second pet, a female cat from a barn, started showing typical mating behavior around male cats at 6-7 months. She was always very friendly, cuddly, and energetic. After she was spayed, we noticed a behavior change; she became anxious, nervous, and stressed. Bottom Line: The general time needed for proper maturation for the Kidneys and reproductive organs to work properly in balance is around 24 months of age.

Therefore, if possible, I recommend to my clients to carefully consider the environment, time, breed, and then make a decision. Don't be pushed; carefully consider when/if spaying or neutering is necessary. Those who can choose and wait will be rewarded. The fruits of this do not come right away; the appreciation might come later and in different forms and aspects of their lives.