About a decade ago, I had a major change of heart about how we neuter pets.
Just like most veterinarians, I spayed or neutered every one of my patients early in life – thousands of animals. Because of my strong feelings about the over-population issue that has resulted in millions of unwanted, abused and neglected pets, I would actually lose sleep over intact patients.
However, after a few years in my private practice, I started to notice something…
Many of my neutered and spayed patients began developing issues with their endocrine function and started showing signs of hormonal imbalance that intact patients rarely did.
These were animals that ate biologically appropriate, fresh food diets and weren’t over-vaccinated. I couldn’t find any other explanation for their endocrine and hormonal issues.
After consulting with the world’s most respected animal endocrinologist, I realized what I was doing was causing long-term problems for my patients. I halted my one-size-fits-all desexing practice immediately.
No longer did I insist that every puppy walking into my clinic be conventionally spayed or neutered at an early age. Now, I knew the potential health consequences were simply too great.
Regretfully, I had already done far too much damage to my existing patients. But I was determined that I wouldn’t stop until I found a solution to help repair the damage.
Could Your Dog or Cat Be Suffering From the Effects of These Permanently Crippling Practices?
Chances are you own a pet that’s been neutered or spayed the conventional way. According to the Humane Society, over 80% of dogs and cats undergo one of these procedures, many before six months of age.
That’s likely what your veterinarian recommended, or it’s your local shelter’s requirement for adoption.
But here’s the truth about these procedures:
Once spayed or neutered, your pet’s organ systems will struggle for the remainder of her life to create and maintain a healthy balance of hormones.
I know that sounds harsh but sadly, it’s true. I learned the truth about spaying and neutering the hard way at the expense of my patients’ well-being.
Spaying and neutering are the only two procedures taught in veterinarian schools for animal birth control, and the vast majority of veterinarians remain entrenched in these traditional, permanently crippling practices.
Please don’t get me wrong… I am pro-sterilization.
I now use sterilization techniques that achieve the same result as traditional spaying and neutering but preserve normal endocrine function and don’t disable our pets. However, I know I am in the minority.
The veterinary profession isn’t about to change its spay and neuter recommendations anytime soon, so, unfortunately, pets will continue to suffer the ill effects.
This somber truth made me more determined than ever to find an effective way to support the endocrine function and hormonal balance of cats and dogs everywhere.
How Early Neutering or Spaying Puts Your Pet’s Endocrine Function at Risk
Your pet’s endocrine system consists of tissues and glands that release hormones into the bloodstream. A big part of your pet’s hormonal endocrine balance comes from hormones made in the testicles (in males) or the uterus and ovaries (in females).
When a female dog or cat is spayed, both her uterus and ovaries are removed, while neutering removes a male’s testicles.
With either procedure, no consideration is given to the hormones produced by these organs – such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Both spaying and neutering remove all of the normal sex hormone-secreting tissues.
And that creates a problem.
Just because your pet is now desexed doesn’t mean her body doesn’t need sex hormones. She still needs a certain level of circulating sex hormones for normal, healthy biologic functioning throughout life. And she needs them in the right proportions.
When the sex organs and their hormones are taken away from a still-developing young animal’s body, it can affect everything from the brain to the bones.
And because these sex hormones are so vital, your pet’s body struggles to get them however it can…
Without ovaries or testicles, the task of producing sex hormones falls onto your pet’s adrenal glands. They are the only tissues remaining that are capable of producing these hormones.
Over time, this takes a toll on your pet’s adrenal glands. They must do their own work of regulating metabolism, blood pressure, stress response and the immune system – PLUS the work of the missing organs.
It's very difficult for these tiny little glands to keep up with the body's demand.
Desexing Plus Exposure to Everyday Hazards Can Create Double Trouble for Your Pet
We live in a toxic, polluted world, and that’s especially so for your dog or cat. He may:
- Sleep in a bed that’s been treated with flame-retardant chemicals.
- Drink water that’s chlorinated and fluoridated from plastic water bowls.
- Play or sunbathe in grass that’s been treated with pesticides.
- Eat food that’s been treated with chemicals.
- Eat food packaged in plastic containers.
Unfortunately, the most concerning of these everyday chemicals – a class of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors which includes DDT, BPA, dioxin, PCBs, lead, triclosan, phthalates and arsenic – can interfere with your pet’s hormones in much the same way as neutering and spaying.
Just like with spaying and neutering, these endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or xenoestrogens, can inhibit your pet’s hormone production as well as the release of hormones from his endocrine glands.
Because these endocrine disruptors mimic estrogen hormones, they can lead to an imbalance of hormones in your pet’s body, whether your pet is female or male.
The combination of these two factors – desexing your pet and everyday exposure to potentially harmful chemicals – can create an even greater burden on your pet’s adrenal glands.
The Effects of Missing or Imbalanced Hormones on Your Pet’s Well-Being
What can happen over time is that the pressure on the adrenal glands can cause them to over secrete hormones like cortisol – the fight-or-flight hormone – and estrogen, progesterone and testosterone precursors to keep up with the body’s demand.
This can lead to a potential toxicity or hormonal imbalance in your cat or dog.
Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are essential components of your pet’s endocrine system. So, what can happen if she has too little or too much hormone production?
She can experience a number of issues that affect her quality of life and even her length of life. A few of the potential effects include:
- Adrenal issues
- Bone growth and development issues
- Ligament and hip issues
- Urinary issues
- Immune system imbalances
- Shortened lifespan
A recent retrospective study analyzing the records of 90,090 veterinary patients from 1995 to 2010 revealed that spaying and neutering cause a significant impact on immune function.
Spayed females, compared to intact females, showed a “significantly greater” risk of immune issues.
Neutered males fare even worse, experiencing a greater incidence of skin and gut issues, as well as immune and hormonal effects.
The researchers concluded that sex hormones are indeed crucial for optimal immune function in cats and dogs. In addition to these physical effects, early spay and neuter procedures may also lead to undesirable behavioral consequences.
Studies show a higher incidence of noise phobias, fear-based behavior, aggression and unwanted sexual behaviors in cats and dogs who have been spayed or neutered.
Many pets who have undergone this traditional procedure may not show signs of physical, mental or behavioral issues for the first few years of their lives. But that doesn’t mean they have escaped ill consequences…
7 Signs Your Pet’s Endocrine System May No Longer Be Coping
As your dog or cat reaches middle age and beyond, he may begin to show warning signs that his adrenal glands can no longer keep up with the extra demand. At that point, your pet may be running either too low or too high in certain hormones – suffering from an imbalance.
Behavior issues like excessive fear and anxiety are often the first signs that may appear. But any of the following changes can signal a potential issue:
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Increased thirst and urination
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Urinary incontinence, or urine leaking
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Lethargy
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Hair loss, thickened skin and hyperpigmentation
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Behavior changes, including confusion and depression
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Agitation, aggressiveness
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Weight gain
Without a doubt, hormonal imbalances can have significant effects on your pet’s health, comfort and quality of life. And as you can see from this list, the effects aren’t limited to just one part of his body.
By helping to support a proper balance of your pet’s hormones, you support your dog’s or cat’s physical health and his mental and emotional health as well. You help improve his quality of life so you can spend many happy, active years together.
Let me share with you what I learned from my mentor, a top animal endocrinologist…
It changed the way I ran my practice, and it turned around the health and well-being of thousands of animals. I still follow his advice today and continue to see remarkable changes in dogs’ and cats’ physical health, personalities and demeanor.
The Hormone Balancing Protocol Your Pet Needs – Developed by the World’s Leading Endocrinologist
It seems like the most logical way to balance hormones would be to use hormone replacement therapy, right?
Most traditional veterinarians have little experience or knowledge about hormone replacement. And it can be challenging to get the levels right for each individual dog or cat.
However, functional medicine practitioners in the veterinary community, like myself, are big believers in the benefits of balancing sex hormones naturally.
Rather than using actual hormones (which can be tricky), I like to use their raw materials to support hormonal balance.
I learned about this protocol from Dr. Jack Oliver at The University of Tennessee Clinical Endocrinology Service. Sadly, Dr. Oliver passed away in 2011, but for years, he was my mentor – and the expert advisor who turned my practice around.
His protocol consisted of two ingredients that have been shown in studies to balance cortisol and other hormones in canines while lowering strong estradiol (estrogen) levels:
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HMR (7-hydroxymatairesinol) lignans (from Norway Spruce) – Lignans are plant compounds with gentle, balancing estrogenic effects. Unlike commonly used flax lignans, HMR lignan is converted to enterolactone (which acts as a “good” phytoestrogen) and completely and quickly absorbed by your pet.
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Melatonin – This valuable hormone modulates other hormones and promotes healthy cortisol and estradiol (estrogen) levels. It works synergistically with lignans to support beneficial estrogen metabolism.
Early on, I discovered I had some stubborn cases of elevated estrogen levels that did not respond to Dr. Oliver’s original two supplements. Based on my own research, I started adding two ingredients for additional benefits:
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Diindoylymethane (DIM) – A phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower, DIM promotes beneficial estrogen metabolism in both males and females.
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Ashwagandha – The root of an evergreen shrub from Asia and North Africa, this powerful adaptogen helps support healthy, balanced hormone levels, promoting a sense of calm and well-being in your pet.
For many of my patients, DIM and Ashwagandha, combined with HMR and Melatonin, provided the missing links that restored their hormonal health and wellness.
The Only Commercially Available Product of Its Type – Bark & Whiskers® Adrenal Support Helps Counter the Effects of Spaying and Neutering, and Adrenal Stress
I am pleased to be able to bring you Dr. Oliver’s protocol, along with my enhancements, in Bark & Whiskers® Adrenal Support.
Backed by solid research, this formula is recommended for:
- Any age cat or dog (male or female) who has been neutered or spayed at any time and has symptoms of sex hormone imbalances.
- Intact cats or dogs who may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance or adrenal stress.
- Any cat or dog (intact or desexed or sterilized) that has been exposed to excessive xenoestrogens or environmental contaminants.
Using Dr. Oliver’s original formula with my addition of DIM and Ashwagandha, I’ve had incredible success over the years with supporting healthy hormonal balance and rebalancing endocrine systems – including the adrenal glands – in my patients.
Adrenal Support represents the results of many years of thorough research with thousands of patients. I’m especially proud to be able to offer you and your pet the results of so many years of diligent research and effort.
Made with all human-grade ingredients, Adrenal Support is the only commercially available product of its type. Nowhere else can you find this unique pre-blended formula.
Give Your Pet the Gift of Hormonal Balance Today
Because of my own experiences with spaying and neutering – and seeing firsthand their devastating effects on my patients’ well-being – I feel very strongly that every desexed dog or cat, male or female, struggling with the side effects of this permanent surgery can potentially benefit from this special protocol.
Intact animals struggling with excessive stress or toxic load in their environment can also potentially benefit from the support this highly researched formula provides for healthy hormonal function.
Life comes with challenges for animals just as it does for their people. Fortunately, there is a way to help support your pet when she deals with challenges stemming from desexing surgery, increased stress and environmental contaminants.
You can’t reverse what’s been done – there’s no going backwards. And you can’t always avoid the stress and contaminants in your pet’s environment. However, you can support your pet’s endocrine health going forward. And Bark & Whiskers® Adrenal Support can help you do it.
Help get your pet on the path to hormonal balance, and order Bark & Whiskers® Adrenal Support today.