Once the flood event is over, the veterinarians and staff assess the damage. The building has minor flood damage in a couple of exam rooms and the surgical suite. The town, including the clinic, lost power for several days. XYZ Animal Care Clinic moves to the postdisaster phase of its plan. They determine that they can still see patients in the undamaged exam rooms and also create a temporary exam room in one of the doctors’ offices. Because of the generator, they are able to maintain electricity keep the lights on and the refrigerator running. The doctors arrange to use the surgical suite at a colleague's clinic one day each week to meet client needs. More urgent procedures are referred. The practice manager contacts the necessary insurance companies and immediately starts repairs to the damaged areas. XYZ is fully operational six months after the flood event.
Make sure all doctors and staff have their personal needs taken care of – family, pets, property – so then they can focus on the veterinary practice.
Have a disaster plan for a localized event – building fire, water damage from burst pipe, etc.
Have a disaster plan for a regional event – earthquake, hurricane, massive fire, chemical spill, etc.
Keep supplies ready for evacuation, shelter‐in‐place orders, and postdisaster needs.
Maintain all necessary documents for medical records, practice management, and insurance needs.
2.17.4 Cautions
Some disasters come without warning. Having a plan in place and using practice drills on a regular basis will help mitigate the effects. Identify leaders ahead of time who can stay calm and think on their feet to help the practice survive the disaster and its aftermath.
Recommended Reading
1 American Red Cross Pet Disaster Preparedness: www.redcross.org/get‐help/how‐to‐prepare‐for‐emergencies/pet‐disaster‐preparedness.html
2 AVMA Disaster Resource Center: www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/disaster/Pages/default.aspx
3 AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust, Disaster Planning for Veterinary Practices: www.avmaplit.com/education‐center/library/disaster‐planning
2.18 Population Control
Ryane E. Englar, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice)
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Oro Valley, AZ, USA
2.18.1 Summary
The need to reproductively manage owned and feral dogs and cats is the driving force behind gonadectomy. Excision of sex organs (neutering, desexing) prevents procreation, which is of particular importance when considering the sheer numbers of animals that are relinquished to animal shelters annually. There is only so much room to accommodate new arrivals, and traditional shelters are often forced to euthanize otherwise healthy patients in the face of space constraints. Sterilization surgery is considered the norm in North American dogs and cats, and is increasingly performed at young ages to (i) prevent breeding of adopted dogs, and (ii) potentially reduce behaviors that may lead to relinquishment. Early‐age gonadectomy is not without risk, which has led to increasing interest in reversible contraception, as opposed to the traditional ovariohysterectomy (OVH) and castration. These methods run the gamut from extra‐label use of human contraceptives to intratesticular injections.
2.18.2 Terms Defined
Gonadectomy: Technically, surgical removal of an ovary or testis; colloquially, this term often refers to excision of the reproductive tract and is therefore synonymous with ovariohysterectomy or castration.
Orchiectomy: Surgical excision of both testicles; synonymous with the term castration
Ovariectomy (OVE): Surgical removal of one or both ovaries, leaving the uterus intact.
Ovariohysterectomy: Surgical excision of the ovaries and uterus.
Reversible Contraception: A method of preventing pregnancy that does not result in permanent sterilization, such that if pregnancy is desired at a later point, removal of this method makes this physiological state possible.
2.18.3 The Reason for Sterilization
The primary purpose of gonadectomy is to manage canine and feline populations [1]. American animal shelters collectively report an estimated intake of 6.5 million companion animals annually [2]. Permanent sterilization prevents unplanned pregnancies that yield unwanted litters, which ultimately end up at shelters [3–7].
The majority of American veterinarians advocate for elective sterilization surgery [8]. Most American dogs and cats undergo elective OVH or castration within their first year of life. The recommended age for such surgeries often varies with breed, stage of growth, and underlying risks for potential medicals conditions, such as inherited orthopedic problems.
Gonadectomy reduces the risk for mammary neoplasia, particularly if females are spayed before the first heat cycle [6, 9–14]. Male dogs that are castrated are less likely to develop hormone‐dependent benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) [9].
Neutering also curbs unfavorable behaviors: castrated male dogs roam, mount, and urine‐mark less frequently, and male cats are less likely to spray [9, 15].
2.18.4 The Rise of Pediatric Neutering
Waiting to sterilize patients until they are 6 months of age or older runs the risk that they will reach sexual maturity and procreate. Because of this concern, pediatric neutering is on the rise. Shelters also do not wish to adopt out intact patients that then may reproduce, particularly since unwanted litters are often relinquished back to shelters [1, 7, 9].
In an effort to break this cycle, OVH and castration are now routinely performed at 6–16 weeks of age [4, 6, 8, 9]. Safe anesthetic protocols have