Dr. Nancy Kay....

Is a veterinarian who specializes in small animal internal medicine. Her veterinary degree is from Cornell and her internal medicine residency training was at UC Davis. She has lectured extensively on the topics of Medical Advocacy, Veterinarian-Client Communication, and Changing Perspectives About Canine Spay/Neuter. Dr. Kay's award winning book, Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy Longer Life was featured on NPR's Fresh Air With Terry Gross. 

Throughout most of her career, Dr. Kay believed that dogs not used for breeding purposes should be neutered between four and six months of age. In addition to preventing unwanted litters of puppies, the prevailing dogma was that neutering before puberty prevented a vast array of medical and behavioral issues.

A study on Rottweilers, published in 2002, documented that dogs neutered when they were young were more likely to develop osteosarcoma, a deadly form of bone cancer common within this breed. This was the first of multiple eye opening breed-specific studies documenting health and behavior issues associated with neutering, particularly when performed at an early age.

Dr. Kay is passionate about keeping people informed and up to date about health options for their four-legged family members. Based on the current body of canine neutering research, she wants you to know that if, when, and how to neuter your dog is no longer a simple decision. Rather, it should be a decision based on a number of factors including your ability to prevent unintentional litters, the breed and intended use of your dog, current research, and your individualized needs and concerns. It's a decision to be discussed with rather than determined by your veterinarian.

Dr. Kay is available for personal consultations. The fee is $100. Please fill out the form below.