MMPC Learniverse – Small Patients, Big Procedures: Weighing Pediatric Spay & Neuter Considerations (On-Demand Webinar)
Recorded On: 10/15/2025
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Webinar Overview
Pediatric spay and neuter surgeries are a cornerstone of population management and animal welfare strategies in both shelter and community practice. Historically, veterinarians were trained to delay sterilization until six months of age; however, current evidence supports safe and effective procedures at a much earlier age and at lower body weights. Early-age spay/neuter—commonly performed at 6–16 weeks of age—has been endorsed by major veterinary organizations, including the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and is increasingly utilized in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) programs as well as private practice.
This session will review the current recommendations for pediatric spay/neuter of dogs and cats, including key considerations around surgical candidacy, anesthesia and analgesia, tissue handling, and perioperative care. Presenters will highlight practical adjustments needed for pediatric patients—such as appropriate fasting protocols, thermoregulation strategies, and multimodal pain management—and will discuss evidence showing that pediatric patients often experience shorter surgical times, quicker recoveries, and lower complication rates than their adult counterparts.
In addition to clinical techniques, the session will examine the broader implications of pediatric spay/neuter for shelters and access-to-care programs. By reducing length of stay, decreasing disease exposure, and preventing unplanned litters, pediatric sterilization supports organizational capacity for care while advancing population-level welfare outcomes. Presenters will also discuss staff and community considerations, common myths and concerns, and case-based examples illustrating how pediatric spay/neuter can be successfully integrated into both shelter medicine and HQHVSN practice models.
Learning Objectives:
- Review current and best practices in pediatric spay/neuter surgery recommendations for shelter and access-to-care program settings.
- Learn modifications and considerations for pediatric surgical candidacy, anesthesia and pain management, tissue handling, and pre- and post-operative care.
- Discuss shelter and access-to-care program applications where pediatric sterilization is appropriate to consider as a strategy and the implications for staff, volunteers, owners, and other stakeholders.
- Review common concerns and questions around this topic with practicing shelter and HQHVSN veterinarians using case examples.
Continuing Education Credits
This webinar has been approved for 1.5 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA).
This course has been approved for 1.5 hours of RACE continuing education credit until 9/8/27 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Upon completing the course and passing the quiz, upload your certificate to https://CEBroker.com. This is the broker used by the AAVSB to track your continuing education credits.
Contact
Email us at help@shelterlearniverse.com if you have any questions or concerns about this webinar.
Keywords
MMPC, learniverse, pediatric spay/neuter, early-age sterilization, shelter medicine, HQHVSN, anesthesia, perioperative care, pain management, recovery outcomes, population management, animal welfare
Maddie’s® Pet Forum Discussion Thread
You can also join the discussion about these concepts over on Maddie's Pet Forum in the discussion thread. CLICK HERE
Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge
With the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, the Five Key Initiatives of the Million Cat Challenge have expanded to include other species at risk in shelters and evolved into the Four Rights.
Within the Four Rights, every element works in concert to support one another: animals and people are treated as individuals, empowering shelter staff to make the best decisions for everyone; community safety net services are in place and flourishing; and humane care within the shelter is provided, with appropriate outcomes for the animals that do come in, allowing shelters to deliver the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, and to the Right Outcome
Learn more about Maddie's® Million Pet Challenge Shelter Learniverse. #ThankstoMaddie
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LockedDr. Jennifer Bennett
Director of Shelter Medicine and Access to Care
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program
Jennifer Bennett joined the Koret Shelter Medicine Program as the new Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care in late 2024. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and soon after she began practicing in her hometown regions of rural Northern California. She spent 5 years in small animal, emergency and farm animal medicine before joining Lake County Animal Care & Control as its first Medical Director in 2013. After realizing the life-saving impact that a shelter veterinarian can have on a community, she has remained dedicated to the field of shelter medicine. She has worked with a wide variety of municipal and private organizations, developing shelter medicine and surgery programs, consulting with humane organizations, participating in community outreach clinics, and working with large-scale humane law enforcement seizures and legal cases. Dr. Bennett most recently served as the Medical Director for the City of Seattle from 2017-2022 and the Chief Veterinary Officer for the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County from 2022-2024. She served on the California HOD, the Washington State VMA, and was WSVMA President from 2021-2022, and has been serving on the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee since 2023. Dr. Bennett is passionate about supporting and mentoring shelter veterinarians and students, creating low barrier access to care programs, and identifying and removing bottlenecks in shelter programs to improve capacity for care.
Brian A. DiGangi
DVM, MS, DABVP
Dr. Brian DiGangi is a board-certified shelter medicine veterinarian with extensive experience in clinical teaching, organizational leadership, and population management. He currently serves as Director of Professional Development at First Coast No More Homeless Pets in Jacksonville, Florida.
A graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. DiGangi earned both his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science degrees there, following a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University. He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Shelter Medicine Practice and in Canine and Feline Practice.
Over his career, Dr. DiGangi has held academic appointments at the University of Florida, contributed to national initiatives through the ASPCA, and trained numerous veterinary students and residents in shelter medicine, surgery, and animal welfare. His professional certifications include Fear Free℠ Elite and C.A.R.E. REDI Bronze status, underscoring his commitment to compassionate, evidence-based animal care.
Emily McCobb
DVM, MS, DACVAA
Dr. Emily McCobb is a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist and Professor of Clinical Accessible Veterinary Care at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she also serves as the PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair for Accessible Veterinary Care.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Dr. McCobb earned her DVM and MS degrees from Tufts University, where her master’s research focused on assessing stress levels among cats in animal shelters. A summa cum laude graduate of Claremont McKenna College, she has dedicated her career to advancing animal welfare, community medicine, and access to veterinary care.
Before joining UC Davis, Dr. McCobb spent more than a decade at Tufts University, where she directed the Shelter Medicine Program, Luke and Lily Lerner Spay Neuter Clinic, and served as Assistant Director for the Center for Animals and Public Policy. Her work integrates clinical expertise, research, and public policy to improve the delivery of compassionate, accessible care for all animals.
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