WSAVA Updates Reproduction Control Process

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has reconvened a multidisciplinary working group to develop new guidance on dog and cat reproduction control. The group's work was temporarily paused in 2026 to address internal questions about its governance and decision-making processes, according to a recent association update.

This effort follows an erratum published in March 2025 to the existing WSAVA Guidelines for the Control of Reproduction in Dogs and Cats. The new consensus paper is intended to accompany those guidelines, not replace them. It aims to provide greater context, evidence, and depth, particularly regarding topics in the guidelines' Chapter 6.

Strengthening the Working Group

During its initial discussions, working group members raised concerns about the clarity of its remit, governance, and ways of working. WSAVA states these questions highlighted a lack of shared understanding among participants about roles and consensus-building. The association initiated a review and paused the group's activities to establish a clearer framework.

Following the review, the WSAVA Executive Board approved strengthened arrangements. Formal Terms of Reference have been created to define the group's purpose, scope, and processes. An independent chair, who was not involved in creating the original guidelines, has been appointed to lead the discussions.

A Complex Veterinary Topic

Reproduction control is described by WSAVA as a complex and sometimes contested area of veterinary medicine. The association notes that different professional perspectives can be influenced by scientific evidence, clinical circumstances, animal welfare, population management, and cultural contexts. The working group's approach is one of multidisciplinary collaboration and consensus.

WSAVA emphasizes that no single participant or external committee has the authority to determine the group's conclusions. The final paper will aim to reflect legitimate differences in interpretation that remain after considering the evidence. The association believes local and regional veterinary bodies are best placed to interpret any recommendations within their own operational contexts.

Next Steps and Organizational Learning

With the new framework in place, the working group has resumed its work. It will consider whether additional skills or perspectives are needed in its composition. WSAVA has published the group's current composition and remit on its website.

The association states that developing a robust consensus paper on such a complex subject takes time and it will not impose an artificial timetable. The completed paper will undergo review and consultation with all WSAVA Committees and Member Associations before publication. WSAVA says the lessons learned from this process will inform its wider approach to multidisciplinary working groups in the future.