Assessment of Surgical Sterilization Compliance for Dogs and Cats in Ogun State Veterinary Practice

Overpopulation of companion animals through uncontrolled breeding contributes to disease transmission, animal welfare concerns, and community safety challenges in urban and peri-urban settings across Nigeria. This study assesses the rates of surgical sterilization, owner compliance with sterilization recommendations, and the professional practices of veterinary surgeons promoting sterilization in Ogun State, South West Nigeria, during 2023. A cross-sectional survey involved 210 companion animal owners attending registered veterinary clinics across Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Ijebu Ode, and structured interviews with 24 veterinary practitioners. Companion animal sterilization compliance was 19% among surveyed dog owners and 24% among cat owners, substantially below the levels recommended for meaningful population control. Primary barriers to compliance identified included cost, cultural beliefs, and fear of anesthetic risk. Practitioners reported that sterilization counseling was integrated into wellness consultations by only 38% of clinics. Sterilization was more frequently performed at large institutional clinics than small independent practices. Female animals were sterilized at higher rates than males in both species. Professional awareness campaigns and government-subsidized sterilization programs were identified as priority interventions by 72% of surveyed practitioners. This study concludes that a structured multi-stakeholder sterilization promotion strategy is required to improve companion animal population management in South Western Nigeria, with veterinary professional leadership being central to the program's success. Keywords: companion animal sterilization, ovariohysterectomy, castration, Ogun State, population management.