Spaying. what age. pros and cons.

[jayelew]

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I have never been bothered about the sex of my pets. I have had dogs and bitches, have loved them all and have no preference for one or the other.

I have never had a bitch spayed nor a dog castrated.

I now have two pups, litter brother and sister. When we were at the vets, getting their health check and second vaccinations, our vet asked if we had any plans to breed from our pups. We don't. He then advised that we have Nia, the little bitch spayed. He told us that bitches spayed before a first season seldom develope mammary tumours. A few years ago we lost a bitch to mammary cancers and I should hate to see another girl go through it.

We have been using the same vet for 25+ years. He has always been excellent with our animals and up-front with us. He will not push us into having Nia spayed. He is not that sort of vet. The decision will be ours. He did say that he prefers to spay pups between 4 and 5 months of age, because the uterus and ovaries are still immature and the pup recovers more easily.

As a female myself I sort of shy away from the idea of having Nia spayed, but this is illogical as I have my female cats spayed and they all go on to live long and healthy lives.. It would make life easier for us if she was spayed, in view of the fact that we have her brother.

I would like to know if anyone else has had their non breeding bitches spayed and what age. Just any input at all on this topic might be useful. what are the pros and cons of early spaying.

Our vet is usually up to date with recent research and development in veterinary medicine. His advice is usually sound, but I need to find out more.

 

[lurcherman]

Ive not had my two done and rarely have over the years but do i think its a good idea??? If your not breeding then yes 100% its gotta be done, now do they put weight on? Some do, why? The dogs make up the lack of exersize or over feeding so sensible eating and plenty of walks then should be fine.

 

[jayelew]

Thank you for your input..

I don't think weight gain would be a problem as my OH and I are keen walkers who have a whole forest to walk in right across the road from our house. We also organise walks for dogs and people. Our dogs have always joined us on walks, once they are old enough. The current two are not old enough for distance walking yet.

 

[murphyrules]

I can give you info for both sides of the before or after 1st season speying debate - If you spey the bitch before her first season 4-5 months old then you are preventing any mammary changes from happening therefore the likelyhood of mammary tumours developing in later life is very very tiny, the vet has told you he prefers this as the operation itself is easier for the vet due to the small size of the organs and the small blood supply they have, I personally know several people who have had their bitches speyed early and they all bounced back very quickly,

If you spey the bitch early (before 1st Season) then she does not effectively 'hit puberty' in that the hormones which kick in with her season never come so there is a line of thought that the bitch will never mature properly and may keep some puppy traits, may be a little smaller than she may have been.

If you let her have a season she does then have the risk of mammary tumours developing, false pregnancy, real pregnancy, pyometra womb infection (mostly rare at first season but can happen)

But that way she has all her hormones and is 'fully developed'

Weight gain is not a proven outcome of speying, its simple eat too much and don't exercise enough you will put on weight!

I think you should speak to your vet again, you clearly have a good relationship with him and have trusted him to care for your pets for many years, this is a very controversial subject which people have strong opinions on so you could end up with very conflicting opinions as to what's best.

I had a bitch who had 3 litters of pups and was speyed at 5 she had a full mammary strip on her right side at the same time due to tumours, she was 6 when I got her and lived to 15 without any further mammary problems.

Good Luck whatever you decide :luck:

 

[TTT]

Personally, I would never have a bitch speyed until they were physically matured......bones, muscles ect given a chance to mature given the lifetime of working ahead of them. On the other hand, in your situation, with a litter brother (any plans for neutering there?) the risk of unplanned litter to cope with?

 

[jayelew]

Thank you to everyone who gave me input on this question. I think I need to have another chat with my vet.