to spay or not to spay?

kymrob

hi
have a 3 month old lovely female westie so have lovely chartacter very playful just adorable!:j vets have said we can have her spayed at 6 months:eek: we did say before getting puppy we want her done but reading so much conficting info online concerned wether to or not? and at that age? our biggest concern is long term health and change in chartacter anybody been though this and regreted having them done or not?
we defo dont want to breed her.

lisawood78

Spey. Every time.
The health benefits in the future far outweigh any possible negatives.

At what age is a different issue, hotly debated. I have giant breeds and they don't tend to get done til later as it may affect their growth, but in a small dog I'd Spey at 6 months. Just my opinion

kymrob

thak u lisawood78 did it change any of your dogs ive read can become aggressive?

Shepherd1

I have a 20 month gsd and I won't be spaying her, my two previous gsd were spayed at about a year old.

One of my shepherds became quite nervous after she was spayed and the other one was incontinent for the last three years of her life as a result of spaying (confirmed by vet)

So for me I won't be doing it.

Paradigm

As said, the positives of speying generally outweigh the negatives but 6 months is too early in my opinion... I'd be looking at 12 months minimum.

lisawood78

Not at all. Magic was speyed at 9 months, after her first season. Her first season was rough, she was miserable, grouchy and the mess was extensive during it. After her Spey she was still the same loving gentle giant.

Storm was done at 6 months because of this and while it was much better she didn't grow to quite the extent we expected, but of course this may just be coincidence and certainly only noticeable as she is a Great Dane.

Currently we have a 7 month old pup and we have not decided when yet, but it's is a when and not an if.

My Mum had a Westie who was not speyed, she died at the age of 8 due to mammary cancer. I know it sounds brutal but If they don't have the bits, they can't go wrong in later life.

Just my opinion again of course

Paradigm

Shepherd1 wrote: »

I have a 20 month gsd and I won't be spaying her, my two previous gsd were spayed at about a year old.

One of my shepherds became quite nervous after she was spayed and the other one was incontinent for the last three years of her life as a result of spaying (confirmed by vet)

12 months is too early for a GSD. I'd be interested to know if it was this one that became nervous?

Paradigm

lisawood78 wrote: »

Storm was done at 6 months because of this and while it was much better she didn't grow to quite the extent we expected, but of course this may just be coincidence and certainly only noticeable as she is a Great Dane.

Just my opinion again of course

I doubt it's a "coincidence". Altered growth patterns are a common result of neutering too early.

I much prefer to wait until the dog has reached maturity & develop fully before removing the hormones it needs to reach said maturity.

As you say it's all opinion

Shepherd1

Paradigm wrote: »

12 months is too early for a GSD. I'd be interested to know if it was this one that became nervous?

They were both spayed at 12 months on recomendation from vet, really wished I did not listen to that vet but was I was quite young and thought the vet knew best.

The one who became nervous was not really the problem. The biggest problem for me was the incontinence (not for me) but the dog looked so miserable when she stood up and was all wet. She was NEVER given into trouble but she always looked as if she had done something wrong and it was heartbreaking to watch.

Paradigm

Shepherd1 wrote: »

The one who became nervous was not really the problem. The biggest problem for me was the incontinence (not for me) but the dog looked so miserable when she stood up and was all wet. She was NEVER given into trouble but she always looked as if she had done something wrong and it was heartbreaking to watch.

Sadly incontinence is a known possible downside (there are others) but the greatly reduced risk of mammary cancer & Pyometra tend to swing me (just) towards speying, although I have to say I'm not a total convert!

scaredy_cat

spay her after her first season.