to spay or not to spay?

Paradigm

An interesting read on the subject but, again, it's just his opinion

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/neutering_definitive.shtml

Shepherd1

Paradigm wrote: »

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!

I really did believe spaying was the best thing to do but after watching her for three years I won't take the risk of doing it to another dog.

I may regret that decision I don't know only time will tell.

~Chameleon~

Definitely get her spayed and no need to wait until she's had a season either, that's an old wives tale and just increases her risk of accidentally becoming pregnant, not to mention added hassle and stress for you

By spaying her you're eliminating the risk of developing potentially fatal pyometra (infection of womb) and mammary tumours in future life

Paradigm

Shepherd1 wrote: »

I really did believe spaying was the best thing to do but after watching her for three years I won't take the risk of doing it to another dog.

I may regret that decision I don't know only time will tell.

I know where you're coming from, I'm pretty much 50-50 when it comes to B!tches. For the reasons I posted above I just, & I mean just, err on the side of speying.

gettingready

I wish I did not have Zara spayed at 6 months - again, went by my then vet recommendation. Wish I waited longer.

thorsoak

It would be far better to wait until she is fully mature before having her speyed - for her to have two seasons first - and then have her speyed half-way between seasons - in other words if her first two seasons are six months apart, then arrange for it to be done three months after the second season.

If she is speyed before she is fully mature, it can be detrimental to her growth and also to her coat - you don't say what breed she is - but it can drastically alter the appearance of the coat. You are removing natural hormones from the dog (without giving HRT ) and therefore there are bound to be repercussions.

Sadly today some vets have their eyes on their profit figures about the health and well-being of the pets that they treat - and they are the first to recommend early speying - it helps the health of their bank balance rather than the health of your dog!

Could you talk to the breeder of your puppy? See what s/he has to say on the subject!

Personally, I have never speyed before the age of 5 or 6 - and then to lessen the possibility of pyometra.

Edited : I've just realised that you did state that your puppy is a Westie ....in this case early speying would most definitely affect her coat and it would grow very "woolly" rather than the proper Westie coat.

Paradigm

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Definitely get her spayed and no need to wait until she's had a season either, that's an old wives tale and just increases her risk of accidentally becoming pregnant, not to mention added hassle and stress for you

The traditional spay/neuter age of six months as well as the modern practice of pediatric spay/neuter appear
to predispose dogs to health risks that could otherwise be avoided by waiting until the dog is physically
mature,

Taken from here http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

By spaying her you're eliminating the risk of developing potentially fatal pyometra (infection of womb) and mammary tumours in future life

Agreed but as you can see from previous posters, it's not quite so "cut & dried".

Paradigm

thorsoak wrote: »

It would be far better to wait until she is fully mature before having her speyed - for her to have two seasons first - and then have her speyed half-way between seasons - in other words if her first two seasons are six months apart, then arrange for it to be done three months after the second season.

If she is speyed before she is fully mature, it can be detrimental to her growth and also to her coat - you don't say what breed she is - but it can drastically alter the appearance of the coat. You are removing natural hormones from the dog (without giving HRT ) and therefore there are bound to be repercussions.

Sadly today some vets have their eyes on their profit figures about the health and well-being of the pets that they treat - and they are the first to recommend early speying - it helps the health of their bank balance rather than the health of your dog!

Could you talk to the breeder of your puppy? See what s/he has to say on the subject!

Personally, I have never speyed before the age of 5 or 6 - and then to lessen the possibility of pyometra.

Edited : I've just realised that you did state that your puppy is a Westie ....in this case early speying would most definitely affect her coat and it would grow very "woolly" rather than the proper Westie coat.

:T I couldn't have put it better

puppy999

I would have them spayed but not before 12mths I have never known any to become aggressive its usually the other way round.
It also stops unwanted "Puppies" and like most have said the "C" word
we use to have boxers and they were all done around 18mths/2yrs
What ever you do is up to you but like Paradigm says "Spaying" outweigh the negatives...............Good luck with your baby girl hope you have loads of fun with her x

~Chameleon~

thorsoak wrote: »

Personally, I have never speyed before the age of 5 or 6 - and then to lessen the possibility of pyometra.

Pyometras don't wait until a b!tch is beyond a certain age