When and if to spay?

Carer

I have 10 month old Border Collie pup who I am unsure whether to have spayed or not. I have always had only female dogs and all have been spayed as soon as they were old enough.

She's already had her first season and I'm not at all worried about her coming on heat again (was not a problem) or being got at by a male (I can keep that from happening). I am NOT considering breeding from her.

The only reason I'm considering spaying at all is for health reasons.

The current research is so conflicting that I'm struggling to make the decision. On the one hand:

Spaying before maturity (up to 2 years old) is now thought to increase the risk long term problems such as urinary incontinence, cardiac tumors, delay in growth plate closure leading to increased likelihood of fractures, and a growing concern that lack of sex hormones greatly increases the chance of bone cancer. It is also said to increase the chance of obesity.

But spaying after 2.5years is an increase in risk of Pyometra which can be fatal and will affect up to a quarter of all intact females.

My last Border Collie died age 11 with very aggressive cancer, we struggled to keep her weight down her whole life. My German Shepherd is now 11 too and has urinary incontinence. Both were spayed at 5-6 months. My friend's German Shepherd was not spayed and almost died from Pyometra at age 10.

Would be interested in your views.

rising_from_the_ashes

Personally I would always choose to spay - not until at least a year old but prob around the 18 month mark

I know 3 people who've lost dogs to pyro - it's a very, very horrid way for the poor animal to go and I know I would never forgive myself if I let my dog get that, when it's entirely avoidable

Yes, there can be other health risks in spaying - none imho come close to the threat of pyro so I would always spay

My current dog is an ex show & breeding !!!!! - she was spayed when I got her @ 5.5 years but the threat of mammary cancer in particular is never far from my mind and I wish I'd had her younger so she would've been spayed earlier

SensibleSarah

I always get rescue pets so it's not a negotiable part of pet ownership for me - neutering is part of the contract if not already done. If I did have the choice then unless there was a very good reason why not e.g. other health reasons or severe mental/behavioural trauma which could be made worse by sudden hormonal changes, then I would always neuter - but you have to take each animal as an individual. If I could choose then I'd maybe try and neuter at around 18 months old, depending on the size/breed of dog, at an age when they're at least fully grown physically.

sheramber

Once spayed there is no longer any risk of Pyometra.

I have had !!!!!es spayed at 8 months ( first season 6 months), 5 years and 18 months( first season not until 14 months).

No problems or consquences with any of them. None suffered from incontinence.
The first two lived into their teens and the last one died at 11 years from something with no connection to spaying.

I would always wait until after the first season and would then consider how mature the !!!!! was.

Feral_Moon

sheramber wrote: »

Once spayed there is no longer any risk of Pyometra.

That's not strictly true. Although extremely rare, it is still possible for a spayed !!!!! to develop a pyometra in the uterine stump. Usually as a result of retaining some ovarian tissue during surgery.

I've always waited until around 18mths to spay or castrate my dogs but then I've always owned large breeds so much better to wait until they're fully mature.

teddysmum

Even puppies can get pyometra. An internet friend nearly lost her 10 month old cavalier, who had to be kept at the vets for three days after emergency spay , as she was so ill.


I would always spay, having nearly lost one girl and losing another because her bad heart made operating unlikely to have good outcome. This was 40 years ago, when spaying was not routine, as anaesthetics were not as safe as they are nowadays.

arbrighton

Ours was done 3 weeks ago, and just turned one. She'd had one season, at 9 months, which is late for a small dog and was so miserable and clingy during that time that it was an absolute no brainer for us especially as we have no intention of breeding from her and there is at least one entire dog around in the family.

krlyr

With my fondness for large breeds, it's likely any !!!!! I get in the future will be spaying around the 18 month to 2 year mark. With a Collie, being prone to hip problems, I'd say you're best off waiting until around this stage too, to ensure her hormones have done their bit within her bone development etc.

If you think pyometra is a worry, bear in mind that closed pyometra is even scarier - this is where the infection remains within the uterus as the cervix stays closed, so no discharge or smell to give you a clue that there's something nasty going on.

owlet

Mine is being spayed in June at 6 months old (Shih Tzu). The vet said before first season is best for the small breeds. I'm happy with that after doing research online but I'm a new doggy mum lol.

arbrighton

owlet wrote: »

Mine is being spayed in June at 6 months old (Shih Tzu). The vet said before first season is best for the small breeds. I'm happy with that after doing research online but I'm a new doggy mum lol.

Different vets have very different opinions- ours won't do any before first season and she's small (miniature poodle) but friends with cockapoo had theirs done before her first season.