Best time to spay

M

Moobli

...
Joined
13 June 2013
Messages
6,142
Visit site
It’s been quite a number of years since I last had a bitch spayed and from some preliminary reading on the net it seems some of the most up to date research now suggests before the first heat has the most health benefits?

I was always of the opinion that you should wait until at least one heat but ideally for two or more to allow the bitch to mature physically and mentally.

Any opinions or experiences?
 
My vets have changed from before first heat to after for a small breed and after 2 for a large. We got Pen done after two as she was such an immature puppy. Ffee I will be health testing at 12 months before I decide either way.
So I would say the longer left intact the better. :-)
 
Roxie has been done today and she’s had one heat.

The vets recommended waiting until after the first one to let her mature and I read that for dachshunds it’s recommended to let them mature to help their back.
 
It’s recommended by my vet practice to spay before the first heat as each heat increases the risk of cancer. But, with larger, later to physically mature dogs, I prefer to to give them at least one heat.
 
Its not a clear cut answer as it depends on the breed,the dogs personality...and the owners ability to manage an entire animal in some cases.
As a general rule smaller dogs you can do younger...but many larger breeds or those very prone to cancers(goldens rotties) waiting until maturity is the ideal.... but generally the op will be more expensive the older they are.

In females a lot of the time your playing mammary cancer risk(less heats=decreased risk for mammary cancer and it a common canine cancer) of statistics risk of other rarer cancers and structural issues.....pyometra risk is always there but its generally an older dog issue.
 
We had Luna spayed at 16 months, 3 months after her 2nd season. Ideally, we wanted her done at 18 months, but didn’t want her to have a 3rd season.

I can’t wait to see pics of new pup!
 
CorvusCorax said:
If it's your new GSD pup, I wouldn't throw baby out with the bathwater and look at the injections instead. Probably an unpopular opinion but if you ever want to work or show her, I'd leave it until later life.

I'd wait until a female is about 7 or 8 and mainly to prevent pyometra.
Click to expand...

Are there any side effects with the injections? It’s not something I’d considered but that might be a good solution, at least in the meantime. I’ll do some reading on the subject and happy to hear anyone’s opinion on the injections if they’ve used them.
 
Just to add another into the mix, our vet said as long as its done by the 3rd season you will get all of the health benefits.

We're thinking of breeding from our bitch so wanted to find out when we needed to have decided by :)
 
I don't keep females any more, I only know one person who uses the injections, can ask tomorrow. The female is still very fit and healthy at nine years old. By contrast the only working female I know that's been spayed is not a good advert for spaying...
 
Willow was 8 when neutered not a choice I would have made but at her age and under a GA anyway for another surgery it seemed like a good idea at the time. I regret it bitterly she has aged 6 years in 6 months and is nothing lke the dog she was before it was done I still love her of course but unless to save its life I would never spay a bitch again. I am very careful to take obsessively good care of my girls when they are in season so have never had a litter of pups that wasnt planned and we owned both entire males and females at the same time. I have always been anti blanket spaying and neutering of dogs but strangely am the first to suggest you de sex cats
 
CorvusCorax said:
I don't keep females any more, I only know one person who uses the injections, can ask tomorrow. The female is still very fit and healthy at nine years old. By contrast the only working female I know that's been spayed is not a good advert for spaying...
Click to expand...

Please, I’d be grateful. The one worry about the injection that I’ve found just reading online is the incrreased risk of pyometra.

windand rain said:
Willow was 8 when neutered not a choice I would have made but at her age and under a GA anyway for another surgery it seemed like a good idea at the time. I regret it bitterly she has aged 6 years in 6 months and is nothing lke the dog she was before it was done I still love her of course but unless to save its life I would never spay a bitch again. I am very careful to take obsessively good care of my girls when they are in season so have never had a litter of pups that wasnt planned and we owned both entire males and females at the same time. I have always been anti blanket spaying and neutering of dogs but strangely am the first to suggest you de sex cats
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that about Willow. My husband had his retired collie spayed as she suffered a pyrometra. She wasn’t retired at the time but had to be not long after the spay as her weight dramatically increased (despite eating very little) and she aged almost overnight. Obviously he had no choice but to have the operation given the circumstances but it’s put him off routinely spaying any bitches in future.
 
Spaying has not changed our bitches at all, except as they get older their coat is not so good. They are certainly still a lean mean bunch of nutters!
I believe the injections cause the same growth issues as spaying, so are not recommended for a young bitch and they should be allowed to have a couple of normal seasons first. I haven't looked into it myself, that is only seeing other peoples discussions on gundog sites.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top