Spay or keep entire

[SAujla]

I have been thinking a lot recently about whether I should spay Clover or not. She won't be shown or have a litter and I always intended to get her spayed but I'm unsure now, I know there are risks both ways I just cannot decide which risk I am more comfortable with. I will let her have a second season so shes matured more and it gives me more time to think and ask people for advice. Her spay wouldn't be until early 2022. Pics added because I love her.

 

[Equi]

Spay.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Spay

 

[Bellasophia]

I will let her have a second season so shes matured more and it gives me more time to think and ask people for advice. Her spay wouldn't be until early 2022.

........and spay.

 

[Nasicus]

I'd spay, even if just to remove the possibility of a pyometra.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

We're planning on spaying our pup once she's had her second season (which should be soon!).

 

[Rumtytum]

No comment on the spay/not spay, just had to say Clover is beautiful and the top photo is

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Spay, pyometra is all too common in entire bitches. I know of too many that have had to be done as an emergency, usually when older and one that died without an op. Spay is better done as an elective procedure when the bitch is in good health.

 

[BallyJ]

We have a Lab going into her third season and we have been thinking of breeding her but I think we're going to spay instead. I can't deal with all of the ill mannered male dogs around, its not fair on our bitch who just isn't interested in socialising so she gets rather upset!

 

[SAujla]

I will definitely take all this advice on board, I'm surprised the general response is to spay but thats why I like to ask experienced dog people for advice.

She's my first pup, and I don't have firsthand experience of the potential problems of keeping a bitch entire so the idea of willingly putting her through an operation makes me uncertain.

I think if I do it then it'll be after her second season, I want to be decisive and commit to one option either way. The comment by @Errin Paddywack about a possible emergency spay is certainly sticking in my mind as a major pro to spaying

 

[Nasicus]

I will definitely take all this advice on board, I'm surprised the general response is to spay but thats why I like to ask experienced dog people for advice.

She's my first pup, and I don't have firsthand experience of the potential problems of keeping a bitch entire so the idea of willingly putting her through an operation makes me uncertain.

I think if I do it then it'll be after her second season, I want to be decisive and commit to one option either way. The comment by @Errin Paddywack about a possible emergency spay is certainly sticking in my mind as a major pro to spaying

If you're worried about the surgery, look into a laparoscopic spay, it's minimally invasive compared to the traditional spay, with much smaller surgical incisions. I should think your girl is big enough size wise for it to be an option

 

[deb_l222]

Having had two bitches with pyometra (both came to me later in life as entire females), I would always spay when they're younger but I do understand anyone's hesitancy at putting their dog through an operation. It is however ten days of lead exercise, stitches out and then totally back to normal.

My two with pyometra both survived their emergency surgeries (you wouldn't have actually known Kiera was gravely ill other than she had a prolonged season) but subsequently both had to have further surgery for mammary tumours, so double the surgery.

At the end of the day, only you can decide but having had Willow spayed quite recently (just 12 months ago), she hasn't changed one bit. Her coat has got a little bit floofy, and I have to watch her weight more than I did but everything else is just the same.................she's still a pillock

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We had a 12yr old collie, she was the FIL's sheepdog till he retired and he never bothered with spaying. At 12 she developed diabetes and we couldn't stabilise it with diet and injections. Vet said it was advisable to spay so we did and diabetes went away. Not sure how common that is.

I forgot to mention the increased risk of mammary tumours. At one time we had 3 cats that we didn't spay, all went on to develop mammary tumours and despite operating we lost them. They were injected with delvosterone to stop them coming in season. Reason for this was that we had a spayed female very badly beaten up (and subsequently died) by a roving tomcat. Spayed females are regarded as male so fair game. This was when we were farming.

 

[AmyMay]

Spay.

She’s absolutely stunning!

 

[Bellasophia]

My dogue. De Bordeaux mastiff was destined for a spay at around three,to allow her to mature but got pyometriosis at one...emergency spayed .
Photo. 10 months...just because she was beautiful..


My first poodle girl was a late spay..she’d had three convulsions..I was worried for the full anaesthetic...I left her till 8...the op was carried out as she had poly cystic ovaries..4 weeks bleeding each cycle..
She actually “ died “ on the table...was saved by my vet team...cost of emergency spay. 800 euros..

So don’t leave it late..

My little schnauzer....one season..spayed...next day she was raring to go...the only difficulty was to keep her quiet.....she’s six now...no change in coat ,no weight gain( I keep her active and monitor her food).

 

[ponyparty]

Spay. In the case of a closed pyometra there is initially no outward sign of what's wrong and the dog then deteriorates very quickly; by the time veterinary attention is sought it can be too late. Spay is very low risk compared to a pyo; I know which I'd choose for my dog (if ever I get a bitch!).

She's lovely and looks a picture of health.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I will definitely take all this advice on board, I'm surprised the general response is to spay but thats why I like to ask experienced dog people for advice.

She's my first pup, and I don't have firsthand experience of the potential problems of keeping a bitch entire so the idea of willingly putting her through an operation makes me uncertain.

I think if I do it then it'll be after her second season, I want to be decisive and commit to one option either way. The comment by @Errin Paddywack about a possible emergency spay is certainly sticking in my mind as a major pro to spaying

We don't routinely spay our bitches, we would if their seasons caused them problems, such as phantom pregnancy. We are quite capable of exercising them without unwanted attention from dogs.

 

[windand rain]

Dont spay but I am aware my views dont please most people. I wil never spay again especially a labrador or golden retriever the risks of cancer are far too high nasty heart cancers long bone cancer etc but do you research there is a lot out their based on labradors and retrievers. Certainly would never neuter a male dog either. There is also evidence it makes bitches fearful and increases anxiety too so check out that research too. At least if you decide to spay you have given her a chance to mature but would be inclined to wait until the end of next year. My lab was blood donor to a much younger lab dying of blood cancer the recipient was spayed young after her first season

 

[Birker2020]

Un-spayed female dogs over 6 years have around a 25% risk of pyometra, a life-threatening womb infection that needs surgery to treat it. There will be no unwanted litters increasing the burden on overwhelmed charities nor any unpleasant behaviours associated with being in season. They don't experience phantom pregnancies when they are spayed and there is no risk of ovarian or uterine cancer and a reduced risk of mammary cancer.

Disadvantages - they can get fat but you can prevent this. They may become urinary incontinent (5%). Risk under GA 5% again.

Personally I'd say it was a no brainer, there are enough unwanted dogs out there. 6,000 dogs spayed in the UK every year. Very quick operation around 20 - 30 mins normally. I've seen it on telly where vets go to third world countries and spay a number of dogs in one day in an effort to keep the canine population down.

 

[[135546]]

Always spay personally

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd spay but would leave it until about 6 or 7.

 

[EnduroRider]

Really interested in this thread as we currently have a foster that I suspect might end up staying for good. She is the first entire bitch I've had and I'm certainly not loving dealing with her seasons. I had been pondering whether we should spay her if she does stay but wasn't sure if at 5 she is too old. It sounds like that is not the case and age is no barrier.

 

[Nicnac]

Really interested in this thread as we currently have a foster that I suspect might end up staying for good. She is the first entire bitch I've had and I'm certainly not loving dealing with her seasons. I had been pondering whether we should spay her if she does stay but wasn't sure if at 5 she is too old. It sounds like that is not the case and age is no barrier.

Age is no barrier as if they get pyo, the vet will spay as part of the treatment. I've had two with pyometra - one survived, the other didn't. I'd spay her after 2nd season - she is gorgeous.

The laparoscopic spay is just as effective against pyometra and is less invasive but quite a bit more expensive than traditional op.

 

[Books'n'dogs]

As someone whose dog suffered pyometra I would recommend spaying, especially since Clover will be full grown. I waited to spay my own females because of concerns about joint issues developing since they were large breed dogs and there was a familial history of hip and elbow dysplasia in their early spayed sisters/cousins. My girls were 7 and 5 when they were spayed and they bounced back quickly, even the pyometra sufferer but it was caught VERY early which I am sure greatly helped. I have never owned a Labrador, so I don't know what health issues they suffer from, but I would recommend researching if they ever have a sensitivity to anesthesia, my Australian Shepherd has the MDR1 mutation and it was absolutely vital that the vet knew this before putting her under anesthesia.

 

[Tiddlypom]

We are quite capable of exercising them without unwanted attention from dogs.

Genuine question alert .

How? Or do you exercise them at home?

I've always had our bitches spayed. Seasons are a total PITA to deal with, I'd only keep a bitch entire if I intended to breed from her.

 

[SAujla]

If I do spay then money isn't a concern (not when it comes to Clover anyway, I've reduced spending money on myself if it's not essential so I can spend it on Clover) so the more expensive laproscopic procedure definitely sounds like a good option.

She is getting her booster in May so I'll discuss all of this with the vet. Only thing I know for sure is that she'll have one more season, after that it's not so clear.

 

[Chuffy99]

Interestingly both spayed bitches we had suffered from urinary incontinence as older dogs, none of our entire bitches have ever developed it which makes me rather anti

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Genuine question alert .

How? Or do you exercise them at home?

I've always had our bitches spayed. Seasons are a total PITA to deal with, I'd only keep a bitch entire if I intended to breed from her.

Fortunately we don't live in area where there are stray dogs and there is a choice of secure 'dog-fields' to take them to, as well as being able to provide some exercise at home.

NOT @Tiddleypom
It makes me cross to read that owners should spay to prevent unwanted pregnancies - no, they should keep their dogs under control! My parents kept entire dogs and bitches together and even with 2 children in the family never had an unwanted litter. We were taught to close doors and gates!

 

[CorvusCorax]

In the circles I move(d!) in, it is quite unusual to spay a young dog unless there is something catastrophically wrong with it/selling it and don't want it to be bred from, and these are people keeping dogs and bitches. I only know of one person who has neutered animals and their coats turned to shit and they both look pretty old before their time (I appreciate this is not the case for a lot of dogs and it's not a coincidence that this person is not well known for actually grooming their dogs/I imagine is quite stressful to live with!!).

 

[meleeka]

Fortunately we don't live in area where there are stray dogs and there is a choice of secure 'dog-fields' to take them to, as well as being able to provide some exercise at home.

/QUOTE]

Lucky you but not everyone has this. Some people live in very populated areas where they have to mix with other dogs.