Spay or keep entire

[SAujla]

You have approached spay in the same way that you researched before you got her, so whatever you decide you will be making an informed decision. Just the sort of owner that every dog needs.

Thank you, a very kind thing to say ??

 

[Moobli]

I am in a similar position with my bitch. I have mostly had male dogs - some neutered, some not. The two bitches I had previously were spayed without even considering leaving them entire really. I lived in a more populated place then and spaying was the norm unless you were considering breeding. I keep swithering between spaying and keeping my current bitch entire on the off chance I did decide to take a litter from her. However, I am more inclined to spay for her health (I have also known older bitches who were seriously ill with pyo and lucky to pull through an emergency spay) but am looking at doing it once she is 3 or 4 years old. The laparoscopic spay is definitely more appealing to me, but sadly my own vets don't offer it so if I go down that route I will take her to a specialist near Edinburgh which is an hour away.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[fankino04]

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

My first Malamute was an emergency dash to the vets at 4 years old with pyometra. Current girl was a re-home by the rescue when she was 6, she was still entire when we viewed her but by the time we picked her up she had also had to have an emergency spay due to pyo, so my limited experience is that it's very common and I wouldn't risk leaving one open to that possibility.

 

[SAujla]

I am in a similar position with my bitch. I have mostly had male dogs - some neutered, some not. The two bitches I had previously were spayed without even considering leaving them entire really. I lived in a more populated place then and spaying was the norm unless you were considering breeding. I keep swithering between spaying and keeping my current bitch entire on the off chance I did decide to take a litter from her. However, I am more inclined to spay for her health (I have also known older bitches who were seriously ill with pyo and lucky to pull through an emergency spay) but am looking at doing it once she is 3 or 4 years old. The laparoscopic spay is definitely more appealing to me, but sadly my own vets don't offer it so if I go down that route I will take her to a specialist near Edinburgh which is an hour away.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

For the moment I've decided on letting her have two more seasons then get her a laparoscopic spay midway through next year. Her first season was quite late so I have a sneaky feeling her second one won't be on schedule but that's fine, the later the better. I'll discuss again with vet in May. I'm trying not to think about it too much until then but as she's my first pup I'm constantly worried about her, if I'm awake I'm concerned about something!

Good luck to you and let me know what you decide to do please. It's a shame your usual vets don't do it though would have made it so much easier

 

[Bellasophia]

With a younger dog,European vets do an ovarian spay..my schnauzer had this..they remove just the ovaries.The uterus is left..only young dogs get this op...not older .
With this op,called Ovarioectomyy.the uterus atrophies and there is no risk,of pyometriosis..
the scar is so small my dog was “ back to normal” in a couple of days ,but rested according to vets advice for approx a week.
https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet_column/ovarioectomy-vs-ovariohysterectomy-way-spay/
Reading this link it says laporoscopic spays are also just taking the ovaries...they do take longer and cost more than ovarioectomy.Both give a faster recovery time,and less after pain as the scars are smaller,and surgery less invasive.
If this is the case I’d think they would also advise for a young dog,to do this after the first season.I’d ask the vet if you choose this route.
https://www.dvm360.com/view/editors...y-vs-ovariohysterectomy-small-animal-practice

 

[SAujla]

With a younger dog,European vets do an ovarian spay..my schnauzer had this..they remove just the ovaries.The uterus is left..only young dogs get this op...not older .
With this op,called Ovarioectomyy.the uterus atrophies and there is no risk,of pyometriosis..
the scar is so small my dog was “ back to normal” in a couple of days ,but rested according to vets advice for approx a week.
https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet_column/ovarioectomy-vs-ovariohysterectomy-way-spay/
Reading this link it says laporoscopic spays are also just taking the ovaries...they do take longer and cost more than ovarioectomy.Both give a faster recovery time,and less after pain as the scars are smaller,and surgery less invasive.
If this is the case I’d think they would also advise for a young dog,to do this after the first season.I’d ask the vet if you choose this route.
https://www.dvm360.com/view/editors...y-vs-ovariohysterectomy-small-animal-practice

Thank you, I will discuss all of this with my vet in May. I have a good idea of what I want to do and what I think is best for my pup. A lot can change so I'm going to stay flexible with my plans