Speying question....

[Foxfolly]

I thought... and correct me if I'm wrong... bitches were usually only speyed after their first season.

One of the owners of a patterdale pup we sold has had a really rough time as the poor pup broke her leg, the vet pinned it and its doing really well now. But she's just messaged me an update on her progress and said she's having the pin out in 2 weeks and being speyed at the same time. She is only 5 month old!

I can totally understand doing it when she is already under as it means she won't be having more anaesthetic. But both the full sister from previous litter and mother didn't have their first seasons til 9 months old and I thought it was because for the size of the ovaries and uterus increased once they had had a season, therefore it was an easier operation to carry out!!

I was just a bit worried that it might be too early!

 

[HeatherAda]

Our pup was done at 6 months at the request of the rescue centre and the advice of the vet. The vet told me that the 'old' school of thought was to let them have a season but not any more.

They also told me that the more seasons they have the higher the chance of cancer - so no season almost (but of course never 100%) eliminates the chances of contracting it.

Others may tell you differently but that is our experience

.

 

[foxviewstud]

usually the vet will tell you to wait til after 1st season but i dont think any harm in doing before as long as not too small

 

[Kallibear]

Spaying before the first season makes them much much less prone to mammary tumours.

However it can make them incontinate as it messes up the hormal control of peeing. It's easily fixed with medication though (life long but not expensive).

Some people prefer them to have a season first as they believe it makes them 'more mature' but it's really a matter of opinion.

 

[CAYLA]

I always spay mine before a first season, as suggested it reduces the risk of mammary cancers later in life, and the risk of pyo in a first seasonwith is not so common but it does happen, all of the vets I work with and my mams vets all recommend spaying before a first season, the incontinence is more commonly assosiated in larger breeds and it actually common in large un-neutered breeds.

 

[Foxfolly]

Must have changed since I was a vet nurse then..... runs away to get calculator as not enough fingers.....

That would have been 14 years ago....

now runs to book in botox and any other non invasive cosmetic procedures!!

 

[CAYLA]

Lol...when my mam first started in practice in 19 o blonk

they used to spay more commonly after a first season too, but then back the I bet hardly any bitched where neutered

......u are not alone....now lash out the botox

Some owners and vets still choose to spay or recommend spay after first season esp in larger breeds.

 

[ShadowFlame]

It's all down to the owner's choice really. My vet tried to talk me into having my girl done at an early age (5mths) and I refused - IMO they should be at least left to have their first season.

It's not unusual for them to be spayed at 6 mths or under.

 

[pingpong]

There are also negatives to spaying early. There is a big increase in the chance of bone cancers in females spayed before about a year old, something to consider if you have breeds like Rotts, Flat Coats etc.. Other downsides are tripling the chance of Hypothyroidism and an increased chance of vaccine reaction. Info from:
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

 

[prose]

[ QUOTE ]
Our pup was done at 6 months at the request of the rescue centre and the advice of the vet. The vet told me that the 'old' school of thought was to let them have a season but not any more

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto my vet. I had Stella done when she was a little over six months.