When to spay cocker spaniel?

[LMJ_79]

Hello, everyone! I have recently got a now 5 month old American cocker spaniel puppy. I’ve only ever kept male dogs as pets, so I’m wondering about when to spay. Here in the states it is recommended to do it before their first heat and as early as 6 months old. This doesn’t sit right with me and feels premature, but maybe I’m wrong? She won’t even be done growing at six months. I’d love advice from people with more experience on when I should schedule her for the operation.

 

[gallopingby]

Leave as late as possible. Preferably not before two years. Early spays can sometimes lead to problems with hormones and incontinence, it absolutely isn’t worth a life time on meds if you have one that goes wrong.

 

[LMJ_79]

Gallopingby thank you for responding. I am relieved to hear your advice! I was thinking anything under a year is too young and two years is all the better! Your comment makes sense to me especially the part about hormones.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Personally, unless there's something wrong, I'm not the biggest fan of early spaying, because the hormones affects both their bodies, and sometimes temperament, and I don't think it's good for them to lose that too early. But I know that some now spays bitches when they're still puppies, and there's studies, and arguments both for and against early vs later spaying.

Besides, if you e.g. need to have your dog in doggy daycare when you're at work, and they can't take non spayed/castrated dogs, then that limits your options. Also, if you think there's any risk that veterinarians nearby you would hesitate to give your bitch the equivalent of a morning after pill or abortion in case there is an unwanted mating, then that's also something to consider.

Though I always spayed my bitches late, I've never really had anything close to an unwanted mating, even though e.g. once I was out walking 3 bitches in various degree of heat, when a loose male dog turned up out of nowhere, no owner anywhere in sight. It took a bit of fiddling, holding the unknown dog with one hand, using the other hand to pull one of my now late bitches leashes through the harness of one of the others = one of my three leashes became free for me to leash the unknown dog. Couldn't find the owner, so had to take him home, put up a crate to put him in, and call the police.
I'm just mentioning this because some pages makes it it sound as if unwanted matings very easily happens even if you're trying to be vigilant. But being vigilant really can help, and if you're still unlucky, as mentioned, there's things which can be done to stop an unwanted mating from turning into an unwanted litter.

Anyhow, I've read e.g. about one study on 1015 Golden Retrievers, and 1500 Labrador Retrievers, which showed that early spaying/castration doubled the risk for joint problems in the Labradors, whereas the Goldens had an increased risk for joint problems with 4-5x.
And I'm not sure if it's from the same study, or if they were just quoting another study, but in one place it said "Her paper states that the positives of spaying include greatly reducing the risk of mammary tumors (if the spay is completed before 2.5 years of age), nearly eliminating the risk of pyometra (which would otherwise affect 23% of females and kill 1%), reducing the risk of perianal fistulas, and removing the small risk of uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors.

The negatives of spaying include significantly increasing the risk of osteosarcoma, doubling the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma, quintupling the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma, tripling the risk of hypothyroidism, almost doubling the risk of obesity, causing urinary incontinence in 4 – 20% of dogs, more than tripling the risk of urinary tract infections, increasing the risk of vaginal
infections, doubling the risk of urinary tract tumors, increasing the risk of orthopedic disorders, and increasing the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations."

If you want to read more @LMJ_79 , the above is from this page https://www.researchgate.net/public...ses_Concerns_Regarding_Early_SpayingNeutering
It's from 2015, so there might of course be more recent studies, which maybe or maybe not have came to similar conclusions.

 

[LMJ_79]

FinnishLapphund Thank you so much for such an informative response! I truly appreciate it and after reading through it I think waiting and taking my time researching is what I’ll be doing. She is the sweetest little dog with an excellent temperament and I want to do what is best for her.

 

[druid]

There is no licensed mismate treatment available in USA. Alizin is unfortunately not licensed so they ate stuck with more risky old school Drug combos to cause a later term abortion or a terminal spay.

 

[Carlosmum]

My son had no plans to spay his cocker ( mostly due to cost), However in the summer she became poorly ... diagnosed with Pyometra and had emergency surgery. She was coming up to her 9th birthday, fortunately all was successful and the insurance paid.
I am now trying to persuade OH to have his girl done ( she is about 7) before it becomes necessary because she is not insured. My 12 yo lurcher was 'done' as a young dog.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Unless you have to, I would not spay until later in life, because of the aforementioned pyometra. It's not a material reason not to, but just FYI, if you are keeping her coated/not clipping, spaying can change it.

 

[LMJ_79]

There is no licensed mismate treatment available in USA. Alizin is unfortunately not licensed so they ate stuck with more risky old school Drug combos to cause a later term abortion or a terminal spay.

druid I have never even heard of that as an option for a dog in the US by any means. I think that might be why the veterinarians are so high pressure to spay and spay young.

 

[SAujla]

My vets wouldn't spay before Clover had at least one season. I let mine have three before she was spayed. I think most people on here would say minimum one season, ideally between two to four

 

[LMJ_79]

My son had no plans to spay his cocker ( mostly due to cost), However in the summer she became poorly ... diagnosed with Pyometra and had emergency surgery. She was coming up to her 9th birthday, fortunately all was successful and the insurance paid.
I am now trying to persuade OH to have his girl done ( she is about 7) before it becomes necessary because she is not insured. My 12 yo lurcher was 'done' as a young dog.

Carlosmum I am sorry to hear that! I do plan to spay mine eventually but not as soon as the vet recommends.

 

[LMJ_79]

My vets wouldn't spay before Clover had at least one season. I let mine have three before she was spayed. I think most people on here would say minimum one season, ideally between two to four

SAujla Thank you! This feels like a solid plan.

 

[LMJ_79]

Unless you have to, I would not spay until later in life, because of the aforementioned pyometra. It's not a material reason not to, but just FYI, if you are keeping her coated/not clipping, spaying can change it.

CorvusCorax Thank you! I will speak to the groomer about her coat for advice. We have a fantastic groomer who maintains our Scottish terrier in a lovely cut. I can already tell the cocker coat is going to be more to keep up with my miles!!