about spaying (sp?) - Page 1

I have read a great deal of information about the pro's and con's of doing this at a very young age or at all.   I, personally, think they should be physically mature first. IF provisions are made for no accidental pregnancies. However, I am more and more aware that they're called accidents for a reason.  And that, by their very nature, are  a series of events that were not intended to take place. If even breeders can have "00pses" I'm getting more and more concerned that I could too.

With that too long prologue out of the way...does it matter if the dog is in heat at the time?  Does it take a girl like Remmi (22 mos) longer to recuperate than a puppy?  At this age has the majority of her puberty time growth taken place? Any and all input will be much appreciated.

Thanks guys.

We spay at our clinic at 6 months or older we still spay if in heat or pregnant it just cost more. and as far as I know big dog mature slower than small dogs so I would think that 22 months would be fine and as far as recuperation time it depends on the shape of your dog and if you let her rest or not we say 2 weeks no ruff play or hard work and no bath or swimming. Hope that helps

There are pros and cons to support both early spaying and waiting until the bitch is mature. If you wait til after the first season, you have lost most of the benefits that protect your bitch against breast cancer. Breast cancer is fairly common in older bitches, but it is rarely of a fatal consequence as with us humans as the dog's average lifespan is about 11 years and they will most likely outlive the cancer. Many vets only remove the tumors and do not recommend chemo for breast cancer. In any event, spaying prior to the first season will almost assure you that your bitch will never develope breast cancer. Waiting until the bitch has matured will probably be soon enough to prevent pyometra. That is a normally a disease of older bitches although young bitches can get it. An in-season bitch can be spayed, but at that time the uterus is larger and engorged with blood meaning there is a slightly great risk of bleeding. Some vets will not spay an in-season bitch. Overall it's a bit more difficult piece of surgery. The older the bitch, the more difficult it becomes as the size of the unterus tends to increase with every season.

LOL, that's uterus, not unterus.

Blitzin--- Would surgical risks to a much older brood bitch be so high that it might be wiser not to spade if one was to adopt, and the new owner was responsible enough not to allow a mating? Are all brood bitches spayed by breeders who keep their retired girls? Just curious.

Hi there, as i can agree with most said above, i would not recommend to spay to early, as was mentioned at age 6 month. The risk involved with anästhesia is in my opinion way to high. Annother concern i would have, if done before the first heatcycle, is the lack of hormons that come along with the heat. I know it is done, but i had a puppy buyer doing it at 7 month and the pup died on the table. 22 month is certainly a good age to have it done. I am not really concerned about the surgery, but am about the anästhesia. A dog of 15 month+ is way more capable to deal with it. Regards Ulli Dresbach

We have several females (not GSDs) who come into our boarding kennels who have been spayed before their first season - most at around 6 months. All have an underdeveloped vulva, and suffer from urine "scalding" where the urine touches the surrounding area on urination. Four have incontinence problems (one is only 2 years old) and are on Propalin for life. The question of reduction of mammary tumours is very relevant. I have spayed nearly all my females when breeding is finished and none (touch wood) have suffered mammary tumours. For me it is quite simple - allow the female to have at least one season - then she is physically and mentally mature. Going off at a tangent - I have been told by many people that a female stops growing when she has her first season - anybody agree/disagree?

LMH, if that bitch were healthy ans she were mine, I would have her spayed just to prevent pyo. I wouldn't have her done while she was in season, would wait about 3 months after she went out unless she's one of those bitches that cycles more frequently than every 6 months. In my experience there is a far greater chance of a bitch's getting pyo that dying from complications or from anesthesia, but it's always a calculated risk. I've seen very, very few dogs of any age die from anesthesia, one being my own 5 year old bitch that was undergoing a spay. I was there when it happened and she was overdosed when the vet I worked for assumed she weighed a lot more than she did. It was a clear cut case of negligence. I've had other mature bitches spayed and they all did fine. Ulli is correct that spaying a bitch before her first heat takes away her female hormones and that might cause incontinence at a later date. Some vets also feel that early neutering may results in skeletal problems. On the other hand those same hormones are responsible for breast cancer. Toss a coin!!!

You should wait a approx. 3 weeks after her heat because with all that blood flowing into and out of her reproductive organs, surgery is riskier. She could reccuperate slower or faster than a puppy would, it's kind of up to her and her body, lol. IMO it's best to spay her AFTER her first heat but BEFORE her second heat so that she is bigger and stronger for the surgery, and her feminine characteristics are more clearly defined, plus you still get the health benefits as if you spayed her before her 1st heat.

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html.. this is very good reading for everyone whether your girl is a pet or your next competition dog..... As far as spaying while a bitch is in heat, I'd think twice about that .. hormones are at different levels and we all have bitches that can be a little wacky during a cycle.. this would make them that way forever.... I'd have a buffer of at least a month either way... I know its done, I just wouldn't have it done on one of my dogs.....