When to get spayed????

[Zoey's Mommy]

Hello everyone,
Our vet says he likes to spay dogs at about 7 months because they have fully matured by then. He said the norm is around 6 months. I have heard that you should let them go through one cycle for health reasons(problem w/ weight if you don't). What should we do, 7 months or after first cycle.

[~Jen~]

My vet always recommeds around 6mos before they go through their 1st heat. Its been said medically that if a dog is spayed before their 1st heat it lowers the risk of many kinds of cancer that females dogs are prone to (ie mammery cancer etc) My best advice is get spayed around 6mos and you would be doing the best thing for your pet. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
Just my opinion
Jen

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by ~Jen~ on January 24, 2001 at 08:01 PM</font>

[Annie's granny]

My vet also told us we should do this at 6 months, before first heat, for same reasons Jen mentioned. This is what we plan to do, based on his opinion and research we've done.

[dutchman]

It is generally recommended before their first heat cycle. The reasons already stated are the ones most commonly mentioned. Especially the reduced risk of mammary cancer which has a much lower cure rate in dogs than humans. Six months has long been the most common age. Be aware that some dogs will go into their first heat at about seven months of age. Some vets are now performing spays and neuters on very young pups. This appears to be something of a new school vs old school issue I guess time will tell which wins out. In any case I would try to have it done before she goes into her first cycle. Besides your life will be much simpler if you don't have to cope with a dog in heat. Others here are more knowledgeable in this area but I can mention sanitary panties, and the absolute need for her to never spend an unsupervised minute outside.

Good luck,

Tom

[Cindi]

A little history before I give you my opinion. I have been breeding dachshunds for show and obedience for 17 years; I raised white German Shepherds and Norwegian Elkhounds before finding the right breed http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif It was always my opinion to have the girls go through a season before spaying...my first visual reason was a rescue GS/something that my 1st husband had spayed (before I came on the scene) at 5 months. Her body grew, her head was always small. After getting in to the WGS, I found that going through the first season and then waiting 3-4 months settled their temperments better. They weren't as flighty. I found the same thing in dachshunds - the girls were less timid, less nervous after the season than before.
Now, I have just been to an orthopedic specialist with my latest girl and she was in season when we visited. We scheduled her surgery for at least 10-14 days (this was going to be bone surgery) after her season and the reason - he said that the growth plates on girls close 10-14 days AFTER their first season. The hormone rush stimulated the closing of the growth plates ie the reason most girls are smaller than boys....on the average. Although I understand the logic about tumors and such as they advance in age, I truly do not believe one season is going to secure the higher percentage of cancer occurring. Now, more seasons without being bred - YES! I do believe that the upheaval in the hormones over and over is NOT good for them. JMHO

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Cindi on January 27, 2001 at 08:31 AM</font>

[OwnedByChaucer]

WE had both our dogs fixed just before they turned 6 months. With Chaucer, it was no biggie b/c he was big...gidget is so small though, that our vet wouldn't do the surgery until she was 5 lbs.....our vet recommends spaying before the first heat cycle though.

[Cindi]

I know that all vets, even the one I work for, recommend spaying before the dogs come in season. However, I would like everyone to consider that the majority of vets are not breeders and do not have the personal experience that reputable breeders (of all breeds) have with each individual breed. I do feel that if someone feels they couldn't handle the 3 weeks of a bitch being in season, if they couldn't protect her during that time, then by all means spay her early. However, my vet also agrees with me that if you have a submissive piddler or an especially timid bitch it would be best to wait and see if either is improved by allowing her to have the season first. Sometimes the hormones will settle the brain (gain some courage <g>) and/or help the urination problem....some times. And if it will help either of those I do believe it is worth the wait and trouble of a first season. We have had MANY rescue bitches through our program that have been severely used for baby production and they have not come down with mammary tumors as they aged. It is very individualized ... however, as I stated if it is a problem for the owner by all means have her spayed at 6 months. It is better than an unwanted litter.
As for males...I ALWAYS recommend having them neutered as soon as they lift their leg for the first time http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[dutchman]

Please go to the following web page: http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ceps/petcolumns/cancercb.html this is at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, it states breast cancer risk for dogs spayed before the first heat cycle have one half the risk of dogs spayed between their first and second cycle. Dogs never spayed or spayed after the fifth heat cycle have the highest risk of developing mammary cancers. The page also does a good job of explaining other cancers that our companions can suffer from.

Tom