To be regret getting my dog spayed so young?

[goldennuggets1]

I bought a golden retriever as a pup. She’s kennel club registered as are her parents, good working linage etc and all relevant health scoring done too.

We are an experienced dog family but I don’t agree but i had absolutely 0 intentions of ever breeding her and I wanted her spayed asap. I didnt want to put her through the stress or discomfort of a season when it was totally unnecessary. I bought her as a family pet (and I suppose working pet in an unofficial capacity, she comes to the stables with me but spends more time eating horse shite!!)

I consulted my vet who at the time said it was fine to do from 6 months when her hips were developed or something along those lines, and she was checked at 6 months for suitability and was told she was fine. She was then spayed at 7 months and is now the picture of health (and cheekiness!) several years later.

however, I remember at the time there was a bit of uncertainty among certain vets about whether that is too young- mine said she was happy to do at 7 months as she felt it was unnecessary to put her through even just 1 season. But I remember at her puppy class (held at the same vets practice by one of the vet nurses) the nurse took a particular shining to my pup as she was actually a golden retriever breeder herself too, so she had a soft spot for her and she used to grill me on the fact I didn’t want to even give her a season and that I shouldn’t rule out breeding her in the future etc. I explained I had no interest in breeding or making money from her, and I distinctly remember her making 😵 face at me because she said I was wasting all her good linage etc and then I remember she used to make comments to my puppy like ‘mummy said you’re not allowed to have babies even though you have good genetics and your pups would be worth a fortune!’ ‘Mummy wants to rush and get you spayed even though you’re too young’ I was only 20 so I just used to think she was completely batshit so I ignored her completely until my pup outgrew the class. She was spayed at 7 months after my knowledgeable and experienced vet gave it the ok.

but now I’ve heard different things that say a dog should never be spayed so young, especially a big dog and that it can cause serious damage to their growth, health and development and they can die young as an adult. And that apparently they should have at least 1 season.

I remember at the time my vet mentioned this but she said she’s of the opinion that it’s fine if they’re healthy enough just get it done asap

basically I’m so worried now that I’ve accidentally caused my dog damage. I just wanted to do what was best for her, and perhaps from a selfish POV I had a month paid time off work where I could just be at home with her all day which i thought would be good for her recovery. Everything just made sense to do it then.

did anyone else get their dog spayed so young or know anything about it? Should I have given her 1 season? Just hate to think I’ve made the wrong decision for her x

It’s a bit late now though isn’t it? You made the best decision you could based on the advice of a professional and that’s what you should focus on

What's done is done, op. There is absolutely no point in wasting so much emotional energy and headspace on this. Let it go.

There was no need to give her one season. Dog breeding should be left to experienced breeders anyway. The dog won’t care, so I would just enjoy her as a pet.

I would be happily reassured by the expert advice from the vet. After all, they train for several years, so know far more about the effects on growth & development than some batshit breeder who only thinks of £££’s and how cute they are, not what is best health wise.

There is no consensus about this with vets. I wouldn't worry about what's already done.

The vet knows best.
I had my girl spayed at about 8 months. She had not had a season. My mum had a bitch and waited for her first season before spaying... except 2 years later, she never had one.
I know people who have had issues with intact girls. One died (pyometra).

It's perfectly fine. Your vet isn't an idiot and there is no evidence that spaying a dog before her first season is harmful. Stop angsting over this.

The woman at your puppy class was a fucking nutjob (as, in my experience, quite a lot of people who breed/show pedigree dogs are) and should have kept her trap shut. When I was a teenager, our dog's usual groomer wasn't available and we booked her in with someone different. My mum sent me to collect her and when I did, the groomer (who also bred puppies, it turned out) had put her into a pen in the corner with another dog of the same breed, and my dog was jumping up trying to get out while he was pestering her and poking around her back end.

I said 'Er, why's she in there?' and the woman said 'Ooh, well, she's such a great bitch that I thought I'd introduce her to my stud boy! He's taken a real shine to her and I'd love you to bring her back when she's in season! She'd been an excellent breeding bitch for show puppies.' I said 'We're not interested in breeding puppies for anyone, and she's been spayed' and the woman told me that it was 'criminal' to spay her.

I was about 15 at the time. Needless to say we never took our dog back there!

I had mine done at 9 months before her first season but she had a laparoscopic procedure (££££££) so less invasive and less recovery time. I did loads of research and I came to the conclusion that while it wasn’t perfect it was better than an accidental litter in terms of health implications and the risk was reasonably low. I give a high quality joint supplement and a very good diet and we watch her weight. We also avoid very high impact exercise with ball throwers and the like.

What's done is done. But I don't think it's as simple as vets know best. There are lots of studies that indicate for large breeds 18 months plus is optimum for health.

But not optimum is not the same as damaging. Lots of these decisions are a balance. Spaying increases the risk of somethings and decreases the risk of others and the timing alters that balance.

Bit late to worry about it now 🤷‍♀️ I think a little later is always better than a little early and personally would have done it after the first season. The dog training breeding lady sounds crazy, like the mostly are, just seeing ££££ signs. I expect.

Got my mini schnauzer spayed at 5 months on the advice of the vet at the time. She’s 7 years old now and it’s hard to explain but she’s a bit immature? Still quite puppy like, I do wonder if being spayed so early delayed her development somehow? Of course it could just be her personality.

I would have waited, there is evidence that waiting is beneficial, and the evidence that suggests early spaying reduces risks is questionable in some cases... (mostly the one that claims early spay reduces the risk of mammary cancer, it was done on a very small group of just one breed and hasn't to my knowledge been replicated on a wider scale).

But what is done is done, and that vet nurse sounds like a prat and inappropriate!

Keep her lean and fit, avoid high risk activities for joint damage (pogging a ball with a ball thrower over and over and over is the most common one), I am sure she'll be absolutely fine.

A huge well done for not being sucked into breeding puppies just for monetary gain, when there are already so many unwanted dogs in the world. I wish more owners were like you! You’ve done right by your girl 😊

I've had three different dogs over the years all spayed prior to their first season on the guidance of my vet. All of them were supremely healthy throughout their lives, two died of very old age for dogs and the third is now 2.5 years old, again, very healthy and fit. She's the most chilled out, loving dog ever.

Its not a problem.

You did what was advised at the time - you cannot now undo that nor does there seem to be any definite reason to have done things differently. Dogs don't 'need' to have a season.

No point ruminating on it now.

Our 9YO lab was spayed at 6 months, as that was the advice at the time. She doesn’t seem to have been adversely affected.

Our 1YO is booked in for March, as the received wisdom now is to wait until after the first heat, and do it at the mid-way point between the first and the next one, which apparently is a 6 month gap for labs, so three months after the end of the first heat.

Advice changes all the time with everything - same with human babies!

No biggie.

There is evidence for certain breeds being left later before neutering. The frontiers study which was published a few years ago would suggest female golden retrievers are not spayed. However that is one study and I’m not 100% convinced it’s not a little flawed. There are risks to not spaying too. Sounds like the vet nurse was mainly thinking about money rather than your dogs health. Neutering from 6 months is a totally valid and reasonable thing to consider still and these decisions need up be based on a number of different factors including lifestyle which it sounds like your vet took into consideration.

As far as I know, dogs in the USA generally get spayed before their first season.

Sounds like your dog is perfectly happy and healthy, so as there were no adverse affects from spaying, I don't think it's something you should worry about.

You followed your vets advice rather than the nutty breeder you met, you really did the best thing.

We spayed our girl at 6 months, because our other dog is entire. We also had no intention of breeding. It's advised to spay before 7 months to reduce mammary cancer and pyometra risks. And if it was such a negative, Vets wouldn't do it. It doesn't seem to have affected mine at all.

Yep spayed ours 6 months on the dot, and I know another friend who did same. Our vets (different ones) were confident and happy with their opinion that it was absolutely safe and fine. We don’t regret it a bit.

I did the same with mine as part of RSPCA adoption agreement.

Try and put it out of your mind and your doggie will be fine, you are doing a great job and we go with our vet recommendations too.Different vets different stories, my golden Labrador ( parents purebred show dogs) didn’t get spayed until after her second heat as vet said to wait, she is a smaller Labrador too.

I too got asked why wasn’t I breeding her, said there is more than enough dogs being bred and majority of the time it’s about the €£’s.

Ahhhh OP- the joys of animal ownership- constantly second guessing every decision you make 🤣🤣
In all seriousness, I had my lab bitch spayed at 6 months because 13.5 years ago that was when they advised. As long as they weren’t actually in season, that’s when they were done. She has had no ill effects- no urinary issues, no cancers affecting the reproductive system (mammary etc). She does now have elbow arthritis, but she’s a 14 year old labrador 🤷🏽‍♀️ In fact, all health issues she’s had are “labrador” issues rather than “omg you spayed your dog too early” issues.
My current youngest is still entire, and will probably have a second season- but only because she seems very skeletally/ emotionally immature and is growing extremely slowly. I also have another dog from the same lines, and he wasn’t neutered until 2 due to similar issues- so I’ve left her for now.

Any further advice will require a photograph of your beautiful girl btw.

Oh, and people are nutty about dog breeding. I literally get asked regularly if I’m going to breed my two youngest together.

Answer- no. A. Because they are related to each other and B. Much to his shame, the boy is missing two necessary items for that 🤣🤣🤣