Please discuss spaying ewith me

[ditavonteesed]

Cherry is now 5 months old so the time is drawing close to think about these things, I have read as much as I can but I would like to get some real life opinions.
Obviously the advantages are very clear, but what are the risks, downsides, potential future problems, obviously I know of the major risks and struggle not to think of kids experience when weighing this up.
If we are to get her spayed is it better beofre or after her first season and what are the implications of the timeing.
Anyway any thoughts of great help. TIA

From what I have read, it is better to wait until they are a year old to get they spayed.
But my vet was insistent that 6 months was the best time.

Good luck with whatever you decide, I can't ignore posts on neutering but you clearly know my history on this.

(I'm getting a new puppy in 4 weeks today!)

thanks for replying, my vet has also advised 6 months, I have been asking everyone I came across on our walk this morning (becoming slightly eccentric I think). we have decided that we do need to get her done as we live in a very urban setting with so many dogs around that it would be unfair and risky not to. Sol the question now is really timing.
4 weeks that is so exciting, bet you are ready to burst.

I really wish we could get him earlier as he is ready for his new home today. But it would be unfair to bring him home now as we are off on holiday in 2 weeks so will collect him on our return.

I received a new photo of him from the breeder last night, it just makes me want him here with me even more than ever!
Actually, I'll add his photo to my profile now

My sister has a female dog and after what happened to Moby, she isn't going to get her dog spayed now. She has just had her first season and there didn't seem to be much interest from other dogs and she managed to keep herself clean. I don't know if she is going to be as lucky each time she comes in to season, time will tell!
If I come across any interesting articles, I'll let you know.

dita, our vet advised to wait for my puppy to have her first season and then to have her spayed 3 months after that.

I had a long chat to a friend of my dad's who is a vet on the best timing. Some vets will advise at 6 months before the first season as this (iirc) reduce the risk of mammary cancers. Again (iirc - will wait for the mn vets) there is an increased risk of, um, I think it was bladder problems/incontinence if it is done at this stage.

So it's weighing up those risks.

He said he recommends to 1st season +3 months route to his clients.

Phoebe is almost 6 months and I am thinking of having her spayed in a few weeks. Most of my reading seems to point to BEFORE the first season. Its very bewildering isn't it?

PS Am very excited for you kid

Forgive me if I don't quite get the percentages exactly right, but I will be in the right ball park.

Okay benefits of speying.

1. No season hassle or worry about bitch getting caught.
2. If done before first season reduces risk of mammary tumours (breast) by 98%, if done before second season reduction in mammary cancer of 76%, after second season no reduction in risk.
3. If speyed highly unlikely to get pyometra infected uterus there is still a very small risk of a stump pyo.
4. No phantom pregnancies.

Risks of speying.

1. There is a risk with every anaesthetic I would be foolish to say otherwise. In my practice we use premeds to reduce levels of anaesthetic given, monitor very closely during and after anaesthetic.
2. Post operative complications - most commonly bruising, occasionally infection (most often caused by dogs licking and traumatising own wounds) and very rarely post-operative bleeding.

Incontinence previously we believed that this occured if bitches were speyed before first season, however, huge study of around 2500 dogs publish in 1999 showed that bitches who get incontinence get regardless of when they are speyed.

Current information is that the earlier the better particualarly in relation to recovery. If you do wish to wait till after the first season the latest data says we should do it at 3 to 4 weeks post season to avoid a phantom pregnancy.

Hope all of this helps data was taken from various articles in Journal of Small Animal Practice, In Practice and The Veterinary Records and my lecture notes from Professor Sue Gregory.

Thanks Lizcat, that's very helpful

thanks liz cat, am going on holiday in 3 weeks so may book her in for when we get back.

Lizcat, out of interest, what are your views on the information that suggests early neutering and it's affect on the closure of the growth plates? Also, the research that suggests early neutering/neutering increases the risk of some types of cancer such as osteosarcoma, haemangiosarcoma and urinary tract cancers?

That is really interesting Lizcat, and confusing too as I've been told (twice now) to wait until after the 1st season

mmm might give the vets a call tomorrow

Slubberdegullion, you will find vets opinions vary. After all, regardless of professional experience and evidence, personal opinion will come into it. My own vets will spay prior to the first season, as would my previous vet, but both stringly prefer to spay after the first season due to the reasons I mention above, plus behavioural ones and also as they both still believe that incontinence, especially in large breeds, can be a problem.

My vets also give different figures for reduction in mammary tumours (only half of these will be cancerous) if you spay between the first and second season. They say they the risk is reduced by up to 95%.

Does anyone know the percentage risk of mammary cancers on an un-spayed bitch? Plus, if her mum is 5 with no problems (first litter), does that reduce the risk?

I am having this same dilemma at the moment. Our puppy is 14 weeks and I will have to think about it over the next 2 -3 months. I want to do the best thing for her. But kid's story worried me, along with the fact that our dog had a rather complicated castration and I suspect had a near miss. I couldn't bear to lose her due to the op, but I don't want to worry for ever more that I should have done it.

Figures for mammary tumours do vary, but the risk is about 1 in 4 at worst and approx half of those will be cancerous. There is thought to be a genetic risk, just like in humans, so if your bitches Mum hasn't had a mammary tumour then in theory your bitch is less likely to have one, but that doesn;t mean she won't and at five her Mum is still very young and may get mammary tumours when older.

Early neutering - I assume you mean like they are doing in the USA at 10-12 weeks of age. I don't like it. Very large breeds I do recommend waiting till they are a year old, but often these bitches don't have their first heat until later.
Osteosarcoma the bastard killer of young dogs I my experience happens in both neutered and un-neutered dogs and I would feel the same of haemangiosarcoma (last three I have had have been un-neutered. Urinary tract cancers (assuming you are no including prostrate here) I have seen too view to comment. I think most of the studies on these diseases have used very small numbers of dogs.
Personally I feel the biggest risk to unspeyed bitches is pyometra which is a potentially life threatening condition.