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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

I can't believe I'm asking this...

20 replies

QuietTiger · 06/05/2013 15:19

What is the earliest age can you spay a bitch?

DH & I are experienced dog owners, but I have never had a girl dog that has needed to be spayed - we've either had boys (that we've castrated around 12-18 months), or the girls have come already spayed from rescue.

On Saturday, I acquired, very unexpectedly, a small 8 week old baby Ewok female Floofy puppy and because my DH is so awesome and said yes, she is staying. :) However, we have a working male Welsh sheep dog who is not castrated and, for a variety of reasons (all very carefully considered), he's not going to be.

I certainly don't want Ewok/Welsh sheep dog crosses (the mind boggles!), so "Floofy pup" will be spayed as soon as is practically possible. Except Blush I don't know exactly when that should be. I would prefer before her first season, so I don't have Ewok X sheep dogs, so I'm guessing around 6 months, but I have had so much conflicting advice about before or after first season, I don't know what is best.

Please can anyone advise?

Thanks
QT

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 06/05/2013 16:09

Yes you will hear lots of conflicting advice, but some of it is dated. The current advice is any time after 6 months of age. It is okay to do it before the first season. You will hear people talk about urinary incontience if done before the first season a very large study showed that the bitches who get this get it regardless of when we spay them.
This is as a result of the large meeting Chaired by Davina Anderson European and RCVS specialist in soft tissue surgery and attended by around 250 vets last June.
You are being very responsible doing it before first season as Ewok X sheepdog sounds like it could be recipe for c-section.
I am loving the idea of a Floofy Ewok puppy.

Booyhoo · 06/05/2013 16:12

You do know that if you use the word puppy in your post you have to upload a pic? Its in the talk guidelines Wink

LadyTurmoil · 06/05/2013 17:14

Yes, Booyhoo is right - the wrath of MN Doghousers will rain down upon you if you don't put up pics! Grin

Original poster
QuietTiger · 06/05/2013 17:29

Thanks for the advice, Lonecat.

Picture of "Floofy Ewok" is uploaded to my profile. Grin

DH denies all claims that it's his dog too. He's told me that it's in no way a farm dog, it's never going to be a farm dog, it's an embarrassment to farm dogs and she looks like a hedgehog... and then I caught him cuddling her when he thought I wasn't looking

OP posts:
kitsmummy · 06/05/2013 17:43

We had our bitch done at 6 months as per our contract with the rescue, she was absolutely fine. I can't open your profile, don't know if this is cos I'm on the ipad? (Frustrating!). How did you come to acquire her?

Original poster
QuietTiger · 06/05/2013 18:02

A litter of pups came into a rescue I work with and I fell in love. Grin and I twisted DH's arm and threatened to withhold sexual favours

OP posts:
ClaimedByMe · 06/05/2013 18:10

Your profile is not public, we can't see your new baby puppy

Original poster
QuietTiger · 06/05/2013 18:23

OK - try again. :)

OP posts:
ClaimedByMe · 06/05/2013 18:35

Awww Awww and more Awwwwwww

moosemama · 06/05/2013 18:40

Easy to see why you fell in love with her. Smile

Do you have any idea what breeds she may have in her - or is she a good old Heinz 57?

I am no expert, but we were recently told that spaying prior to the first season completely removes any chance of mammary cancer in later life - so that's one good reason for getting it done and I would say having an entire male around the place and not wanting a litter of Ewok x Sheepdogs is another really sensible reason.

Original poster
QuietTiger · 06/05/2013 19:09

Apparently dad was a German Spitz and Mum was a Cavalier King Charles.

DH reckons she's Hedgehog X Ewok, with a bit of squeaky squirrel thrown in!

OP posts:
Booyhoo · 06/05/2013 19:13

aww!! what a wee beauty!

i think this is the reason i would not last long working in a rescue!

moosemama · 06/05/2013 19:48

What an unusual mix. It'll be really interesting to see how she looks as she grows.

German Spitz are fab little dogs, real bright sparks that are great for agility and heelwork to music.

Original poster
QuietTiger · 06/05/2013 20:17

Moosemama - I think it was what is termed as an "accidental litter". :)

OP posts:
moosemama · 06/05/2013 20:22

I guessed that, but still fascinated to see what she'll look like when she's bigger. Grin

We used to say our pup was Gremlin x Snapping Turtle. Grin She was actually Border Collie x Belgian Shepherd, but her behaviour was definitely more Gremlin x Snapping Turtle as a pup. Wink

suchashame · 06/05/2013 20:30

Aaawwwww floofy ewok is swwwweeeeeeet !

Good idea getting little op before first season....we had our little rescue bundle of fluff done then as well and nine years on not a problem .... and def no more little fluffies either.

Have fun with her.... and glad your fella will still be able to have fun too lol.

ColdHandLou · 06/05/2013 20:49

Ooh German Spitz owner here, ewok is gorgeous!!

We had ours spayed at six months as per the vet's advice Smile

TheCunnyFunt · 06/05/2013 20:52

My friend had her Whippet spayed at 12 weeks! She's about 2.5 now and being spayed that early hasn't appeared to have done her any harm. Although every dog is different I guess, I'm just giving an experience.

SillyTilly123 · 07/05/2013 07:19

I've been looking into this a lot lately as my dog is 7 months and i actually had her booked in to be done, however i changed my mind and decided to let her have 1 season so she is more "mature" (its just as well tbh as she would of practically been about to go on heat just after the op) However as you have a male dog i would probably have her done at 6 months.

P.s she is gorgeous :)

FrustratedSycamoresRocks · 07/05/2013 07:33

Oh she is gorgeous QT nothing useful to add, I have a boy dog

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