Page 2 | I had no idea how contentious when to spay a dog was!

BPCoveredInSpots · 2021-02-20T20:33:19+00:00

I’m getting so many mixed messages about spaying my dog. Some say ASAP, some say when she’s fully matured. My older dog was neutered at 6 months, in hindsight this was too soon and we have behavioural issues with him that the trainer/behaviourist feels are because he was neutered too young. Vet recommends spay when first season is over (around 1?) Behaviourist recommends she has at least 2 seasons before she’s spayed. Any opinions? Thanks!

DinosaurDiana · 21/02/2021 07:15

Let her have two seasons, then do her 3 months after the second (if seasons around 6 months).

Tamingofthehamster · 21/02/2021 07:33

Ylvamoon - spaying after 6 years is too old to reduce the chance of mammary tumours.
Pyometras can occur before 6 years old.
I’m struggling to think of any neutered bitches that I know which have had a personality change after neutering -I’m not saying yours didn’t, but you’re spreading a lot of unreliable facts that could case a lot of harm.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 21/02/2021 07:34

@Frenchfancy

Thanks for the thread. I have been wondering what to do about Frenchpup. Ddog was spayed at about 8 months (after 1 season) she was incontinent for the last 3 years of her life which I found really difficult. If putting up with a couple of seasons could prevent it I will definitely wait. They are not the same breed, but are both large gun dogs.

It might be a good idea to have a look at the paper I linked to upthread. Some of the gundog breeds are quite prone to spay incontinence. I can't remember offhand if any of them were included in that study, but if not, the references might be handy.

HandyBendySandy · 21/02/2021 07:38

I've got a similar conundrum with my male terrier pup - he's got a retained testicle so he needs "doing", but I'm dithering over it. He's 14 months old and apart from being OBSESSED with greeting and playing with other dogs, sniffing every lamppost and licking/chattering over girl dog wee, he's otherwise no trouble - doesn't hump legs or mark indoors, and is passive/submissive without being neurotic. Hasn't got an aggressive bone in his body, which is lovely as our last terrier was a feral savage.

I had him booked in for his laparoscopic castration at 13 months but panicked and cancelled. I'd like him to be more attentive to us than desperate to lick the mouth of any dog within a half mile radius, but I don't want his personality to change either.

bengalcat · 21/02/2021 07:41

Not quite what you’re asking but my pup had surgery for an intussception - where abdominal colic causes bowel to telescope into the bowel beyond it thus causing a blockage at @ 13 weeks - vet resected the bowel and spayed at the same time - DDog now 12 and no issues as far as I can tell ( lab / whippet cross ) .

Leonberger · 21/02/2021 07:42

I think it’s a really difficult one with lots of pros and cons no matter when you do it. I speyed a bitch at 1.5 years after a few seasons and she still got urinary incontinence.
My other bitch was speyed at 1 year after one season as her behaviour was terrible in season and she is fine, no issues at all as yet.

I generally tend to do the smaller dogs after 1-2 seasons and the giants at around 3 years for both males and females but take into account maturity and temperament too.

@wobblewombat I think your vet is absoloutley correct not to castrate a nervous male. Removing the testosterone often makes nervous behaviour worse as it takes away the one little bit of braveness they have left. I tend to advise chemical castration first (implant) to see the effects of the behaviour change in a nervous dog before jumping to castration that you can’t reverse. There aren’t as many benefits for castrating a male as speying a female. I think your vet has made the right decision for you there as annoying as it is

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 21/02/2021 07:43

I’m glad some vets are bothering now to read the various bits of research. For far too long they haven’t. A 16 week puppy up the road from me died last week after reacting to the anaesthetic. All I could think was why the bloody vet did the operation at all.

So if you have a measured and thoughtful vet, take their advice. It’s not an easy one and based on breed and size and also behaviour. A large breed? I would wait as long as you can.

ragged · 21/02/2021 07:58

Friend's dog had uterine cancer. Apparently that can't happen to spayed bitches.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 21/02/2021 08:06

@wobblewombat

Vet said 6-9 months for neutering when pup was 8 weeks. Took him in at 8 months & vet refused to operate, so now we have an entire male with no real clue when to do the op. Too nervous, apparently...

Your vet is doing entirely the right thing for your dog ☺️

PollyRoulson · 21/02/2021 09:03

@HandyBendySandy

I've got a similar conundrum with my male terrier pup - he's got a retained testicle so he needs "doing", but I'm dithering over it. He's 14 months old and apart from being OBSESSED with greeting and playing with other dogs, sniffing every lamppost and licking/chattering over girl dog wee, he's otherwise no trouble - doesn't hump legs or mark indoors, and is passive/submissive without being neurotic. Hasn't got an aggressive bone in his body, which is lovely as our last terrier was a feral savage.

I had him booked in for his laparoscopic castration at 13 months but panicked and cancelled. I'd like him to be more attentive to us than desperate to lick the mouth of any dog within a half mile radius, but I don't want his personality to change either.

Retained testicles do need to be removed but not immediately. Youi can check it with ultrasound and remove it a bit later. You do not have to have the other testicle removed is it is in the right place though!

PollyRoulson · 21/02/2021 09:05

I would let a bitch have one season and she how she goes. If that is smooth sailing then another season is no issue. However if she suffers with phantom pregnancy gets upset by the hormones then spay before the next season.

There are so many health benefits to spaying it really is a no brainer and does need to be done. Castration however is not so clear cut.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 21/02/2021 09:27

Our vet told us to let our miniature poodle have one season (at around 6 months of age) then book her in to be spayed 3 months after that so she gets the hormonal development which helps her bones and muscles but before her second season.

blowinahoolie · 21/02/2021 12:16

Our puppy is 18 weeks old but breeder recommended 18 months old DPup gets spayed so we will arrange for this to be done. She's a large breed. St Bernard.

wobblewombat · 21/02/2021 15:01

I should have said we were happy to take advice and very much appreciated the vet flagging it up.

He's a very nervous dog outside of the house. More than happy to keep him as calm as possible tho. Just worried about him being nicked and humping or roaming and DH is mentioning it from time to time.

SSwimCycle21 · 21/02/2021 15:23

Interesting question as we have a 10mth old labX who just had her first season lasted 3wks and she was quite subdued extra cuddly definitely bit unsettled by the experience. We plan to get her spayed in 2-3mths time as per vet advice assumed that was right time but now I’m wondering do we wait another cycle? It’s really worrying the level of dog thefts & she feels extra vulnerable to me unspayed 😞as we don’t plan to breed.