Proper age for spaying
I was planning to spay my female puppy at 6 mths of age. I will have her done by lap spay, lucky for me I work at a veterinary hospital and am very happy with this procedure and the recovery time is short and pain is much less. My question is this - because I am involved in flyball and dog sports it was suggested to me by our obedience instructer that I should wait and let her grow a bit more, let her mature out a bit. My question is this - what would be a good age then? I waited to neuter my other male (mixed breed) dogs at 1 yr of age. I have no intention on breeding her and would prefer not to go through any heat cycles - but know that obviously she will go through at least one. |
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You hve asked a very controversial question  Many people believe they should wait until after the first heat to spay...many believe the earlier the better...I'm sure you will get many different answers here I, personally, neutered my male at about 8 months...spayed my female at about 6 months, before a her first heat. My breeder wanted me to wait to do so but I had my reasons for doing it when I did and I did it. I had no problems with the neutering and no problems with the spaying. My male is now 4 years old, 110 pounds and very active...Female is 75 pounds, no problems, extremely active also. She also learns quickly and is showing no excessive weight gain. She is however, a bit on the "immature" side as I describe it. Still very "puppyish"... For me. I wanted the surgery to go as easy and smooth as possible. At the younger age for me meant easier recovery, smaller incision, just went very smoothly. Remember, a spay is sort of a doggy hysterectomy and is a major surgery - more than a neutering. I am sure you will get lots and lots of answers to your question. I think you need to make the best decision for your self after consulting with your Vet. |
I would listen to your instructor.  There's a reason the performance community advocates waiting: all else being equal you'll end up with a physically and mentally sounder and healthier dog.Ideally you wait till her growth plates have closed, at the very least, probably on average 15 mos old in this breed. So, yes, most will have had a season by then. Mine usually have their first season at about year old. Lines will differ, though. Kristine |
| My response is the same one as Kristine's - waiting! The benefit is allowing for structural (skeletal) maturity before the spay. It's not the spay part itself that is the issue, it's the loss of hormones that the spay causes that is the issue. Loss of the hormones before bone growth is complete results in thinner, less dense bones.  While it may be a pain for you to live through a heat cycle or two, the payoff with the benefit of those hormones to attain a nice sturdy bone structure for the rest of her life will surely be worth it!  There is also evidence that the hormones contribute to mental stability as well.....and that's always a good thing BTW - Chewie is intact, and it no way limits the activities we do. No sex crazed activities, lack of attention or trainability at all. A female intact causes a bit more planning with heats, but it still can be done. Harder, but not impossible. |
| I'm not going to argue with Jill or Dawn! It's more a matter of creating a sound dog for the stress of flyball, not your convenience with a heat cycle...or two. If it's the mess, get the doggie pants for girls in heat. Can't wait to see your girl out the with Borders, etc yapping her head off in excitement!! |
SheepieBoss wrote: I'm not going to argue with Jill or Dawn! It's more a matter of creating a sound dog for the stress of flyball, not your convenience with a heat cycle...or two. If it's the mess, get the doggie pants for girls in heat. Can't wait to see your girl out the with Borders, etc yapping her head off in excitement!! I actually hadn't replied yet but I'll agree anyway. |
| Working for a vet's office, you likely already know this but verify she does NOT have a tucked or inverted vulva prior to her spay. If she does, waiting to spay until after her first cycle may prevent her from suffering from recurrent and painful infections later on. In other words, it could naturally correct itself without the need for surgery later on. *Warning- Graphic* ... but we're dog people talking about medical stuff... that's the opportunity to be doubly gross.  http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ins-outs.html http://www.doberman-chat.com/f69/invert ... ndex2.html viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2228&hilit=inverted+vulva viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20056&hilit=tucked+vulva Whatever you decide to do, hoping you'll share some pictures! |
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