At what age should I have my puppy spayed?

Violette

No-one has ever given me any explanation for why it is better to do it before first season. I have heard what I consider good reasons why you should wait, but never any reason why you shouldn't.

I'm sure that Jen is right when she says that it is current rcvs guideline advice, but nobody has said why. I don't doubt that it is perfectly possible and perfectly safe to do it that early, but why is it better?

Until I hear of a good reason, I will strongly suspect that vets are just bowing to pressure from owners who don't want the hassle of that first season. Any good reasons I have heard have led me to the opposite point of view - wait until after the first season, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.

But that is just my personal opinion.

coliel

i always think that about vets!!
i must admit being brought up by a father who thinks all vets are con artists probably dosent help!
i am sure vets do things totaly unnecesaraly just to make the owner feel better!
i also think they can somtimes be after your money!
my father new a woman whos dog had a bald patch on the scruff of the neck and spent loads at the vets - untill dad told her to stop usung the flea stuff and to siply keep coming the dog with a flea come and when she was sure that their were no fleas to then add a garlic clove to each evening meal - and still the vets argued that the dog had got better by coinsadence and the silly woman went back to the flea stuff - 2 weeks later their was anouther bald patch!!!

Violette

I must admit I will respect a vet who tells me something I don't want to know, if you know what I mean. It gives me confidence that he is thinking of the dog's welfare rather than my feelings, even though it is me paying the bill....

Having said that, I haven't changed vets often. Once I find a good one, I stick - except when we moved house to a totally different area or - sob! Crying or Very sad

- when my all-time favourite vet retired. How dare he?????

Twig

To be honest, whilst I don't hate individual vets, I do hate the Veterinary Practise as a whole, as I feel they do con us out of our money, they can charge ridicolous prices such as an 'introductory fee' for a simple check-up.

But more worringly is that they and food manufacturers work hand in hand together and in my opinion are the ones who actually make our pets ill in the first place. Theres been plenty of research done to show petfood is harmful due to the digusting ingredients they use, such as mouldy corn, wheat etc which dogs are allergic too anyway, and hydrogenated oils used over and over again to cook food at fast food restuarants etc! Shocked

All vet students are taught the nutrition parts of their course by the manufacturers so believe it is all true that our pets need dried kibble, yet never stop to question why a 6 year old dog has arthritis or why by 3 years old dogs have the start of tooth decay. I purely blame the food manufacturers and top vets who dictate that vets are taught bull when it comes to feeding, although I know others will disagree with me here, fair enough, although I find it strange so many vets are so quick to criticise natural raw feeding when it is after all, natural.... Confused

coliel

i agree with you twig it breaks my heart to think that the rubish i fed gypsie may of contributed to her brain tummer,

Paula

sorry for the delayed replies everyone. I'm still a bit in two minds, like you say Valerie no-one has ever really said why its good to do it before the first season. One vet said it reduces incontinence in later life and the other vet said doing it after the first season reduces incontinence...... what am I supposed to think? All I can do is seek the "expert" advice of my vets but its confusing when you get two opinions.

Violette

To be honest, Paula, there probably isn't a catch-all "right" or "wrong" answer. It is certainly unfortunate that you got different advice from 2 vets in the same practice - not good business practice, apart from anything else - but at least you will know that each was telling you what they thought, rather than following some central party line.

In the end, you will probably just have to go with your own gut-instinct and knowledge of your own practical circumstances - and in the end it mightn't make all that much difference.

Of course, it is possible Molly will have her own way of dealing with the situation. She wouldn't be the first female puppy to take matters into her own paws and actually have the flippin' season while her poor owner is still dithering..... Rolling Eyes

.

VickienBubs

i had my bubbles castrated at 6 mths. i decided i did not want to breed from him and i didnt want the worry of him making little crestie cross pups! he had already started cocking his leg. he recovered perfectly and today he is 9 mths old and as right as rain. still a crazy nutcase pup!!

bubbles' brother hasnt been castrated and his sister hasnt been spayed and they are all on a parallel of nuttiness!! just goes to show either way makes no difference!!

i personally feel you know whats right for your dog, as so many people have advised there is no right and wrong way so do what you feel is right. just be aware of letting her off lead in parks etc if she is in season.

good luck in making your decision, let us know what you decide on x
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Where would I be without my Bubbles....? My little boy makes me so proud!

Paula

we have not started letting her off the lead yet, still working on the recall. am sure we will get there eventually but being a terrier once she gets a whiff of something the head is to the ground and she is more interested in that. although saying that we have been practising other things and she seems to have suddenly absorbed everthing in the last week. i have to say, she is so cute and makes me smile all the time. hope she stays this lovely forever.

_Jules_

Just to put in my two pennorth .... Wink

My Vet practise will NOT spay before the first season, unless there is a specific problem.

Guide Dogs are spayed after their first season too as are all the Assistance dogs (unless they are going to use them as Brood bitches obviously Wink

).

Most reputable breeders don't recommend spaying or castrating until the dog is fully mature....so at around 2 years old....Although I'm not sure I could hang on that long if I had a randy male dog, humping my ankles. Wink

To be fair, I only know two bitches that were spayed before their first season....and both of them became incontinent shortly afterwards and are now on medication for life. That is more than enough to put me right off ever having a bitch spayed before her first season. Rolling Eyes

I suppose it will eventually go the same way over here as it is in America, where pups can be "desexed" at 6 weeks old. Shocked

But as with most things.....Just because you "can"...doesn't mean you "should". Wink

Ooooo Just had a really cynical thought......Do you think that vets are now recommending spaying before the first season because they will be more likely to get money for incontinence meds for the whole life of the dog????? Shocked

Surely even they wouldn't be that devious....Would they??? Rolling Eyes

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Jules and the Ark

coliel

yes they would!!!
i can never understand the need to have dogs done so quickly any way ?
surly people can keep a bitch on heat away from other dogs as its only twice a year for 2 years meaning 3 seasens to be careful of and they can only fall pregnant at sirtain times in the seasen any way!
and as for dogs its even easier!
surly it is best to have a hard time for a bit if you end up with a better dog in the end?
gypsie was never spayed as i realy worry about the opp - it feels to me like its an unnesasery risk and when she was on heat i was just realy care ful exercising at rediculous times in the morning and night to avoid other dogs.

Paula

Jules - I wouldn't be surprised if the vets do certain things to try and make more money out of us and our pets. Our practice try to get you to buy something every time you go in there, usually hills science biscuits. Last time we took the cats for their boosters it was toothpaste that they needed (can't see how it can do any good as the cats just lick it off their gums so the paste doesn't stay on the gums long enough to have any effect).

Coliel (any anyone else who wants to comment on this) what difference do you think it makes to the dog to neuter after 2 years rather than at 6 months? 6 months seems to be common practice and I've never heard anyone (other than you obviously) suggest waiting two years. I'm just wondering if waiting until two years actually changes anything?

Violette

Not really commenting on the above, Paula - except to say that depending on the dog (size is the main thing, I think) the bitch can be a lot older than 6 months when she has her first season - so allowing for the necessary waiting time afterwards, she could be 18 months old before being spayed after 1 season.

Once they are mature, the bitch will have a season approx every 6 months (though it does vary) but the bigger the dog, the later she will have her first season. Some of my collies have been 10, 11 months old. I believe really big dogs (Gt Danes, Wolfhounds, St Bernards and the like) can be even later.

coliel

that is exactly what i think - basicaly to leave the dog until he is 2 years old means that it is definatly fully grown so the dog will be what it was supose to be with out the side efects of having the dog done early which are
1- still staying a pup - both by not cocking his leg or in females incontanance
2- stunted growth
3-hormones the dog has in puberty between 6 and 24 months have not had time to setle down
4- lack of condition - for example dog hair going slitly curly , smelly,etc
5-not being fully strong enough for a major opp in females
6-not being strong enough to cope with the general anesthetic

shadylady

i dont really know about the spaying thing.. but surely not all vet practices are money conning.. cuz my vets aint like that at all and every time i go to my vets they allways say to me its what you think is best for your individual pet.. and if i havent got the certain amount of money they let me off like a fiver or something.. and they never offer me anything for my animals that i obviously dont need, and i think my vets prices arnt to bad either... plus i actually respect most off there prices as most of the money they earn goes into buying medication for our pets...
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