To Neuter or Not To Neuter...THAT is the question!

[SallyandPippa]

Hullo all,

I have always thought that I would neuter Pippa as soon as it was safe to do so, the thought of puppies and seasons sends fear through the very heart of me..lol j/k...well half j/k anyway!!

However I have recently been told that it is often thought that it is better to let the bitch have at least one season before neutering, therefore allowing them to reach sexual, as well as physical maturity. I love my dog and want to do the best thing for her, does anyone have any opinions/experience of this matter? Any advice, as always, is much appreciated.

Take care all

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

I asked my Vet this question and he told me there is evidence that supports both sides of this argument and no choice is the best one, both have equal merits.

Personally I am goin to get Shadow done as soon as physically possible, Im the same as you the thoughts of season and puppies.......ohh the terror. Im gona ring the vet now, and book her in within the next two weeks.

 

[AmberwayGSD]

I think that you should spay her now.Alot of vets are practising early Spay operations.If you dont want to risk a unwanted litter,Spay before her first heat.

 

[showpug]

I would get her spayed before her first heat cycle. That is actually healthier for her. With each heat cycle, and yes, the first one counts their chance of mammary (breast) cancer increases. There is no reason to let her have a season first and doing so will not make her healthier, happier or more mature in personality. Plus, you mentioned in another post that she has a hernia that needs to be repaired with her spay. Your vet told you that this won't cause problems and most likely it will not, but it can. If part of her intestine slips into the herniated opening then it can get pinched and kill her. Is this VERY rare? YES, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I would get her spayed as soon as she is eligable to get that hernia repaired. Plus, if you let her have a heat cycle and she was accidentally bred then a pregnancy with a hernia in the bitch can spell disaster. Just a few things to think about. Good luck and I know you will make the right choice, she is SOOOO cute!

 

[Gallien Jacks]

I would get her spayed before her first heat cycle. That is actually healthier for her. With each heat cycle, and yes, the first one counts their chance of mammary (breast) cancer increases. There is no reason to let her have a season first and doing so will not make her healthier, happier or more mature in personality. Plus, you mentioned in another post that she has a hernia that needs to be repaired with her spay. Your vet told you that this won't cause problems and most likely it will not, but it can. If part of her intestine slips into the herniated opening then it can get pinched and kill her. Is this VERY rare? YES, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I would get her spayed as soon as she is eligable to get that hernia repaired. Plus, if you let her have a heat cycle and she was accidentally bred then a pregnancy with a hernia in the bitch can spell disaster. Just a few things to think about. Good luck and I know you will make the right choice, she is SOOOO cute!

Well said just what I was going to say LOL

 

[Gempress]

My last dog was spayed by the shelter at only 10 weeks old. He was perfectly fine, never had any problems.

 

[SallyandPippa]

Ahhhh!! I am sooo confused! Most people on here seem to agree that it is best all round to have her neutered asap, and my instinct says thats the right thing to do but when I mentioned the quandry on a forum specific to the BT breed I was given completely different advice, such as:

"Also you say you are having her neutered at 6 months, this is a major op for such a young girl,please reconsider this and if you must have her spayed please let her have a season first.
I have friends who have had their dogs (various breeds) spayed before ever having a season and these dogs remain very imature in their behaviour having never reached sexual maturity"

and

"After all the reality of her seasons may not be sooooo daunting as the pre- conception of them!!!..(pardon the pun.. ha ha!!!.)
but once spayed the complications that can (& do) arise in spayed bitches will be very real & often irreversible without long term medication..."

and

"Most good vets & breeders recommend the animal first become mentally and physically mature, and especially for bitches to have a season first."

Needless to say I am completely confused and don't know what to do for the best!!

Take Care

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I would spay her before her first heat. This lowers the risk of certain diseases.

 

[Mordy]

if you let her go through one season, you are drastically increasing the risk for her to have breast cancer some time in the future.

my female dachshund will be 14 this october. with one exception (a disk problem at age 2 that luckily never resurfaced), she never had any health issues her entire life, but she is going to have her second surgery for breast cancer this coming tuesday, after which both of her mammary lines will be completely removed.

anesthesia and recovery from surgery is harder on a 14 year old than on a puppy before the first heat. i hope you'll make a wise choice to avoid this to happen to your dog. any female dog i plan on having in the future will be an early spay.

 

[SallyandPippa]

Oh Mordy,

I am so sorry to hear about your little dachy! I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way.

 

[Ash47]

Definetely spay before the first heat! The vet I worked at recommended spaying as soon as possible. Although I didn't like him, I did agree with him on this point. My dog Precious had prolapse of the uterus where her uterus and insides would stick out while in heat. Needless to say, we had her fixed asap. Roxy is a dog I plan on maybe possible breeding. Have to wait awhile before I know. Is it a risk?? Yes. Oreo was also not spayed before her first heat. But, she was only in heat twice before she was spayed. Only bad side affect is she is getting to be quite lardy(is that a word??) LOL Anyway, think about it in human terms. If you knew that having a baby is not something you want, not something you need, you had no means to take care of it, and it would most likely be killed after being placed in a shelter... wouldn't you want the "extra goods" taken away? There is no need for it if it will never be used. I know plenty of people that never had babies and they are just as mature as me. Gosh, I know I would get fixed if I were in that situation. LOL That is how I look at it. I always complare dogs to humans, but maybe that is just me.

 

[Mordy]

Oh Mordy,

I am so sorry to hear about your little dachy! I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way.

thank you so much. it's especially hard for me since i left her to live with my parents when i moved from germany to the US. if all goes well, i'll be seeing her again for the first time in 4 years this xmas.

 

[Zoom]

I would spay ASAP