Age to get spayed

JRiegler

To start out, I searched the forum and did not find a previous answer to this question. If it has already been answered, please direct me to the post and I will be happy to start over there!

A new puppy is joining our home in four weeks, a female yellow lab. I have a male dog, so this will be a new process.

Here is the question - most recommendations that I have read are for a female to be spayed around six months. The breeder told us this past weekend that "regardless what the vet tries to get you to do, don't have her spayed until 9 months". She claims that this will allow the female to mature a bit more and fill out.

Does this sound correct? Does anyone have medical documentation that a female will not fill out (i.e. she may be thinner rather that becoming stocky like our current lab)?

Shalva

I agree with your breeder and that is what I tell my puppy people
there are many reasons to wait to spay.... I usually ask that my puppy people wait until after the first heat cycle. Is your male intact?????
that would concern me if your male is intact if he is I would want you to spay at around 9 or 10 mos. as long as you can wait and if he isnt I would want you to wait until after the first heat cycle.

I have to honestly say that as a breeder who tries very hard to do what is right by my dogs and puppies, I find it very disconcerting when people come to the forum and yoiu can tell that they are not listening to their breeder..... Your breeder knows her lines better than anyone and I would recommend listening to her and following her advice....

I have plenty of citations of this information if you want them.....
just PM me and i will get tehm to you.....
I also have a write up of what I tell my puppy people as well.

but I do agree wtih your breeder.
s

JRiegler

Thank you for your reply.

My male is not intact, so there is no issue of a pregnancy should we decide to wait.

I don't see why it would be disconcerting for you to see people asking questions. Isn't the purpose of message boards for people from many walks of life, both experienced and inexperienced to share information? Especially in this case when the information from the breeder is in direct conflict with what I will call "industry standard" and the recommendation from veterinarians?

Perhaps your comment is not directed toward me, but if I wasn't listening or at least even considering what the breeder told me I would never have bothered posing the questions to the readers of the forum.

Shalva

I think that asking questions is a good thing BUT at the same time as a breeder provided your breeder is a responsible one, we know our dogs better than anyone and while vets totally know medicine breeders are better able to answer basic husbandry questions. I guess from a breeders perspective I would like to think that the families that I have gotten to know over months and months and who I have entrusted a puppy to and who have trusted me enough to take a puppy from me .... won't just yes me to death and will actuallyl know and understand that while sometimes what we say in unconventional we have learned about them and their families and we ultimately want what is best for the puppy. Plus the other part of that is if they didn't trust me..... and they didn't want to do what I asked them to regardless of how silly it may seem I would have hoped that they would just tell me and then I would help them find a puppy from another breeder who didn't have the same basic requirements.

Its not about asking questions its about trusting that your breeder is giving you the best information for HER lines and her puppies. And I always wonder why people choose to get puppies from people that they don't trust.

its strictly from a breeders perspective....
s

JRiegler

If your doctor told you to get a hysterectomy or an orchidectomy (I don't know if you are male or female, take your pick) would you get a second opinion? I would, regardless of the relationship with my doctor.

I trust my breeder and this is the second dog from her. I'm choosing to get a second opinion as this is the first female I will own.

I think you are making generalizations about me based upon my one question. Granted, I have not been a member of this forum for very long so I have no idea of the history of past posts and problems with owners questioning breeders, but please don't make assumptions about me based on my one question. If your comments are not directed toward me but the forum as a whole based upon previous discussions, then I apologize for my direct and possibly curt response.

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Shalva

my comments are more general as it happens with my puppy people to, it just makes me a little crazy......

now I am not goign to get into a shooting match with you..... I really don't have the time, nor do I really care what you do.... I have offered to send you a great deal of scientific information so that you can make a decision based on scientific information but it seems that you clearly don't want that information..... it seems that what you want to do is argue with me about how I feel about how people interact with their breeders and that from a breeders perspective if people are unable or unwilling to do what the breeder requests then they should find another breeder ... and until you breed a litter you don't understand those feelings..... and just for the record.... based on the fact that you said that this is the second dog you have gotten from the breeder.....I feel even more strongly that you should be taking the advice of your breeder... and if you couldn't do that you should have gone to another breeder.

Oh and for the record there are a bazillion previous threads on spaying and neutering and what age to do so at..... just put in the word "spaying"

Over and out, can't be bothered with this any longer.....

JRiegler

Now that I have read some of your other posts I understand. You really do have a high opinion of yourself, and I hope that it is deserved and you are as great of a breeder as you project.

Actually there are 29 threads that appear by using the search term "spaying" and none of them addressed this issue specifically. However, I thank you for your response to my original post and I will certainly take the information you provided into consideration.

Shalva

amazing how some can have a discussion without resulting to insults and others can't
ho hum....
I will refrain from commenting on your posts in the future.
s

BoxMeIn21

I agree with your breeder and would wait, JMHO, of course. Here are two articles that I found quite convincing.
Long Term Health Effects of Spay and Neuter in Dogs

Canine Sports: Early Spay or Neuter Considerations

JRiegler

Great links! This portion of the report from your second link lists some alarming statitics:

On the negative side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a
common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis
• increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by
a factor of >5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
• triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6-2, a common health problem in dogs with many
associated health problems
• causes urinary “spay incontinence” in 4-20% of female dogs
• increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4
• increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs
spayed before puberty
• doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors
• increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
• increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

I think it would be wise to get this information to a large number of people. It makes me question the reasoning behind vets and others to recommend the surgery at the five to six month age timeframe.

Curbside Prophet

It's simple, at that age you'd catch most dogs before their first estrus. It's not a reflection of what's most important to *a* breed, it's a reflection of what's most important to dogdom. The unfortunate truth is most dog owners are not responsible enough to own intact animals.

That being said, you also have to be careful about the statistics you read, and who's paying/manipulating them...on both sides of the argument. The best you can do in making this decision is to discuss it with your breeder, other breeders, and your vet...basically any enthusiast of the breed (hopefully your vet is one too), and use your best judgment.

You can consider studies on the topic, but, unless you're interested in dedicating a large amount of time to understand the studies, they may be of little use to your judgment.

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