As far as I know you can only have a female dog spayed. Why is it that you don't want to spay? I've had 2 female dogs and a female cat that have all been spayed with no problem...I'm just wondering what it is about removing the ovaries that you don't like?

 

I believe there is a form of birth control, similar to depo provera for humans, that they use on racing greyhounds and possibly other working dogs. I don't know much about it.

But spaying does much more than just prevent pregnancy. It also eliminates the risk of ovarian cancer and pyometras, and greatly minimizes the risk of mammary cancer.

 

All the current information that I have read suggests not spaying a female until they have attained their full growth (approx 2 years) to prevent bone and joint problems. If you are not wanting to breed, but want the advantage of hormones to help with health, wouldn't it make sense to use a technique such as tubal ligation? I really don't know....I'm just wondering what the reason would be for that to not be an option.

There is a technique for humans where you scald the uterus with hot liquid which permantly removes the lining of the uterus resulting in infertility, and lack of a period. It sounds cruel, but I know women who have had this done and there was VERY little pain involved and has worked very well. They had already had children, and their doctors used this to control heavy bleeding, but the result is infertility. Since I thought, (and maybe I am thinking wrong) that most people spayed to avoid pregnancy, this would be an option, where there would be no bleeding, no pregnancy, and all the benefits of hormones. Why don't they just remove the uterus, and leave the ovaries? What are the stats on ovarian cancer or pyometras? What are the odds of getting these terrible diseases, vs a dog with bad joints and hip/elbow problems due to lack of hormones?

I am just brainstorming and wondering...inquiring minds want to know! I am looking for any feedback, negative, positive....maybe I need some rethinking, I don't know. I am just surprised that most people would want to put their young pet through surgery. Just seems there should be a better way.

 

Seems pretty logical to me. However, if it's done chemically, the product would have to be seen as a major opportunity for pharmaceutical company profit...therefore, efforts to achieve this vision must be spurred on by those who are committed to saving pets' lives.

 

One of the most " annoying" issues with intack females is the heat cycle they have, having all the organs removed ( uterus and overies) prevents the heat cycle all together. If you use a medication or do a procedure other than radical removal she will still have all the sympotms of a heat cycle and the tendancies that come with it. The procedure done on canines is the safest and most effective for the dog, I am sure you could talk to your vet about options to a spay and they will have more info.