Caney Creek
Boxer Insane
I second this. All trips outside, even for a second, should DEFINITELY be supervised and on-leash if not in an enclosed fence.
Age for Spay?
- Thread starter SnowDove
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I second this. All trips outside, even for a second, should DEFINITELY be supervised and on-leash if not in an enclosed fence.
hurleygirl
Boxer Booster
There is NO reason to let them go thru their first heat. I had a dog done by a very young vet at 4 months and was a absolutely fine. He was up on all the latest statistics and said there was no reason to wait. My dog is now going on 11 and doing GREAT. I know there is a myth out there about letting them go thru a heat, but there is no truth in it.
SnowDove
Super Boxer
Okay, I'm going to talk with my vet when we're there on Saturday, but I'm currently thinking that I'll have Daisy spayed toward the middle of March of next year... That will make her just over 11 months old, and I can have it done at the first of spring break - I'm a teacher, so that way I can be home with her and make sure she doesn't get hurt! 
Oh my goodness, it's so terrifying thinking of her being put under for surgery :( I didn't have to worry about this with my rottie since she was a rescue and had been spayed long before I met her!
Oh my goodness, it's so terrifying thinking of her being put under for surgery :( I didn't have to worry about this with my rottie since she was a rescue and had been spayed long before I met her!
Gatorblu
Boxer Insane
Every dog park I have been to has had in it's list of rules that dog's in heat are not allowed for this very reason. I waited to spay Arabella until after her first heat cycle, but she was a late bloomer and didn't go into heat until she was over 18 mo's. I didn't plan it that way, it's just life got in the way and we found out we were going to move before I could get her spayed. I spayed my first girl Star, at 6 mo's. I found waiting was actually an easier recovery because you don't have the bouncy preteen to contend with.
Caney Creek
Boxer Insane
Okay, I'm going to talk with my vet when we're there on Saturday, but I'm currently thinking that I'll have Daisy spayed toward the middle of March of next year... That will make her just over 11 months old, and I can have it done at the first of spring break - I'm a teacher, so that way I can be home with her and make sure she doesn't get hurt!
Oh my goodness, it's so terrifying thinking of her being put under for surgery :( I didn't have to worry about this with my rottie since she was a rescue and had been spayed long before I met her!
Yea, it's pretty scary having to put them through surgery... I was waiting by the phone all day when Caney was spayed. That phone call was such a relief!
Just an FYI, I'd be prepared to have your vet try to talk you into spaying earlier. Most of them push to have it done around 6 months... again it all comes down to what YOU the owner are comfortable doing.
SnowDove
Super Boxer
Thank you for the forewarning!
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BxrMommieNAZ
Boxer Insane
Yep. Mine was actually pushing for 4 months. Many out here push for 3-4 months and are not thrilled if you wait until 6, much less any later than that. But I understand the reason behind it so it helped to not get upset. They respected my wishes, they were just pushing for 4 months originally when I first got him.
Cami
Boxer Insane
You also have to remember that studies and their results are statistics from the pool of subjects involved. There are extremes to the spectrum that must be factored in as well in order for the study to reach a final conclusion.
Various things mentioned are things that can happen and not always what WILL happen.
Younger dogs (months) are touted to heal more quickly from surgeries (this is a statistic....not ALL do). Cami was 9-ish months old when spayed and had a hard recovery. Raine was 7-ish months old and aside from trying to rip her stitches out from too much play healed very well. Unknown to us going in Cami (no signs) was coming into heat hence her surgery was a bit more involved. I knew Raine's mom and a couple of aunts typically came into heat around 12-14 months so I wanted it done far enough ahead as to avoid a heat cycle. Personal preference!
Various things mentioned are things that can happen and not always what WILL happen.
Younger dogs (months) are touted to heal more quickly from surgeries (this is a statistic....not ALL do). Cami was 9-ish months old when spayed and had a hard recovery. Raine was 7-ish months old and aside from trying to rip her stitches out from too much play healed very well. Unknown to us going in Cami (no signs) was coming into heat hence her surgery was a bit more involved. I knew Raine's mom and a couple of aunts typically came into heat around 12-14 months so I wanted it done far enough ahead as to avoid a heat cycle. Personal preference!
TwoDogs
Boxer Insane
Whenever people have the "when to spay/neuter" discussion, someone refers to the studies that have been that show that dogs who are spayed/neutered early are more prone to certain injuries, illnesses, cancers. I am not disputing the validity of these studies, but I would like to point out a few things.
The incidences of these conditions are very minor in the first place. They don't happen often in an intact population so when the studies say the "chances of X happening are greater in castrated populations", it is important to evaluate HOW much greater. For example, if the chances increase from 1% of the population exhibiting the condition to 2%, then technically the chances doubled--but realize that 2% is still low odds. Now, I'm not sure what the exact statistics are, but to make blanket statements without looking at the actual empirical data is irresponsible and only contributes to misconceptions about a medical procedure.
An additional point to consider is that most pet dogs do not engage in the work that their breeds were designed for. In most cases, people are not talking about their agility competitor, working herding dog, search & rescue dog or anything even close. The most important factor in preventing injury in dogs is not spaying or neutering later in life, but proper conditioning, exercise, and nutrition. A dog with perfect proportions and conformation but that is in poor condition is still at greater risk for injury than a well-conditioned dog with conformation abnormalities.
Another consideration is that there are literally thousands of mixed breed dogs out there competing in dog sports and other physically demanding work. These dogs are of mixed parentage and, as such, don't have perfect proportions or optimum relative bone length ratios. These dogs perform their jobs very well for their entire lives. It would be interesting to see what the incident of bone growth related injuries are in this population. I would bet that the numbers are very low--in fact I would be willing to bet that they are very close to the numbers for intact, perfectly proportioned working dogs. I am willing to bet this because, again, the major factors for reducing injury in dogs is proper conditioning, regular exercise, healthy weight, and nutrition.
The last point I will make is that age at spay or neuter isn't the only thing affecting the overall growth and development of a dog's bone. Genetics and environment play a big part as well. I've seen plenty of intact adult purebred dogs with less than perfect conformation. If we use the example of stifle angulation that another poster mentioned, it is equally possible that an early spay of a dog that had less than ideal conformation could change the angulation of that dog's stifle for the better.
I'm not going to tell anyone when they should spay or neuter their dog. It is up to each individual to do their own research and discuss the different options with a vet that they respect. For me, the benefits of spaying/neutering a dog far outweigh what I consider minimal risks. After my own research, I've come to the conclusion that for average pet pups already in a home, spaying/neutering between 6 and 9 months of age is reasonable and in their best interests (10-12months for giant breeds). For pups in a shelter or rescue whos futures are uncertain, pediatric spays are in their best interests. For dogs that will be performing work or serious competition, neutering later than 9 months based on the rate of bone growth for that particular breed is in the best interest of the dog.
The incidences of these conditions are very minor in the first place. They don't happen often in an intact population so when the studies say the "chances of X happening are greater in castrated populations", it is important to evaluate HOW much greater. For example, if the chances increase from 1% of the population exhibiting the condition to 2%, then technically the chances doubled--but realize that 2% is still low odds. Now, I'm not sure what the exact statistics are, but to make blanket statements without looking at the actual empirical data is irresponsible and only contributes to misconceptions about a medical procedure.
An additional point to consider is that most pet dogs do not engage in the work that their breeds were designed for. In most cases, people are not talking about their agility competitor, working herding dog, search & rescue dog or anything even close. The most important factor in preventing injury in dogs is not spaying or neutering later in life, but proper conditioning, exercise, and nutrition. A dog with perfect proportions and conformation but that is in poor condition is still at greater risk for injury than a well-conditioned dog with conformation abnormalities.
Another consideration is that there are literally thousands of mixed breed dogs out there competing in dog sports and other physically demanding work. These dogs are of mixed parentage and, as such, don't have perfect proportions or optimum relative bone length ratios. These dogs perform their jobs very well for their entire lives. It would be interesting to see what the incident of bone growth related injuries are in this population. I would bet that the numbers are very low--in fact I would be willing to bet that they are very close to the numbers for intact, perfectly proportioned working dogs. I am willing to bet this because, again, the major factors for reducing injury in dogs is proper conditioning, regular exercise, healthy weight, and nutrition.
The last point I will make is that age at spay or neuter isn't the only thing affecting the overall growth and development of a dog's bone. Genetics and environment play a big part as well. I've seen plenty of intact adult purebred dogs with less than perfect conformation. If we use the example of stifle angulation that another poster mentioned, it is equally possible that an early spay of a dog that had less than ideal conformation could change the angulation of that dog's stifle for the better.
I'm not going to tell anyone when they should spay or neuter their dog. It is up to each individual to do their own research and discuss the different options with a vet that they respect. For me, the benefits of spaying/neutering a dog far outweigh what I consider minimal risks. After my own research, I've come to the conclusion that for average pet pups already in a home, spaying/neutering between 6 and 9 months of age is reasonable and in their best interests (10-12months for giant breeds). For pups in a shelter or rescue whos futures are uncertain, pediatric spays are in their best interests. For dogs that will be performing work or serious competition, neutering later than 9 months based on the rate of bone growth for that particular breed is in the best interest of the dog.
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