Questions about having dog spayed

Hi,

Our dog is 6.5 months old and close to coming on heat. The vet recommended that we have her spayed. I dont want to bread her and wanted to know if its ok to do it now ? Some people say wait till she is older?

I would wait till she has had one season as this can help a bitch mature and not stay puppy like for the rest of their lives.

I have had a bitch done before and after their season (my collie and sprollie) and the sprollie never really grew up, could be her bred, but she is 13 and still acts like a puppy.

x

Is it true that getting a bitch spayed stunts their growth?

Me and the other half have been arguing over this for a while, I've told him she's getting done at 18 months, that way she should be fully grown.

Would people suggest she was done earlier?

A friend's pup was done at 6 months, and she has a far bigger head than mine. I am interested to find out. Just mailed the breeder to ask her opinion.

This is something that is quite a hot topic here. Some will tell you that having them done early does not adversely affect them in anyway and is actually kinder to the bitch but others will tell you that you should wait till they are fully mature before having it done, if at all. I'm getting my boy done between 18 months and 2 years, unless we have problems that can only be sorted by eutering before that. That is just my personal choice, but I can think of at least 3 members who will say have it done now, and 3 more that will say wait another 6-12 months!!

Does it matter that she is a bitch not male?

Cornish-Muscle wrote:Is it true that getting a bitch spayed stunts their growth?

Me and the other half have been arguing over this for a while, I've told him she's getting done at 18 months, that way she should be fully grown.

Would people suggest she was done earlier?

No, it won't stunt growth exactly. What it can do is stop the dog/bitch maturing properly & it may not acheive its full bulk.

Shontelle wrote:3 more that will say wait another 6-12 months!!

I'm one of those! I believe that a dog or bitch should be allowed to mature properly before being spayed or castrated (and as Shontelle rightly says, there are those here who will disagree with me, and they have valid reasons - I just don't agree! ), so I personally wouldn't neuter at least until a bitch has had her first season, and until a dog is fully mature (in staffs that's around 12-18 months).

lucypup wrote:Does it matter that she is a bitch not male?

Only as a matter of timing. Vets won't neuter a bitch if she's coming into season already, or if she's within 3 months of having had a season. After a bitch's 1st season she will normally become more feminine & sometimes a little more calm and self assured. A dog when he's mature will be more self assured, and more 'male' to look at. Often, if a dog/bitch is neutered too early they can stay 'pups' for life, which, although pups playing & jumping around is funny & endearing, a full grown dog doing it ALL the time is a pain in the a**e!!!

Just waiting for the disagreements, now!

Oh lord, here we go!! And Caryll, I was thinking of you when I said that I could think of members who would say wait a bit!!

And no, it doesn't matter that she's a bitch, it's all hormonal, obviously it affects them in different ways, but it's still the same issues.

Don't worry, I'm not going to get into a big discussion about it - I've had my say!!

lucypup wrote:Hi,

Our dog is 6.5 months old and close to coming on heat. The vet recommended that we have her spayed. I dont want to bread her and wanted to know if its ok to do it now ? Some people say wait till she is older?

My first bitch was done before her first season and she developed into a beautifully formed stafford, mature and an amazing shape in every way. My second was done after her first season and again has matured into a stunning stafford. Personally I don't think it matters, its your choice.

I think you may have left it too late to have it done before the first season as being 6.5 months it should be soon, but the vets can advise on this. I only know because mine was booked b4 her first season and being a rescue I wasn't too sure how old she was. I took her to the vets and they had a look b4 she was aniethatised and the vet shock his head because annoyingly she'd already come into heat. We coped though.

She is 6 months and probaly 2 weeks... The vet said we need to do it latest by Tuesday.

How long does she bleed for/stay on heat ?

a bitch can be spayed after 6months old without any adverse consiqences the timing is entirly up to you

first heat can be anything from 1-4 weeks

lucypup wrote:She is 6 months and probaly 2 weeks... The vet said we need to do it latest by Tuesday.

How long does she bleed for/stay on heat ?

About 3 weeks. She will only be receptive to dogs during the last 3rd, though.

When I had bitches I used to walk them normally (but on lead) for the first 10 days, and then only take them out during the last 10 days or so if I knew that there would be no dogs around.

bigwazza wrote:a bitch can be spayed after 6months old without any adverse consiqences the timing is entirly up to you

I think the vet is probably more concerned with her coming into season, in which case they won't spay until 3 months has passed.

My bitch spotted for nearly 5 weeks, but its usually 3-4 I was just unlucky We had puppy pants for her whilst she was indoors, they where the best thing I could have ever bought and I highly recommend them. Brand new cream carpets and a bitch spotting don't really go hand in hand!

Janey wrote:My bitch spotted for nearly 5 weeks, but its usually 3-4 I was just unlucky We had puppy pants for her whilst she was indoors, they where the best thing I could have ever bought and I highly recommend them. Brand new cream carpets and a bitch spotting don't really go hand in hand!

Yes, good advice! When I had my bitches they didn't do pants for them, and I used to alter some of my dad's (and later my boyfriend's) pants! They weren't always best pleased to see my dog wearing their underwear!

Caryll, your a pants thief lol

At least I didn't snatch them from the washing line!

And anyway, they were always old ones - you know how men always ruin their pants..................

Caryll wrote:At least I didn't snatch them from the washing line!

And anyway, they were always old ones - you know how men always ruin their pants..................

Ewwwwww

how dare you caryll us men can keep there same underwear for upto 10 years and thats including the bi monthly washing

Warren, I know that, but by that time it's only the holes that are holding them together, and as for the, um, marks on them well, less said the better!

holes keeping them together wot iv got to peel them off there in 6 bits ha ha and iwill have you know there no marks on them memphis keeps them clean :-&

Caryll wrote:

lucypup wrote:She is 6 months and probaly 2 weeks... The vet said we need to do it latest by Tuesday.

How long does she bleed for/stay on heat ?

About 3 weeks. She will only be receptive to dogs during the last 3rd, though.

When I had bitches I used to walk them normally (but on lead) for the first 10 days, and then only take them out during the last 10 days or so if I knew that there would be no dogs around.

bigwazza wrote:a bitch can be spayed after 6months old without any adverse consiqences the timing is entirly up to you

I think the vet is probably more concerned with her coming into season, in which case they won't spay until 3 months has passed.

Hmm be careful here, they say the first day or the season is the day which the bitch starts to bleed. They will actually stand for a dog about 10 days after the onset of bleeding and are most receptive around their 13/14th day. They cannot usually be bred to after the 15th day but may still bleed.

I think when to get you dog spayed is really up to you, I won't push my opinions onto you but personally if I got my bitches spayed I would wait for them to mature physically and mentally first. My view is that hormones are an important part of growth and instinct and taking many of them away completely at a young age may in some way effect the dog's growth.

However I know many people don't have any issues (as others on the forum have said), I would wait personally but its your choice!

Oooh, my bad - it's been SO long since I've had a bitch that I'd got my dates mixed up! Bad mistake!

However, re: the walks thing - I used to walk my girls for the first 10 days but not afterwards, not till their heat had finished. It always seemed to go ok.

Caryll wrote:However, re: the walks thing - I used to walk my girls for the first 10 days but not afterwards, not till their heat had finished. It always seemed to go ok.

Because I don't have a garden I still walked Moo throughout her being on heat and we didn't have a problem, granted I chose very quiet times and she was kept on lead the entire time.

I never had a problem, either. I suppose I could have taken them out, but didn't! I didn't have a garden when I had the 1st girl, I just used to play tug of war & throw a ball up & down the hallway, and she'd be taken into the street REALLY early in the morning & REALLY late at night just for her to relieve herself! The rest of the time, she could go into our small front yard for a wee etc!

I've also never had a problem with my dogs trying to get to bitches - maybe I'm just lucky!

Janey wrote:

Caryll wrote:However, re: the walks thing - I used to walk my girls for the first 10 days but not afterwards, not till their heat had finished. It always seemed to go ok.

Because I don't have a garden I still walked Moo throughout her being on heat and we didn't have a problem, granted I chose very quiet times and she was kept on lead the entire time.

I do the same, walk them and only let the off in enclosed areas. Even the most obedient bitch can decide she wants to have a family and run off! My girls suddenly get selective hearing around the end of their seasons so we don't risk it

I never let them off lead during their seasons, I preferred to err on the side of caution!

Nosipho wrote:

Janey wrote:

Caryll wrote:However, re: the walks thing - I used to walk my girls for the first 10 days but not afterwards, not till their heat had finished. It always seemed to go ok.

Because I don't have a garden I still walked Moo throughout her being on heat and we didn't have a problem, granted I chose very quiet times and she was kept on lead the entire time.

I do the same, walk them and only let the off in enclosed areas. Even the most obedient bitch can decide she wants to have a family and run off! My girls suddenly get selective hearing around the end of their seasons so we don't risk it

During Molly's first season, she was taken for walks, she would have gone insane if she didn't.
We never had any problems, even with an adolescent Black Lab, she doesn't got off the lead that much any way, her re-call isn't that great.
I think so long as you're on the ball and keep an eye out for any other dogs, then everything should go ok.

If your comfortable and confident in knowing you can keep her safe while in season and away from other dogs if you chose not to breed i would suggest letting her have her first season and then getting her spayed .

Cairo was done before her first season,as i didnt want the mess,the risk of pyrometra or anything else associated with it,and she has been fine.It hasnt affected her growth or anything else in any way.She is bigger than some males we see.

lucypup wrote:A friend's pup was done at 6 months, and she has a far bigger head than mine. I am interested to find out. Just mailed the breeder to ask her opinion.

Hi lucypup your dogs size and bone content features and conformation are all determined by there genetics theres no way you can change there make up by having them neutered they may hold more fat due to the change in hormone levels and may become quiet and not as bold but thats it.

Spaying certainly doesn't affect growth - as you say, that is determined by genetics. Early spaying can, though, affect the temperament (I don't mean agression) and the bitch (or dog for that matter) MAY stay very puppyish for the rest of its life and MAY NOT completely 'fill out' the way an un-neutered dog will.

With living beings, nothing is laid in stone!