Attention Cara

Guys!! Not to take over this topic but, I have heard (from many INCLUDING my vet) that it is better to spay BEFORE they go into season the first time!! Because of this we were planning on getting Gwen spayed when she turns 6 months old! But here many have said its actually the other way around??? Please give me more info! I obviously want to do what is best for Gwen and if getting her spayed before her first season is not a good thing I need to know the details! If necessary i will wait for her to have her first season before getting her spayed if that is best. Im just in shock because i have been going on thinking that it is much better to spay them BEFORE they go into heat for the first time, which is why my vet wants to have her spayed as soon as she turns 6 months old! Please please give me some more info about why it is better to wait for their first season, when the best time to spay her is, and why the heck my vet would tell me the opposite (even though no one probably has an answer for that) but is it a debated topic or is my vet just stupid??

Hi Cara.. Vets often say to spay before 1st season, a lot on her say it is better to wait until sexual maturity often after 2nd season. It is a personal choice with pros and cons on each side of the debate.. Have a read of the links and make up your own mind but don't just take what the vets say as gospel. Do your own research and make your own educated choice

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t12763-long-term-health-risks-and-benefits-associated-with-spay-neuter-in-dogs?highlight=spay+neuter

The vet said spaying before the first season reduces the risk of breast cancer! Is this true??

Early spaying can reduce the risks in some cancers it can also increase the risk of other cancers and health problems. Have a read of the link I posted and have a think about it. Personally Steff has had her 1st season but she will not have another, I will be having her spayed soon as the other neighbourhood dogs are uncontrolled and I won't take the risk of her being "got at" I did a lot of research when she was little and made the decision then that I wouldn't get her done until later but my situation has changed now and I feel this is the best choice for me.. Only you can make the final decision on what you think is the best for your girl, it is a personal choice in the end

After reading the link you posted and some other info i have decided to wait..i will atleast wait until she is 8 months old and preferably wait until she has gone through her first season. How did you handle her going into heat? Was it messy? I live in an apartment and i cannot have Gwen bleeding all over my carpets! What did you do during this time and how long did it last?

Hey Cara I have split this to a new topic as we were a little off topic and taking over the other post..

A season takes about 21 days, every dog is different (as per women) as to how much they bleed and for how long.. You can buy sanitary pants for dogs that are a big help if they are needed.. Steff didn't bleed much at all (I was lucky) and she took care of it mostly by herself, she would clean herself up but I used panties for when she was on the lounge or carpet in loungeroom watching tv etc.. Don't use the pants overnight but depending where she sleeps (Steff is in bed with me) I used an old duvet cover over the top of the one I was using and tried to keep a towel under her as much as I could..

The hardest thing was after about a week or so of bleeding she wanted out and would whine a lot, some call this the tart stage of the season, when she wanted a boy I was quite lucky there too as this only lasted a few days with her but it can be longer. Remember even if the bleeding stops early they are fertile for 21 days from when they start bleeding and you will need to be vigilant, I changed my walking times around so that I missed the peak hour dog walkers etc.. Start looking out now for times when there are not many people out walking dogs so that you can use that info when the time comes

Can't add to the debate about when to spey but a little tip for when she comes into season. We live by the sea and the ( responsible ) people who have bitches walk their dogs on the beach below the high water mark when in season. This way the scents are washed away at high tide instead of sending the males bonkers. May not be an option for you ofcourse.

Thanks reuben, not an option for me but interesting either way!

i was spaying my westie when she was at 1 year and a half before the second season and she is ok..is the same nothing change about her and my opinion is to wait to spay her after her first season good luck

CaraJeff11 wrote:The vet said spaying before the first season reduces the risk of breast cancer! Is this true??

In part, that's true. BUT. The increased risk of spaying after a first or second season is minimal.

The problems with early spaying are..

• The growth plates close later which will make your dog leggier & narrower than she would otherwise have been
  

• Her vulva may not grow to full size which can result in difficulty passing urine when she's fully grown, and that can lead to urinary burn
  

• Her mental age could well 'fix' at the spaying age! So you'd have a dog that, mentally, is forever a puppy, which is wearing when you have a high energy dog like a stafford!
  

Also, although mammary cancer is one of the more common cancer in bitches, it still isn't all that common!

I've had 4 bitches, all of which lived to ripe old age & none of which developed mammary cancer. The only one that was spayed had pyometra & had to be spayed as a result.

I know that vets these days advocate spaying of bitches and castrating of dogs at 6 months of age ie before sexual maturity and it still puzzles me. I can only think of two reasons - 1) it's easier for them to remove immature reproductive systems and 2) it removes the chance that they will be impregnated at their first season in case of bitches.

Personally I truly believe that a bitch should have at least one season and preferably 2 or 3 more before spaying to allow their bodies to mature. Even then, I had one bitch who became incontinent with her urine, which was arguably more inconvenient to us humans than her twice yearly seasons (and incidentally she was only spayed because she invariably suffered phantom pregnancies after each season).

In short, you have to weigh up the pros and cons of neutering your bitch, and at what age, and decide what is best for you and your dog. There is plenty of advice on this website, and elsewhere on the www - research all you can before making the decision as to if and when.

And we are always here if you want to discuss further! ><