Spaying Three Bitches or Castrating Him?

[jokersmum]

My apologies if this has already been covered. As usual, I'm posting with a dog dilemma.

I have Joker, male, and his sister Eva who are both entire. They share a run if we go out.

I also have 2 more lab bitches, both entire.

Poor Joker has the urge and is tormented every time each bitch is in season. I can't afford to have all three bitches spayed, but I'm told if I castrate him he will still get the urge and so still be just as frustrated. He cries and paces when one of the girls are in season.

Is there any other option or am I just going to have to win the lottery?

I feel stupid as I should have realised this. The two labs belong to hubby really and for some reason I assumed they were spayed because he also has a male spaniel.

My fault, I accept that. But three lots of spaying I cannot afford.

Can I do anything to ease the poor boy's upset when they are in season?

Thanks in advance.

[jesterjenn]

Personally I'd have the girls done as pyometra scares the living daylights out of me. I also spey and neuter as a matter of course with mine.

I think there are less health related issues with keeping a male in tact.

[jokersmum]

I see your point, but I really can't afford it, the labs are getting on a bit and it would be a risky surgery option for them. One of them actually had pyo and came through it. She was poorly but with antibiotics she luckily came through.

I take your point but I do think that vets do a lot of scaremongering to make a profit. I may well have my GSD Eva spayed but I can't afford the other two as well.

Thanks for your input though, it all helps. Cheers for that.

[kita]

Originally Posted by jokersmum

I see your point, but I really can't afford it, the labs are getting on a bit and it would be a risky surgery option for them. One of them actually had pyo and came through it. She was poorly but with antibiotics she luckily came through.

I take your point but I do think that vets do a lot of scaremongering to make a profit. I may well have my GSD Eva spayed but I can't afford the other two as well.

Thanks for your input though, it all helps. Cheers for that.

I would agree with Jesterjenn on this one.

I had a bitch with an open pyo. that came through it with antibiotics, on the vets advice I had her spayed at the first opportunity. On what I have read since I am glad I did, once they have had a pyo. there is a much greater chance they will have another - and next time it could be a closed one (much more dangerous).

I don't believe vets scaremonger about pyo., in fact it would be better for them if bitches were not spayed - they would get a lot more profit!

A closed pyo. has to be operated on immediately, any delay and the dog will die. Of course this usually happens out of hours and it is a much more difficult operation, so the cost is astronomical.

I would much rather spay a bitch when she is healthy and at the optimum time, between her seasons, than wait until she was in the middle of a pyo. when she would be very ill and in shock.

As for your boy, in my experience there is very little you can do to help him, other than putting him elsewhere (eg kennels) every time one of the bitches come into season. Once that 'switch' in his brain is flicked to on it really takes over in some dogs, all training goes out of the window and they become a slave to their hormones, nothing else matters except getting to that bitch, everything else is forgotten about, including food!. Typical males!

Sue

PS Is the bitch that had pyo. insured? If so the insurance may cover spaying, especially if the vet says she has to be spayed due to having the pyo. in the past.

[Caryll]

Yes, pyo is a terrible infection, but not all un speyed bitches get it, and it is normally a condition that affects older bitches. So waiting for a 2nd season will not be particularly dangerous - probably less dangerous than the possible side effects of anaesthetic!

Originally Posted by kita

PS Is the bitch that had pyo. insured? If so the insurance may cover spaying, especially if the vet says she has to be spayed due to having the pyo. in the past.

When I enquired about this a few years ago (I was trying to win an argument with a friend - I lost!) an insurance company told me that they would only cover the spaying if it was done at the same time as the pyometra was being treated.

[RainbowLass]

Best way, if you can't have them all spayed at once then stagger them out, even if you get each one done a few months apart, eventually you'll have them all done.

I think the problems with not spaying may well cost you far more in the long run.

[h.bradshaw]

Originally Posted by RainbowLass

Best way, if you can't have them all spayed at once then stagger them out, even if you get each one done a few months apart, eventually you'll have them all done.

I think the problems with not spaying may well cost you far more in the long run.

ditto

[Lutgard 1]

Originally Posted by jokersmum

My apologies if this has already been covered. As usual, I'm posting with a dog dilemma.

I have Joker, male, and his sister Eva who are both entire. They share a run if we go out.

I also have 2 more lab bitches, both entire.

Poor Joker has the urge and is tormented every time each bitch is in season. I can't afford to have all three bitches spayed, but I'm told if I castrate him he will still get the urge and so still be just as frustrated. He cries and paces when one of the girls are in season.

Is there any other option or am I just going to have to win the lottery?

I feel stupid as I should have realised this. The two labs belong to hubby really and for some reason I assumed they were spayed because he also has a male spaniel.

My fault, I accept that. But three lots of spaying I cannot afford.

Can I do anything to ease the poor boy's upset when they are in season?

Thanks in advance.

You could try him on Tardak or Supreloring Implant (Its a non permanant castration)

[Lutgard 1]

Originally Posted by Lutgard 1

You could try him on Tardak or Supreloring Implant (Its a non permanant castration)

Suprelorin

[LOVEGSD]

I have to agree with the others, the bitches need spaying.

TBH I would be concerned that Joker and Eva may 'get it on'