Cant decide whether to get lexi spayed now or wait

[Manchester-Mike]

The vets been trying to get us to take her in to be spayed ever since we started going but i just told them no after doing some reading, and i had decided to wait until she had had 2 seasons, so probably around the 16 months mark.

Anyway, liz was mithering to get her done a.s.a.p because the vet recommended it and he knows best, but alot of people believe vets are only so keen on early spaying for every dog because they think most owners are too irresponsible and want to stop the chance of unwanted pups (i can kind of understand it for some owners who aren't much like all us on here) and the chances of unwanted pups are high. But i know 100% lexi wouldn't even have the chance, when shes in season i take her on an enclosed field and if anyone looks like there coming on, im going off, simple as that.

Shes booked in at the vets on the 16th of Jan to be done, but im seriously thinking of cancelling it. Liz booked her in after i apparantly agreed (serves me right for just nodding my head and not listening half the time ) Been reading again on google, some websites say how early spaying as good as eliminates risk of cancer, but others say let the body grow naturally until round about the 16 month - 2 years old mark.

What is everyone elses opinion? And has anyone ever actually experienced the difference first hand, having them done early and having them done later on?

Thanks (kind of think i know what i want to do anyway and am planning on ringing the vets in morning but would be nice to get some advice first)

[wildmoor]

sorry only ever had 2 males done, Monty at the age of 5yrs and Zandi at 3yrs - both were going in for other surgery at the time Monty broken tooth and Zandi to remove a non malignent tunor from his elbow so both done whilst already undergoing anesthetic

[zetstaff]

Had Tilly done after first season, she was about 11 months old, + it's what I'd go back in time + do again. We'd never had a bitch before, she recovered very quickly (despite thinking it was taking ages at the time ) but you have to go with your own feelings Mike

No chance of pyo + less chance of mammary tumours in the future did it for me, she's matured nicely, kept her figure (unlike me ) + is looking fab

If it were me I'd leave it for a few days at least, you don't have to cancel tomorrow, have a think about it mate x

[kita]

I had two bitches done before their first season (one I bought and one rescue), both were fine and never had any problems. The one I owned and had done myself recovered very quickly, a couple of days and she was fine.

I also had a bitch that was done at 8 years, because of an open pyo. She took ages to recover and found the operation very traumatic. I was lucky and because it was an open pyo. I could afford to wait until she was in the best time to be spayed, with a closed pyo. I don't know if she would have survived the operation to be honest (bearing in mind it would have been an emergency operation, when she was sick to start with).

I would never now take the risk of having to have an emergency spay because of a pyo. 25% chance of pyo. in unspayed bitches is way too high for me!

I tend to go along with the vets opinion on this one - after all they are the ones who I am trusting my dogs life to and I would not want them to feel I am not taking any notice of what they say - especially if I trust my vet and want to stay with them in the future. They will have spayed and had experience of spayed bitches far more than anyone else (including on this forum). Think about it - how many bitches do you think they have spayed in the last 10 years? Far more than you or I will ever see!

Even vets disagree on this one and I can guarantee the more that you read up on it the more confused you will become. There are good and bad results for both spaying early and spaying later.

This is a fairly balanced, evidence based, scientific article about it (if you want to read anymore that is!):

EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO NEUTER SURGERY AND INTRODUCTION TO EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICAL PRACTICE - Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.'s Blog - MedHelp

At the end of the day you have to go with what you and your OH feel is best.

Sue

[Manchester-Mike]

Thanks lots of good info there, part way through reading the link kita thank you.

Still going to have to have a few more sleeps on it.

Another thing im a bit worried about is how she reacts when we leave her. Shes fine at the vets but obviously we're normally there with her. When we drop her off and leave her there she is going to have the paddy of all paddys and i worry that the vets assistants or whoever wont really know what to do as she is really bad for it. Not being aggressive, just setting her mind on finding us and not stopping until she does. Ill ask the vets before hand what they say about this.

Plus, we got a letter yesterday off them saying that when we come in we'll get an option to have liver tests done before the op to make sure she will be ok with the anaesthetic etc wouldnt really understand that ill just have to pay it to be on the safe side

[zetstaff]

I cried when we had to leave Tilly but it had to be done. Vet said to collect her about 5pm but about 2.30 they called to say we could go get her.

They deal with this everyday Mike, you have to let them get on with it, the longer you stay the more stress it causes. She's likely to behave differently when you're not there + they're well used to having dogs left with them.

I know how much of a worry it is, but like Sue says the risks of not having it done are too great for me

I've never been offered a liver test for any of my animals is that a new thing?

[LindaM]

Our male shepherd was neutured at 3 and a half because of a retained testical in his abdomen.

If I had a female I personally would wait for a couple of seasons until she had matured a bit. I would get her done as pyo's do happen and false pregnancies are common and cause them distress.

They do recover quickly and I think we all worry about out 'fur babies'. Talk to the vets about your worries. Once you are well and truly out of sight I'm sure the vet nurses will cope.

I haven't heard of having a liver test done before an anaesthetic. I assume she is fit and healthy. I would ask them about that.

If you ring the surgery you might be able to get a time when you can talk to the vet for a few mins on the phone.

Linda and Lukey

[Moobli]

I had my rescue bitch, Sharna, spayed at around 18 months old. I got her at 16 months as a police reject. Had no problems physically with her but she did appear to be a bit nervier around other dogs after her spay.

I had Flame spayed after her first season and even though she did take a while to recover (there were problems with her sutures) I didn't see any changes in her until her older age (she is now 10 years) and she does leak a bit of urine every now and again. This could be due to being spayed. It is a small price to pay though I think, and would never want to risk a pyometra. The big change in Flame was her coat. She is longhaired and her coat was quite silky and easy to cope with as a youngster, but after her spay it became really thick and woolly and matts really easily

Vets do tend to push for spaying and neutering and, of course if you aren't going to breed, then it is a good idea for all sorts of health reasons as well as eliminating the risk of unwanted pups, but I would never spay/neuter early and I think waiting until two seasons are over is a sensible one. It gives your bitch a chance to fully mature physically and mentally first.

[sezpet]

I have had two females done,Leah after her second season and jess after her first,it is imo better to spay after second season but my vet recommends sooner than that,for a male i would be inclined to wait until 18 months-2 years for him to mature, providing there were no other medical or behavioural problems that required it but for a female i think the benefits certainly outweigh the risks and it is in her interests to be spayed sooner rather than later.That said, i would prefer her to have at least one if not two seasons first.Neither of mine had any problems after the op and were back on form within 2-3 days.Jess is a panicky dog, goes wild when you leave the room and has terrible anxiety,but even she was not too much for the vet staff to handle and she was too dopey to get excited when i collected her.I am sure your girl will be fine.
Good Luck
Sarah x

[kita]

Originally Posted by Manchester-Mike

Another thing im a bit worried about is how she reacts when we leave her. Shes fine at the vets but obviously we're normally there with her. When we drop her off and leave her there she is going to have the paddy of all paddys and i worry that the vets assistants or whoever wont really know what to do as she is really bad for it. Not being aggressive, just setting her mind on finding us and not stopping until she does. Ill ask the vets before hand what they say about this.

Don't worry about it. Your vets will have dealt with worse than that!

My rescue bitch had to have her spleen removed when she was 4/5 years old, she was really fit (it just swelled up suddenly, no cancer etc) and she was really aggressive with strangers to the point where I always muzzled her when she went to the vets. Sedation made her worse as she was fear aggressive. I really did not know how they were going to handle her. Two days after the op. the vet walked into the surgery to see her wandering round the reception area unmuzzled!!! He nearly died of fright!! The receptionists found it highly amusing as they had been stroking and petting her and thought she was fantastic!!!! When they brought her out to me when I picked her up the girl came out into the crowded waiting room with Sheba on her normal lead and the muzzle swinging in the girls hand!!!

Often the receptionists/nurses are better than the vets at handling the dogs, after all I suppose the dogs see them differently as they don't do anything nasty to them!

Sue