Spaying

[Fi1805]

I took Isla to the vet yesterday for her second set of vaccinations and they told me that she should be spayed at 6months, before her first season, so that she will have no chance of developing mammary tumours.

But I had thought that it is best to spay after the second season to give them a chance to develop properly first. 6 months seems awfully young

I haven't had a female dog before so seasons and spaying is all new to me.

Also, I have heard some people say that female dogs can become more aggressive after spaying and that it ruins their coats. Maybe this is just rumours - it is hard to know what to believe sometimes.

[emmaj]

Hi there

I'm not sure on the age thing with Spaying as my dog was an older rescue but my bitch was a lot less aggressive (she had some aggression issues) after spaying and has a beautiful coat (see avatar).

As for age, I am sure someone else on here will know more.


Emma

[kita]

Even the vets disagree amongst themselves on this one!!!

Some say spay before the first season, others insist you wait until after, some say wait until after 2 seasons.

There are plus and minus both ways.

There are lots of articles/studies for both ways as well, some say spay at 6 weeks (mostly American, they have done thousands of dogs without any problems) - if you start looking in depth you will end up more confused!!!!

I have had two bitches spayed before their first season and both were healthy and matured normally.

I guess you have to go with what you (and your vet) feel happiest with, if you can cope with a bitch coming into season and all that entails then let her have a season.

Sue

[kita]

This is one article (scientific based):

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

Taken from above article, in the Conclusion bit at the end they say it is best to spay bitches before their first season:


"Optimal Age for Neutering

For decades, the traditional age for neutering dogs and cats has been 6-9 months. There is no clear scientific basis for choosing this age, and it has been suggested that this practice arose as a response to anesthetic mortality in very young animals in the first half of the 20th century.[70] Anesthetic procedures have evolved dramatically since that time, and it has since been demonstrated that not only is the procedure safe in puppies and kittens 7-12 weeks of age, but these younger patients actually recover faster and have fewer complications than those neutered at the traditional age.[65,102,176]

A large scale trial found no significant differences in the week immediately after surgery between patients neutered at the traditional age and earlier, apart from more minor surgical complications in the traditional age group.[65] Another study followed cats neutered at 7 weeks and at 7 months for 1 year and found no differences in any outcome.[102] Two large studies followed puppies and kittens neutered before and after 24 weeks of age for approximately 3 years.[177,178] For cats, of the numerous measures of health, behavior, and relationship with owner, the only difference detected was a greater incidence of urinary tract problems in the cats neutered at the traditional age.[177] In the dog study, puppies neutered earlier than 24 weeks did have a higher rate of infections, primarily parvovirus. This may have been due to differences in the management policies of the two shelters in which the subjects were neutered since the rate of parvovirus infections was higher at the shelter where most of the early neutering animals were spayed or castrated.[178] Dogs in the traditional age group had more gastrointestinal problems than dogs in the early neuter group.[178] Interestingly, there was no difference in the incidence of urinary incontinence in female dogs in this study, which contrasts with another paper that found urinary incontinence occurred twice as often in females spayed after their first heat as those spayed before having a heat cycle.[111]

By far the largest, best designed studies in dogs and cats involved following over 1800 dogs and 1600 cats after neutering (either before or after 5.5 months of age) for an average of 4-4.5 years, but as long as 11 years in some cases.[93,149] For dogs, 7 out of 14 behavioral measures appeared affected by age at neutering, with early-neutering worsening 3 problem behaviors and improving 4. Animals in the early-neuter group exhibited higher rates of noise phobia and sexual behaviors. The early-neutered group also exhibited less separation anxiety, fearful urination in the house, and escaping. Early-castrated males (but not females) showed more aggression towards humans in the household and more barking. When only problems considered by owners to be serious were analyzed, the reduced risk of escaping for the early-neuter group was the only behavior still significantly associated with age at neutering.[93]

For medical conditions, 4 were significantly associated with age at neutering. Dogs neutered early had higher rates of hip dysplasia, though the dysplasia seen in the traditional-age group was clinically worse and this group was far more likely to be euthanized for the problem than the early-neuter group. Rates of cystitis and urinary incontinence were higher for females neutered before 5.5 months of age. The early-neuter group had lower rates of respiratory infections but higher rates of parvoviral infection. And finally, the early-neuter group had a lower rate of obesity than those dogs neutered at the traditional age. The remaining 43 outcome measures studied showed no difference between the two groups.[93]

For cats, early neutering increased shyness around strangers for both sexes, and it increased hiding behavior for males but not females. Early-neutered cats were showed less hyperactivity, and early-neutered males showed less aggression towards veterinarians, less urine spraying, and fewer sexual behaviors. There may also have been a decreased rate of scratching furniture in early-neutered cats, but these cats were more likely to be declawed so the effect may be an artifact. When only problems considered serious were analyzed, none of these behaviors was significantly associated with age at neuter.[149]

Early-neutered cats experienced lower rates of asthma and gingivitis, and males experienced fewer abscesses in the first 5-6 years after neutering. Cats neutered early may have experienced lower rates of cancer, but when only malignancies confirmed by a veterinarian were considered this effect was not significant. For the other 38 outcome measures studied, no difference between the groups was observed.[149]

Conclusions

It is apparent that spaying and castration have clear benefits for the pet population in general and both benefits and risks for individual dogs and cats. When the totality of the evidence is considered, it is generally the case that common, serious problems in females are reduced by spaying and that less common or less serious problems may be exacerbated. It is, of course, impossible to predict for a particular pet what the medical or behavioral results of spaying or leaving her intact will be. However, the scientific evidence supports routine spaying of female dogs not intended for breeding because overall it is more likely to prevent than cause serious disease. The evidence is mixed
regarding the risks and benefits of spaying dogs before 5-6 months of age, so no strong recommendation for or against the practice can be made. However, it is clear that spaying female dogs before their first heat is preferable to spaying them after this event. For cats, early spaying seems to have more benefits than risks."

[Caryll]

I've always been for spaying after at least one season & preferably two. By waiting for that length of time you ensure that your dog's genitalia form fully and she will be mentally & physically mature.

By waiting just 1 year (ie until after a 2nd season) you can avoid urinary incontinence & urine burn, and can also avoid nervous aggression from a bitch not being mentally mature enough to cope with 'life' - you will also, then, still avoid mammary tumours and unwanted pregnancies.

Spaying & Castration. Neutering Dogs

As already said, even vets will disagree with each other over this!

[Caryll]

The above link in full.........

To Spay or Castrate?
What you Vet may not tell you

Exact figures for the UK are uncertain, but it is generally accepted that there are around seven million dogs and nine million cats, which is a 5-year upward spiral for the cats and a slight decline in the number of dogs. This reflects out changing lifestyle with the trend for smaller housing, staying single and both adults fully employed, this would tend to make a cat an easier option.

Approximately 135,000 stray dogs per annum are picked up in the UK . 400 are destroyed every week. In the USA the figures are very different, they have almost 70 million dogs almost twice as many per household as the UK. 8 million to 12 million dogs and cats are euthanised annually. It has been suggested that only 50% of all dogs born in the USA will survive to see their second birthday. This is not because they are not caring or loving owners, but simply because they have no organised program for neutering and spaying.

The USA has many more latchkey dogs than the UK , therefore creating far more unwanted pregnancies. Left to there own devices. two dogs and their offspring can produce 67,000 young over a 6-year period. Two cats and their offspring can produce 420,000 over a 7-year period.

As a practicing behaviourist and obedience trainer, I am often called to discuss whether the owners should spay or neuter. I find in general that my male clients (the human ones) get a pained expression and cross their legs in agitation when the subject of castration arises. They generally have no problem with spaying; it is the castration that causes the concern. Yet the opposite is true from my female clients. Who often tell me that their husbands will not entertain their dog being emasculated. yet the have no problem with the concept.

Benefits and Pitfalls of Spaying and Neutering Your Dog

Neutering: can make for a better and more affectionate family pet. It is a medical fact that spaying and castration can prolong the life of our pets and may reduce the number of health problems in later life. Females can benefit from spaying by reducing the incidence of uterine, mammary, and ovarian cancers. It can also reduce the incidence of uterine infections such as Pyometra.

Castrating a male reduces the risk of prostate and testicular cancer. They are less likely to develop unwanted behaviour's such as marking, sexual aggression, and mounting, they are also less likely to escape, roam, or fight with other dogs.
Some vets recommend that our dogs are spayed or castrated anywhere between 5 to 16 months. In America some are being done as early as 8 weeks and they routinely neuter at between four and six months. Many of the Vets, Trainers and Behaviourists in both America and the UK are recommending this course of action without understanding the numerous problems this advice may create.

Some rescue centre's such as the RSPCA often spay and neuter as a matter of course, whatever the age. In fact I have written an article pointing to the fact that a few of our "Welfare Societies" are neutering both male and female dogs as young as SIX WEEKS. And some breeders are doing it at the same age so that the owners cannot breed from these poor dogs later. This is especially prevalent in some breeders of Labradoodles, and Minidoodles, but other breeders are involved as well. May I recommend that you never buy from a breeder that is prepared to mutilate a tiny puppy this young.


I know of a case recently, where the breeder sold siblings (two dogs from the same litter) which on its own is a recipe for disaster, and something very few good breeders would ever recommend. See "Siblings the Worst of Both Worlds" But to compound the problem she had both of them neutered at six weeks. The buyer was warned but chose to ignore that advice.

It is not just the owner that will suffer. As these poor little dogs start to grow and start to reach maturity. They will become more and more anxious, distressed, and frustrated. It is these poor dogs that will be impaired for the rest of their lives, both physically and mentally. It is an absolute travesty that we can allow these people to do this to young pups.

What happened to the five freedoms under the Animal Welfare Act of 2007. Number three of the five freedoms states. "The need to to exhibit normal behaviour patterns" How can these poor pups exhibit normal behaviour patterns when they have had this start in life.?

Grave Concerns:
I have some very serious reservations about neutering even at six months, but to inflict this on a tiny puppy at six weeks is ludicrous. I believe that for the behavioural health of our dogs this advice and practice must stop. See the RSPCA article. Click Here

There have been numerous scientific studies on the beneficial outcome of neutering, especially on a physiological level. But none
I can find on a psychological and behavioural level.

I noted some seven years ago that the incidence of frustration, lack of attention, and puppy like behaviour, appeared to be far more prevalent in dogs that were castrated and spayed at a younger age, rather than those that were allowed to mature naturally before attempting this operation.

As behavioural consultants and obedience trainers, I find that we are treating many more cases where dogs are displaying (paedomorphic) tendencies. That is puppy like behaviour's in adult dogs, which I believe is related to the incidence of early spaying and neutering.

I also observed that bitches spayed too early, may be far more interesting to intact males; unwanted male attention can cause the female to become aggressive and protective of this attention in adulthood.

I asked the members of PAACT
“The Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers”
to start to monitor the dogs they were treating and to record the time they were spayed and neutered. Their feedback appeared to bear out my initial findings.

When should we spay and castrate?
With regard to castration, I believe that males should not be castrated until they have been cocking their leg for at least one month, and should be at least 10 to 27 months of age (depending on size and breed). The larger the breed then the later they mature,. therefore something like a German Shepherd would be much later than the 10 months stated. Probably more like 17 months. Unless of course there are medical or serious behavioural issues to take into consideration.

In females, I believe that they should have at least one season; but preferably two, then wait approximately 3 months after the season before considering spaying, allowing the internal organs to settle down after the season.

Aggression:
It has also been observed that young female dogs that show aggressive tendencies towards owners, especially before the age of six months; often demonstrate increased aggression after spaying.

Spaying removes the production of progesterone, which is a natural calming hormone and a Serotonin uplifter. Spaying may therefore escalate any observable aggressive behaviour, either to humans or other dogs.

Despite popular belief spaying does not calm a female dog down. It may help to calm certain behaviour's in males, but not female dogs. How could it when you are removing hormones that raise serotonin?

Many vets and rescue centre's will neuter a male dog before they have cocked their leg. It is at this point dogs start to seriously mark territory. Not the half-hearted attempts we see in immature dogs. The immature castrated dog may squat for the remainder of it’s life, and may be more interesting to intact males.

There appears to be a testosterone surge at between 10 and 24 months depending on breed and size, which clearly turns on a dormant hard-wired program that establishes this cocking behaviour. Male dogs also produce Progesterone.

Progesterone and testosterone switches on many of the hard-wired behaviour's we see in maturity and are not isolated to just one action, therefore other functions that are not so obvious may be switched on at this time.

These may have social implications and behavioural effects that aid in the development of dogs psychological and physical growth. If we switch these off by neutering or castrating too early, we may be denying the opportunity achieve both mentally and physically the dog’s full adult potential.

Progesterone receptors are found in brain cells, in nerve sheaths and in bone cells, In both male and female dogs. indicating that progesterone is involved in their function. It also appears to be involved in a range of other biological activities. Therefore neutering before both physical and psychological maturity may have numerous other long-term detrimental effects.

Many dogs that have been neutered early, appear to retain far more juvenile characteristics than those neutered when mature. In other words, they retain perpetual puppy like characteristics, whilst this may appear to be initially endearing, who would really want a dog that shows low concentration levels and frustrated puppy like behaviour for the remainder of its adult life?


Can it also cause physiological problems?
Because early neutering removes sex hormones, this delays maturation of “osteoclasts” resulting in the delayed closing of the growth plates of the long leg bones creating leggy taller than average dogs, thereby increasing the risk of some orthopedic disorders such as cruciate ligament disease, Hip problems and possibly bone cancer.

It was long believed that eunuchs (castrated humans) were castrated to stop them being interested is the ladies of the Harem. However they were also used as palace guards, because of the affect neutering has on the “osteoclasts” these eunuch's were therefore appreciably taller, making them more imposing as guards and soldiers.

It has been observed that Spaying can significantly increase the risk of urinary incontinence in bitches. Early neutering also increases risk of urethral sphincter incontinence in males (A. Aaron et al., Vet Rec. 139:542-6, 1996.)

In conclusion:
I am all for neutering, but at the right time, thereby allowing your dogs to reach full maturity in both body and mind. I believe that a full psychological and physiological set of tests and experiments should be scientifically undertaken, to study the effect of early castration and spaying on all our animals, not just dogs and cats.

These findings though purely observational, have also been borne out by observation and experiences of behaviourists and trainers who are members of PAACT “The Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers” An organisation dedicated to enhancing and bringing together the two main canine disciplines of obedience training and behavioural therapy. It is PAACT’s belief that to be able to work with dogs on a professional level, you need to be versed in both of these disciplines.

I was asked by many people to write an in depth article on neutering dogs which explains in far more detail the surgical procedures, risks, and what the hormones that we remove by this procedure actual do and their importance. Click NEUTERING IN DEPTH

Article written by.
Stan Rawlinson MTCBPT. MPAACT Adip.CCB
Stan Rawlinson Doglistener Dog Behaviourist, Trainer Training Behaviour

[Lutgard 1]

My Girl is 6 months and will Not be spayed until at least having her 2nd season.
My last Bitch was spayed at 6 months and had terrible health problems!

[wildmoor]

I know of some bitches that have had urinary incontinence/leakage when lying down due to early spaying - Dobes & GSDs

[RainbowLass]

To avoid the risk of anthropomorphising, i have found that Rogue has calmed a little after each season she has had, and she has just fully come out of her second.

I've read up on this, and i'm hanging on until she is 2 years old until i have her spayed. At the end of the day, it isn't a natural thing we're doing and taking away a certain hormone is bound to affect behaviour one way or the other, for good or bad i think it just depends on the dog.

personally i think spaying at 6 weeks is INSANE! its a simple fact of nature that everything needs to mature, which is what is staying my hand.

[Fi1805]

There is such a lot to consider - thank you all for your comments and information.

My gut feeling is that I should wait at least 1 year and 2 seasons, perhaps longer. 6 months just seems way too young - she'll still be a puppy really. And as for 6 weeks, that is just plain cruel IMO.

I guess I will just see what happens with her seasons, maybe if like Rogue she calms down after each one it may be better to wait until she is closer to 2.

I'm sure when she comes into season I will be back on for more advice having never dealt with a season before! Something to look forward to!