Spaying/neutering a dog and when to do it?

[Oohlalaladies]

I am getting my first female dog next month. She is a German Shorthair pointer. I am picking her up at 8 weeks. However being the planner that I am I have already started to consider when she will be spayed. I have had many male dogs in the past and always neutered at 5-8 months.

My friend told me I should let her have a few heat cycles first. However I do not want any 'accidents'. My male dog is neutered, but she will be a very social dog and will be taken lots of places.

 

[scouser1]

the majority of good professional vets will do it at about 6 months, dont fall for this nonsense of allowing a few heat cycles, as any responsible pet owner will tell you you are avoiding a whole list of health issues with spay/neutering, and not to mention the behavioural problems where the difference between a unspayed and spayed pet is one like having a horned up 16 year old teenager and an 6 year old child who behaves really well.

there are even vets who will do it at 8 weeks old, but thats not that common

 

[big dogie]

I would wait till 13 to 15 months of age. At that point the skeleton has osiphied (growth plates have closed) and it is my opinion that the hormones from an intact male or female greatly adds a beneficial element to it as well as I believe help in the proper timing of that process.
I would through my own experience never ESP, young puppy altering, (early spay or neuter protocol) any dog this results in deformed adults i.e.. they get much bigger, straighter fronts, hollow chests......

b d

 

[Kyra.Graves]

I would wait till 13 to 15 months of age. At that point the skeleton has osiphied (growth plates have closed) and it is my opinion that the hormones from an intact male or female greatly adds a beneficial element to it as well as I believe help in the proper timing of that process.
I would through my own experience never ESP, young puppy altering, (early spay or neuter protocol) any dog this results in deformed adults i.e.. they get much bigger, straighter fronts, hollow chests......

b d

I second that, early spay/neuter has been tied to many health issues. They require the horomones in order to develop properly. Altering too early opens the animal up to endocrine disease and muscular/skeletal development issues. I wouldn't recommend a vet that spays at 8 weeks, there is a reason most refuse to do so.
Talk to your vet about the surgery, your pup should be going in for a checkup soon and that's a good discussion to have early.

 

[landscaper]

Talk to your vet see what they say, I have always had it done prior to first cycle never had any problems

 

[a 1 player]

I would suggest doing it when she has a muzzle on.

 

[scouser1]

I second that, early spay/neuter has been tied to many health issues. They require the horomones in order to develop properly. Altering too early opens the animal up to endocrine disease and muscular/skeletal development issues. I wouldn't recommend a vet that spays at 8 weeks, there is a reason most refuse to do so.
Talk to your vet about the surgery, your pup should be going in for a checkup soon and that's a good discussion to have early.

absolute myths about not developing properly, ask any vets and they will tell you the exact same, you are asking for real trouble if you wait that long.


http://cfhs.ca/athome/spay_neuter_2/

http://www.vospca.org/archive/spayneut.html

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-spay-neuter.htm

 

[big dogie]

absolute myths about not developing properly, ask any vets and they will tell you the exact same, you are asking for real trouble if you wait that long.


http://cfhs.ca/athome/spay_neuter_2/

http://www.vospca.org/archive/spayneut.html

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-spay-neuter.htm

Are you saying listen to the human society? Like they have a fuck'n clue. Not one of these article were even written by a veterinarian never mind a researcher. Just because it is on the internet doesn't mean it is true....sheesh

b d

 

[JessiMae]

Are you saying listen to the human society? Like they have a fuck'n clue. Not one of these article were even written by a veterinarian never mind a researcher. Just because it is on the internet doesn't mean it is true....sheesh

b d

Exactly what I would have said. The humane society has a whole bunch of crocks of crap stirring and their position on spay/neuter is only one of them. I could go on to tell you what I think of these places, but I will spare you guys. Personally I like city pounds much better and if I were to adopt another dog I would be heading there instead of THS.

I recently had to put one of my dogs to sleep. She was my first female dog. She was already spayed when I got her.

I have had many male dogs over the years. One of the dogs I had was fixed when he was 2 years at the suggestion of my vet. He was having pains as he was growing and the vet suggested to delay neutering him so that he had testosterone. My male dog that I have now was fixed at 5 months. I decided to fix him early because he was having behaviour problems and was bouncing off the walls with energy.

I think fixing a dog is really dependent on the owner and the dog. Not everyone should be fixing their dogs at 6 months because the humane society says so. You need to consider your lifestyle, dog's health, and how responsible you are. IMO the vast majority of unwanted puppies are born because of people's ignorance and lack of responsibility. Spay/neuter does not fix this. It is kind of like how people declaw their cats in order to stop scratching. That is just a band aid solution. It is easier for people to mutilate their cat then to train it to use a scratching post. For spay/neuter- well that has to do with lack of responsibility. It is easier for us not to think of our pets and just get them altered. Taking responsibility is out of the question for many people.

Oh and if you want an interesting read on the topic:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/01/08/petscol.DTL

As for me, frankly I do not think I would have much tolerance for a female in heat so most likely I would spay her before her first cycle. I would be very impatient with all the blood and the bee line of male dogs. Plus with my male dog, he may make a huge fuss and be keeping me up all night barking. Its a selfish decision, but one can only tolerate so much.

 

[RayFinkel]

 

[Oohlalaladies]

You are a rebel dog ray!

 

[Mikehorn]

It is easier for people to mutilate their cat then to train it to use a scratching post.

I think I have another new business idea for you... animal trainer. I wish I had a clue how to train her to do this.

 

[scouser1]

Exactly what I would have said. The humane society has a whole bunch of crocks of crap stirring and their position on spay/neuter is only one of them. I could go on to tell you what I think of these places, but I will spare you guys. Personally I like city pounds much better and if I were to adopt another dog I would be heading there instead of THS.

I recently had to put one of my dogs to sleep. She was my first female dog. She was already spayed when I got her.

I have had many male dogs over the years. One of the dogs I had was fixed when he was 2 years at the suggestion of my vet. He was having pains as he was growing and the vet suggested to delay neutering him so that he had testosterone. My male dog that I have now was fixed at 5 months. I decided to fix him early because he was having behaviour problems and was bouncing off the walls with energy.

I think fixing a dog is really dependent on the owner and the dog. Not everyone should be fixing their dogs at 6 months because the humane society says so. You need to consider your lifestyle, dog's health, and how responsible you are. IMO the vast majority of unwanted puppies are born because of people's ignorance and lack of responsibility. Spay/neuter does not fix this. It is kind of like how people declaw their cats in order to stop scratching. That is just a band aid solution. It is easier for people to mutilate their cat then to train it to use a scratching post. For spay/neuter- well that has to do with lack of responsibility. It is easier for us not to think of our pets and just get them altered. Taking responsibility is out of the question for many people.

Oh and if you want an interesting read on the topic:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/01/08/petscol.DTL

As for me, frankly I do not think I would have much tolerance for a female in heat so most likely I would spay her before her first cycle. I would be very impatient with all the blood and the bee line of male dogs. Plus with my male dog, he may make a huge fuss and be keeping me up all night barking. Its a selfish decision, but one can only tolerate so much.

its not a selfish decision but you are actually doing your pet a huge favour, the diseases that you reduce the risk of contracting like many types of cancer is just one example, visit any animal shelter and talk to the workers who have to put down dogs and cats daily, not because there is something wrong with these animals but just because there arent enough homes for all the dogs and cats. Many people who have no clue about breeding or think its a good idea or quick cash grab decide to go ahead with this, the results are usually bad for the animals.

As for the cat scratching question, buy the post rub some cat nip on it, bring the cat over and gently take its paw and rub it on the post, over a period of time it will begin to use it,when you see them using it, praise and reward them like they just found the cure to cancer and solved Middle East peace.

 

[alexmst]

I had an English Springer years ago and thought I'd wait until after the first two heat cycles to get her spayed. After all, I lived in the 905 with a big yard that was fenced with a 6 ft high solid fence. There were no other Springer Spaniels living in the area that I knew of. What could happen?

So heat cycle number 1 came. I had a German Shepherd camped out on my driveway, a Great Dane clawing at my front door (scared the shit out of me when I opened the door to see what was making the noise), a black lab that got stuck on the top of my fence after trying to jump over it and not making it, and the prize went to a Golden Retriever who began a tunneling project worthy of 'Escape from Stalag 17', only he was trying to get in, not out. He dug a tunnel under the fence, only his bad luck that he emerged from the tunnel into my yard while I happened to be in the yard watering the flowerbed with a garden hose. Close Rover, but no cigar(...or Milk Bone) If he had waited until I was in the house, he'd have won the day. I guess none of these dogs were concerned that they weren't themselves Springer Spaniels. They were very persistant and would go to great lengths to get some...like Terb guys without an appointment at the MP . Anyway, I got the dog spayed soon afterwards and no more dogs tried to invade after that. So waiting for 1 heat cycle I survived, but I didn't want to go through another cycle lol.

 

[JessiMae]

its not a selfish decision but you are actually doing your pet a huge favour, the diseases that you reduce the risk of contracting like many types of cancer is just one example, visit any animal shelter and talk to the workers who have to put down dogs and cats daily, not because there is something wrong with these animals but just because there arent enough homes for all the dogs and cats. Many people who have no clue about breeding or think its a good idea or quick cash grab decide to go ahead with this, the results are usually bad for the animals.

As for the cat scratching question, buy the post rub some cat nip on it, bring the cat over and gently take its paw and rub it on the post, over a period of time it will begin to use it,when you see them using it, praise and reward them like they just found the cure to cancer and solved Middle East peace.

Actually I work in animal protection (cruelty investigator) so I know the shelter system quite well.

The problem is not unaltered animals, it is ignorant people-idiot owners. Approximately 50% of dogs and cats in the shelter are owner surrenders. About 80% are between 10 months and 2 years. Getting a litter in at a shelter is like gold- the puppies and kittens always go first even though in many cases they are up to $100 extra and do not have all their shots. Those same animals often come back at 10 months or so because the puppy or kitten has gotten big and the owner cannot deal with their behaviours. Often times the owner has not even house trained the pet.

When I see an older dog or cat in the shelter it is often for legitimate reasons. I personally know one dog who is 14 years old and surrendered because his owner passed away. The majority of surrenders are under 4 and due to the owner's bad decision making.

I hate January at the shelter. All those kittens and puppies given as christmas gifts start to show up. Puppies are a poopy gift. Also right before chirstmas we start to see a lot of dogs/cats from the spring litters. Why? Because some people get a puppy in the spring and once winter rolls around the idea of taking your puppy for 2 hrs of exercise a day does not seem like such a nice idea during -25 degree weather.

I should also say that I have nothing against shelters that put dogs/cats to sleep. Shelters or "humane societies" that are no kill are actually quite cruel IMO. In some of these places dogs are lucky to get 2 walks a day (most likely just one), and are often forced to urinate and defecate where they sleep. Most will develop "cage crazies" and be very stressed out by the sheer number of dogs/cats they are forced to hear and see. It is not uncommon for some animals to spend 2+ years at the 'no kill" shelter. Infact I know of one dog that has spent the last 4 years in and out of the shelter, this time around he has been there for 5 months. I think it is cruel to keep an animal a live in such horrid living conditions just because we view euthanasia to be an innate wrong. Yes it is a horrible that these animals have to pay with their lives because some idiot person, but I would rather see them put to sleep then endure years of shelter hell just because some other idiot thinks euthanasia is cruel.

I wish there would be less emphasis on spay/neuter and more on selecting a pet for one's lifestyle. Some people bring in dogs because they had them as puppies and they got too big! Really? How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? What in your right mind made you think a Mastiff was for you if you wanted a small dog? Why would you get a collie if you wanted a dog that does not shed? Oh and what made you think a JRT would be a good choice for you couch potato life? Another person brought in a cat because it no longer matched her carpets. Who in their right mind would give a cat to such an individual? They must be smoking some nice drugs.

 

[scouser1]

I completely agree with you about shelter workers having to put down cats and dogs, it is an necessary evil due to people's stupid decisions like thinking their 6 year old would be totally responsible for a dog because they promised and begged to do so.

I have always been a fan of adoption rather than buying from breeders, I think getting a dog that is about 4 years old minimum has great advantages, you are saving that dog from probable death, you know exactly what you are getting in personality and according to your lifestyle, and yes like you said one should look at a dog's personality and match it to their lifestyle. Couch potatoes have no business owning a Jack Russell just like active runners shouldnt own a pug.

 

[Oohlalaladies]

So heat cycle number 1 came. I had a German Shepherd camped out on my driveway, a Great Dane clawing at my front door (scared the shit out of me when I opened the door to see what was making the noise), a black lab that got stuck on the top of my fence after trying to jump over it and not making it, and the prize went to a Golden Retriever who began a tunneling project worthy of 'Escape from Stalag 17', only he was trying to get in, not out. He dug a tunnel under the fence, only his bad luck that he emerged from the tunnel into my yard while I happened to be in the yard watering the flowerbed with a garden hose. Close Rover, but no cigar(...or Milk Bone) If he had waited until I was in the house, he'd have won the day. I guess none of these dogs were concerned that they weren't themselves Springer Spaniels. They were very persistant and would go to great lengths to get some...like Terb guys without an appointment at the MP . Anyway, I got the dog spayed soon afterwards and no more dogs tried to invade after that. So waiting for 1 heat cycle I survived, but I didn't want to go through another cycle lol.

That is what I worry about. I don't want my male dog going bonkers when she goes in to head. He is fixed, but from what I hear being fixed does not stop them from going after a female in heat!

 

[scouser1]

being neutered takes that problem away completely, the wackiness is gone as are the sexual urges.