What age to spay my *****?

[Stafford]

Hi

What age would you recommend having my Staff done, She's about 6 months old. I'm not comfortable getting her done at this age, I was thinking about 12 months old would be good and about 3 months after her cycle?

Cheers...

 

[rainydays]

Also, when you do get her done she puts on weight.

 

[Apache]

Ok having a litter of puppies is BAD and POSSIBLY HARMFUL. It is an old myth and there is no evidence of any benifit!

Please not more unwanted puppies in the world.

 

[Apache]

HiWhat age would you recommend having my Staff done, She's about 6 months old. I'm not comfortable getting her done at this age, I was thinking about 12 months old would be good and about 3 months after her cycle?

Cheers...

Firstly - welcome to the forum

This is an area that causes much confusion and argument especially between vets. There has been much research done into this.

The issues:

If you spay a ***** before her first season the chances of her getting mammary tumours is almost zero. As the ***** has each season the chances of her getting mammary tumours increases, until middle age when there is no protective benefit (a 5 y/o ***** gets no protection).

If you spay a ***** before her first season there is a much higher chance of her suffering urinary incontinence, that will require treatment for life. Having just 1 season significantly reduces the chances of this. (although urinary incontinence is something we see occasionally in spayed bitched)

Around a third of unspayed bitches get a condition called pyometra where the womb becomes infected and full of puss. This requires an emergency spay when the ***** is old and sick and is therefore more expensive and a much higher risk.

My preference is to spay a ***** 3 months after her first season - I see it as a good compromise between reducing the risk of mammary tumours without a great chance of a dog peeing in the house for years!

If you want to know more I will be pleased to answer. Other vets may have different views!

 

[batty]

Firstly - welcome to the forum This is an area that causes much confusion and argument especially between vets. There has been much research done into this.

The issues:

If you spay a ***** before her first season the chances of her getting mammary tumours is almost zero. As the ***** has each season the chances of her getting mammary tumours increases, until middle age when there is no protective benefit (a 5 y/o ***** gets no protection).

If you spay a ***** before her first season there is a much higher chance of her suffering urinary incontinence, that will require treatment for life. Having just 1 season significantly reduces the chances of this. (although urinary incontinence is something we see occasionally in spayed bitched)

Around a third of unspayed ******* get a condition called pyometra where the womb becomes infected and full of puss. This requires an emergency spay when the ***** is old and sick and is therefore more expensive and a much higher risk.

My preference is to spay a ***** 3 months after her first season - I see it as a good compromise between reducing the risk of mammary tumours without a great chance of a dog peeing in the house for years!

If you want to know more I will be pleased to ask. Other vets may have different views!

Thank you Patch. Our puppy has not had her first season yet this sounds good advice.

Batty

 

[Stafford]

That's great, thanks for the reply. More or less the same advice I've had from other vets and stuff I've read, always good to get plenty of opinions!

I think she may have had her first season, although it was difficult to tell? She had a little swelling around the vulva and weeped a little but nothing that significant and her mood wasn't really any different. She's only just recovering from Demodex, so I need her 100% before I consider surgery for her!

Having pups is a definite 'no-no'! Both our Stafford's are rescue dogs. My partner and I do some voluntary work in our spare time at a canine rescue centre, a little walking and some rehab. There are way to many dogs that need a home in this country, without adding to them....especially Stafford's!

Many thanks for your speedy reply!

Stu&Sar