to spey or not to spey

[ips]

Wow this really is not an easy decision so many different opinions !!!!

[Cornish Cutie]

Had our 3 year old bitch done recently because we decided not to breed from her. A difficult decision for us. Post op care was a nightmare as keeping a spaniel quiet is near impossible! Her personality hasn't changed but her coat has (which is a shame)! Would I do it again with my other bitch?.......possibly not.

[PrairieBoy]

I posted this earlier, but it never showed up

Spay prior to second heat to greatly reduce breast cancer
Spay prior to third heat to reduce risk of cancer but it is not quite as great as prior to second heat
Spay after third heat and there is no reduction in breast cancer risk
Spaying after third heat eliminates pyometria, except for stump pyometria.

[Alice]

I would spay any bitch before old age- at 7 or 8, as I can think of FAR too many pyo cases I know of in unspayed bitches older than that. I had my cocker spayed at about 2 and a half as she had always had problems with her seasons, she'd come in and out repeatedly when one of these 'is she, isn't she?' seasons lasted for 8 weeks of the shooting season and the vet suggested it was probably indicative of her hormones not being altogether normal so advised against breeding from her it became a no brainer.

It has turned her into a woolly mammoth and she can live on thin air and still get a bit porky, but her personality hasn't changed at all.

[ips]

Thanks for the info

[Canburne]

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTerm ... InDogs.pdf

This article is also worth a read

[ips]

Flaming eck is anything straightforward with dog ownership. Still no closer to a decision!!!!!

[Canburne]

I posted this earlier, but it never showed up

Spay prior to second heat to greatly reduce breast cancer
Spay prior to third heat to reduce risk of cancer but it is not quite as great as prior to second heat
Spay after third heat and there is no reduction in breast cancer risk
Spaying after third heat eliminates pyometria, except for stump pyometria.

What breed or breeds is this based on? What references and statistics are there to back this up. Where they show or working dogs? Does this included cross breeds. When was the research done? Was there any research on the historical incidence of cancer in the dogs used to produce the results.

No I thought not - just old wives tales.

[Stacia]

I used to work for a vet as a veterinary nurse and would see many cases of mammary tumours and pyometra. Therefore on the evidence in front of my eyes, I chose to have my bitches spayed,

[pontbeck]

The incidence of gynacological problems in bitches in later life is greater in those than have not , than those that have been speyed.
30 years ago I wouldn't sell a bitch pup if the prospective owner said it was their intention to Spey , my opinion has turned 180 degrees since then