to spey or not to spey

[Miesque]

It rarely sets in before 8/9yo, and is still much more treatable than pyometra or cancer.....

[Judy]

Pyo is treated by spaying the bitch, yes it takes a few days longer to recover, maybe, I've had one that bounced back in a couple of days and one that took longer but I lost her inside a year aged 12 so I'm thinking there were other things going on besides uterine infection.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/he ... risks.aspx
http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering_definitive

The most important thing seems to be keeping the animal entire until it reaches full maturity, spaying / neutering early is bad news.

[Sgurr]

Ask your vet about the risk of urinary incontinence - not usually talked about when spaying a bitch is being recommended but about 30% of spayed bitches need lifelong medication to treat the condition. Tomorrow when I am more sorted, ips, I'll pm you a review of the pros and cons to help you make up your own mind.

PM sent

[Miesque]

Pyo is treated by spaying the bitch, yes it takes a few days longer to recover, maybe, I've had one that bounced back in a couple of days and one that took longer but I lost her inside a year aged 12 so I'm thinking there were other things going on besides uterine infection.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/he ... risks.aspx
http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering_definitive

The most important thing seems to be keeping the animal entire until it reaches full maturity, spaying / neutering early is bad news.

Urinary incontinence is treated with an oral drug, pyometra requires a surgery under general and if not caught early can be fatal - I'd rather deal with the former!

I prefer to keep dogs entire until mature, I don't agree with the spay at six months but I see why vets advocate it to prevent overpopulation and unwanted litters.

[Stacia]

Unless I was going to breed I would always spay having seen some bitches with pyometra and mammary cancer and dying.

[Penwithian]

I have three speyed bitches, none of them have urinary incontinence. Having said that, none of them were speyed early. Two were speyed after having one litter, both having had large litters ending with a C section, so I didn't want to breed from them again.
Only one has had a change to her coat, (a bit woolly, but I keep her tidy).
One bitch repeatedly had phantom pregnancies, causing some distress, so for me it was an easy decision.
Working ability was never affected, and their weight has never been an issue, I adjusted their rations accordingly.
It has also made my life easier, as I also have male dogs! Also, the bitches never had to miss out on a days shooting because they were in season!
I have one unspeyed bitch, she has already had one litter. Just before, and during her season she is a nightmare and causes trouble with the other bitches, and winds up the dogs!
I will probably get her spade in the spring/summer, as I don't want another litter yet, and she is nearly 7.
This is just my personal experience, but speying has worked out well for me.

[PrairieBoy]

It is probably best to spay after the first heat as the first heat tends to clear out any remnants of puppy vaginitis. There is also discussion around waiting until the growth plates are closed so that full height is obtained. In males, this means keeping them from getting loose and having a night out on the town. Neutering does not erase memory of heat scent.