speying

[livelyredjellybean]

I've worked professionally with dogs for the past 6 years. Out of the hundreds of spayed bitches I've met, I can recall 3 that are on medication for incontinence. As far as becoming incontinent with old age is concerned, I haven't noticed a difference between spayed and unspayed bitches to be honest! I would always neuter a dog I wasn't going to breed from; weight gain can be controlled and any extra grooming from having a woolly coat only counts for extra bonding between you and the dog!

[ips]

I remain unconvinced of speying a healthy young bitch unless unwanted pregnancy is a real concern ie dogs in house or close proximity.

[Stacia]

The sad thing ips is that you might have to spay your bitch when she is old and very ill from having pyometra (pus in the uterus) also the danger of mammary cancer. I have been present at many of these operations and they are not pleasant especially the mammary strip; a friend's dog has just died from this, only aged about 7.

However, each to his own.

[Judy]

Its a lottery, best bet is to buy males! I've just heard of a bitch almost dying from the routine spay op - a main vein cut accidentally, several incontinent bitches, some quite young. I don't see an overwhelming reason to spay nor any real reasons why one shouldn't, I suspect its down to personal choice as with most things.

[ips]

Indeed Judy
I am leaving her for now, after much research

[Stacia]

I couldn't stand the worry of spaying bitches again (actual op) so I now have two males and find I prefer males

[Cass]

I couldn't stand the worry of spaying bitches again (actual op) so I now have two males and find I prefer males

I agree... I have not had a ton of dogs - 6 in all, and only 2 have been males... the first male was a pug and was the best "pet" dog (perhaps best dog period) I have ever owned. I did not know if it was because he was male or just the dog. After him, my wife and I got our dachshund... a female as that's what she wanted and she is nothing like the male pug I had. When I finally got the opportunity to get a gun dog, my cocker, I said I wanted a male. Like my dearly departed pug he is a huge sweetheart and loves everyone. My dachshund bitch is.... well, a bitch . I would not turn down a dog based on being one gender or the other, but males win hands down for me. In my experience they are much more friendly, even tempered and just extremely affectionate. I also love not having to spay them (dealing with heat cycles is not something I am willing to do, once they are old enough I always spay my females).

[Splasher6]

We didn't spey our previous lab and looking back I really wish we had. She developed mammary cysts when she was about 9 years old and over the following three years had two operations to remove them. Sadly they came back again when she was 12 and before operating an X-Ray showed numerous other problems and she was put down. A sad end for an excellent retriever and a great family friend. We now have a new puppy (black lab) and we will be getting her speyed when the time comes just to give her a chance of at least avoiding this sort of problem.

[Stacia]

Very sensible in view of my experience of being a veterinary nurse.

[Contender]

I normally spay my bitches once they've had their last litter if they're good enough to be bred from that is. Not only does it prevent Pyometra but it also 'free' them up to do full shooting seasons - they don't always understand they have to stay at home while the rest can come out, lol.

I've got both bitches and dogs here (entire) and the dogs are very good at tolerating whenever a bitch is in season BUT it still interfere with the whole routine and makes the whole kennel management slightly more complicated.

From a personal point of view, I've never quite understood why people would buy a bitch if they didn't have any plans of breeding it as they always get in season during the shooting season (which can be fairly short for some people) while it's so much easier with a dog.

Natasha