Our vet recommended spaying our puppy before her first heat but I've also been told by our dog trainer that we should let her have her first season. That said, it's wise to let your dog go through one heat cycle so she can get those hormones running through her system. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. Spaying and neutering is the only way to reduce or eliminate that. Spaying before the first heat virtually eliminates your dog's chance of getting mammary cancer later in life. Spaying before or after first heat? In some cases, you can choose to remove only the ovaries, an ovariectomy. They May Suffer From Urinary Incontinence While there isn’t a clear link between spaying and urinary incontinence, there is some evidence that suggests your german shepherd is going to have an increased chance of urinary incontinence after being spayed. One is that not many veterinarians practice the procedure in my area and that I would have to travel far to get it done. Close. Spaying and neutering packs a powerful punch in reducing the number of animals on the streets. My husband and I were extremely surprised when he said he recommends to wait to spay until after the first heat cycle. All three terms refer to a hysterectomy – removing the ovaries and uterus so your female no longer comes into heat and cannot have puppies. The spaying and neutering of pets can also reduce their incidence of sex-hormone related diseases. Health. Advantages - ~ Makes it a lot easier to clean up after her - no blood! Spaying her before her first heat brings this down to almost 0% chance. Posted by 17 days ago. I'm over in the US. This is called an ovariohysterectomy. I am going to spay her, but I've read conflicting things about age. In cats 90% are malignant. Frequently Asked Questions about Spaying or Neutering. Neutering, from the Latin neuter ('of neither sex'), is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. Animals can be miserable -- and make you miserable -- when they are in heat. He explained that sometimes when spaying a puppy before their first heat cycle, it can end up causing the dog to become incontinence. Vet said there are health benefits from spaying before her first season but the dog trainer said that spaying before her first … Some researchers hold the opinion that spaying should be done after the dog has had her first heat cycle. Spaying as early as 2 months old or after their first heat is encouraged for Goldens that have a family history of developing Mammary tumors and Pyometra. You will decrease mammary cancer in your Goldendoodle by 90% if you spay your Goldendoodle before their first heat cycle. Spaying after the first heat cycle but before the second also reduces the risk, but not by as much. However, spaying females before they’re likely to go into heat for the first time can reduce important health risks, as discussed in detail below. 1. Spaying of course has the added advantage for the owner who does not wish to breed, of removing the heat cycle so that the bitch can be worked/taken out in public, all year round. Just like there are many advantages of spaying, there are also some disadvantages you should know about as well. North Shore Animal League of America points out that, among other benefits, by spaying before the first heat: “Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle.” The male-specific term is castration, while spaying is usually reserved for female animals. Mammary tumors are usually observed as a mass beneath the skin on the abdomen. I was considering ovary-sparing spay and tubal ligation, but I faced a few problems. Her reasoning for waiting was that her first heat is what triggers her growth plates to close. Some say it's perfectly fine to spay during heat, some say that there's a higher risk of having a problem and more profuse bleeding because of all the swelling, and some say that spaying immediately following a heat cycle increases the risk of infection. So mid way between seasons as at this point her hormone levels are low and there is less of a blood supply then there would be if close to or close after … Spaying female dogs has always been common, but what do you need to consider when making this decision to neuter your bitch? Yes. I have not seen ever any research that suggests waiting until after the first heat is beneficial in any way. This is because the more heat cycles she has the more chance of getting certain cancers she has. Im a veterinary nurse in england and all the vets where i work recommend spaying a bitch between 2-4 months after the season. For some unknown reason, a lot of pet owners think that their animal has to have their first heat before they get spayed. Don’t use that old excuse! You are in control of her diet and exercise. I have read so much conflicting information on heat cycles and spaying. "Neutering" is often used incorrectly to refer only to male animals, but the term actually applies to both sexes. First, let's look at the positives – the advantages of spaying your female. Spaying before or after first heat? Spaying and neutering are the most common surgical procedures performed on dogs, including Golden Retrievers. Statistics also indicate that spaying greatly reduces the incidence of reproductive and mammary cancer/tumors especially when it is done before the second heat cycle and even better before the first. This surgery helps control the dog population and can prevent a whole host of other health complications in the female dog. It will also help reduce many other cancers, and your vet should be able to explain to you which ones.What your co-worker said is an old-wives tale that has been long disproven.Thanks for being responsible and spaying your dog She will produce a bloody discharge in the first week, which lightens in the second week and then darkens in the third week. I asked when that could happen and she said her girls can go into their first heats between 9 months and 2 years. There are no appreciable benefits for spaying to reduce the possibility of reproductive cancers/tumors after the second heat cycle. Spay Your Dog Before Her First Heat, Not After Pet owners have been spreading misinformation about this for a while, and it could be to the detriment of their dog’s health. Furthermore, spaying a female dog will also eliminate the heat … The positive effect of spaying decreases with each heat cycle that a female dog experiences. During a spay, both the ovaries and the uterus are removed. You can call it spaying or neutering or de-sexing. After the First Heat Cycle. And it’s better for you because it will make your life easier if your pet is spayed or neutered. The reason behind this line of thought is that after six months of age, dogs are likely to enter puberty and females may go through their first heat cycle. I go with the line of reasoning that doing it this way gives the oil less time to burn, thinking that if you do it the other way, by the time the pan and oil has heated up, the oil could already be starting to burn. The first heat cycle generally occurs around 7 months for small dogs, and a little later in large breed dogs. But by spaying dogs before the first heat cycle the risk drops to less than ½ of 1/10 of 1% (0.05%). Spaying and neutering are the best ways to slow down the population growth of our pets in order to ensure most pups have a safe place to call home. It also ensures that pet owners don't add the the problem of unplanned breeding. 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