Feelings on not neutering female dog

[wireweiners]

Pyometria is an infection of the uterus. It usually occurs in older intact females. Not all older intact females will develop pyometria but there is a risk as there is an increased risk of mammary cancer. Calamber maybe you were lucky with your beagles but I had a friend who just lost a beloved dachshund bitch to a closed pyometria. He was devastated.

As far as breeding goes, many breeders will spay a bitch after her breeding days are over. Most show breeders will only breed one or two litters per bitch.

I am not a fan of juvenile spays/neuters. I firmly believe in allowing an animal to mature before neutering. I believe if you can properly contain them, there is no real need to neuter a male. But there are certain health advantages to spaying females after they have had one or two heats.

[horsenut_8700]

We saw a female chi last year with a pyo- they lost her on the table

[Angela_Freda]

[QUOTE=Ladylexie;8450727]
It is very simple to monitor my dog 24/7. I live in an apartment on a busy road so she certainly is way to precious for her to be going out on her own for goodness sakes.[/QUOTE]

Accidents happen, and dogs who are always on a leash get loose all the time from good people who are doing their best.

Why are mares not subjected to accidental pregnancies? Because most ‘male’ horses wandering around are geldings.

[pj1]

[QUOTE=Ladylexie;8450646]
Just to clarify no risk of unwanted pups she is never off a leash. She is tiny she isn’t going out on her own…never never never.[/QUOTE]
I say the same about my two chis BUT there is always the possibility someone could leave a door open accidently. My two, the seven pounder is spayed, the six pounder who I just recently got will be spayed after Christmas.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

In your place, I’d probably spay her.

I grew up showing dogs in the conformation ring, so most of the dogs I knew were not neutered. I guess in the ten years or so I showed I knew one bitch with mammary tumors, one with pyometria, and one dog who developed a prostate infection. Which is a lot, really - maybe three out of 100 dogs?

Anyway, they don’t all develop problems that could’ve been solved if they’d been neutered, but it’s not uncommon for dogs to get seriously ill with conditions that would never have occurred had their reproductive organs been removed.

I understand about being scared to anesthetize. I’m scared to be anesthetized! But as said above, have the bloodwork done and have them give her fluids and chances are she’ll be fine.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;8450852]
One other option which would be less invasive but more expensive would be an ovariectomy done laparascopically. And, not what you’re after, but just in the interest of education, there is also the option of an ovary sparing spay. Which is what my eldest is getting when she retires from breeding. There’s new research on knee health and hormones in sport dogs and as a competitive agility dog, I am not screwing with that.[/QUOTE]

The interesting thing about this option is that (I’ve heard) that since the ovaries are intact, the bitch still cycles and dogs can tell they are in season, even though they are spayed. Which can be a problem in competition sports because in some cases bitches in heat may not be competed - and I know someone that had his dog braced with a bitch with an ovariectomy that was still giving off hormones in a national field event. Oh boy. Not good. Did not pass as a result and apparently was quite an interesting brace - where they needed to find and bring out TWO bye dogs - one for each - because they were determined to breed on the field. Disaster!

[wireweiners]

[QUOTE=S1969;8451279]
The interesting thing about this option is that (I’ve heard) that since the ovaries are intact, the bitch still cycles and dogs can tell they are in season, even though they are spayed. Which can be a problem in competition sports because in some cases bitches in heat may not be competed - and I know someone that had his dog braced with a bitch with an ovariectomy that was still giving off hormones in a national field event. Oh boy. Not good. Did not pass as a result and apparently was quite an interesting brace - where they needed to find and bring out TWO bye dogs - one for each - because they were determined to breed on the field. Disaster![/QUOTE]

I would think that since the bitch was technically in heat they wouldn’t have let her run in mixed company. I’m our field trials the sexes are separated except for the field champion stakes and absolute. But running bitches in heat is frowned upon

[S1969]

[QUOTE=wireweiners;8451332]
I would think that since the bitch was technically in heat they wouldn’t have let her run in mixed company. I’m our field trials the sexes are separated except for the field champion stakes and absolute. But running bitches in heat is frowned upon[/QUOTE]

I agree. But, I think because she no longer had a uterus the owner couldn’t tell if she was in heat? It was a big problem. And one that made a lot of people go - huh…? Oh wow…never thought about it!

In most pointing dog field trials, dogs and bitches routinely run together. In fact, a lot of dog owners prefer to run with a bitch because two intact males all hyped up with adrenaline can sometimes get into a scuffle if they bump on the breakaway. Bitches in heat are generally allowed to run in the last brace of the day.

[enjoytheride]

Around here you can get a spay for like $60, why on earth would you want to deal with the behavior problems and potential health issues if you aren’t planning on breeding or showing in a sport that required an intact dog?

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=S1969;8451279]
The interesting thing about this option is that (I’ve heard) that since the ovaries are intact, the bitch still cycles and dogs can tell they are in season, even though they are spayed. Which can be a problem in competition sports because in some cases bitches in heat may not be competed - and I know someone that had his dog braced with a bitch with an ovariectomy that was still giving off hormones in a national field event. Oh boy. Not good. Did not pass as a result and apparently was quite an interesting brace - where they needed to find and bring out TWO bye dogs - one for each - because they were determined to breed on the field. Disaster![/QUOTE]

I’ll still have to pull from trials for now when she’s in heat. Between the outward swelling and my resident male, I am not concerned about knowing when she’s in. The good news is that there is a move afoot to allow bitches in season to compete in AKC agility trials. Apparently not a big deal in Europe, the girls just run last in their division.

[Nezzy]

their personality does not change after a spay or neuter. They are the very same dog, But with a lowered risk of cancer or otherwise.

[Ladylexie]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8451510]
Around here you can get a spay for like $60, why on earth would you want to deal with the behavior problems and potential health issues if you aren’t planning on breeding or showing in a sport that required an intact dog?[/QUOTE]

LOL…I have stated my concerns over and over about spaying her. I know they are somewhat silly, but, I am processing them. I am leaning towards spaying her though. No cause for great alarm she is still doing OK despite her intact status.

[Manni01]

I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I do own two females and both are not spayed. One was bred and one was not and and they are 9 and 10 years old. Both are Show Champions and both passed Hunt tests.

[Ladylexie]

[QUOTE=Manni01;8451739]
I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I do own two females and both are not spayed. One was bred and one was not and and they are 9 and 10 years old. Both are Show Champions and both passed Hunt tests.[/QUOTE]

Oh dear…just a question though how is there health?

[Bluey]

Seems that the percentage of pyometra runs about 25%:

http://www.animalmedcenter.com/faqs/category/pyometra1

The percentage of breast cancer is the same:

http://www.caninecancer.com/mammary.html

Breast cancer happens also in spayed female dogs, but at a rate of .01, much less.

That is very high rates, not sure I would want to take those chances with my dog.

I didn’t look at the % of problems from spaying, that would be another consideration.

[Manni01]

[QUOTE=Ladylexie;8451744]
Oh dear…just a question though how is there health?[/QUOTE]

so far both are doing absolutely fine…

[Calamber]

[QUOTE=wireweiners;8451072]
Pyometria is an infection of the uterus. It usually occurs in older intact females. Not all older intact females will develop pyometria but there is a risk as there is an increased risk of mammary cancer. Calamber maybe you were lucky with your beagles but I had a friend who just lost a beloved dachshund bitch to a closed pyometria. He was devastated.

As far as breeding goes, many breeders will spay a bitch after her breeding days are over. Most show breeders will only breed one or two litters per bitch.

I am not a fan of juvenile spays/neuters. I firmly believe in allowing an animal to mature before neutering. I believe if you can properly contain them, there is no real need to neuter a male. But there are certain health advantages to spaying females after they have had one or two heats.[/QUOTE]

It is pyometra, and no, we were not lucky, we had approximately ~75 beagles several Labs and Chesapeakes through the years, and no mammary nor testicular cancer and no pyometra. I think it is the food and the internal and other flea meds we use now.

As for the $60 spays, you get what you pay for, that is a dangerously low cost and not what I would do for a toy dog, or really, any dog unless it was absolutely necessary financially.

[wireweiners]

I understand your concerns. Any surgery involves risks. There are things you can do to minimize the risk, like pre-op blood work and asking for an iv during surgery. If you have it done while she is still young and healthy, the risk is also minimized. There are risks in spaying and risks in leaving her intact. You have to do the research, weigh the risk and make your decision

[cowboymom]

Yeah, I wasn’t ok with my tiny little dog getting a wham bam spay. I’m ok with wham bam castrations from my trusted vet but not spays. For that we go to the big town, not the cow vet, and we do pre-op bloodwork, IV’s, overnight and all the good stuff. It’s probably preferential but this little dog means the world to me and she’s just so tiny. I’ve sat in on and watched and assisted on lots of surgeries but this one was my pocket dog.

[Blume_Farm]

Well, I can tell you why I finally spayed my female dog at 4 years old and that might help you make a decision. For full disclosure I am a small animal vet and have always had rescue dogs that were promptly spayed and neutered. For my 40th birthday I actually purchased a dog from a successful breeder of that particular breed. We had a contract that outlined possible breeding rights if she passed all genetic testing, showing, etc. When my bitch was in heat it wasn’t a huge deal as she goes to work with me, I have a heavily secured kennel if having to be left alone, etc so I was not worried about an accidental breeding. However, every time she came into heat I was paranoid about a pyometra occurring ( they tend to happen approximately one month post cycle). Of course each time, as luck would have it, I happened to be scheduled for vacation out of the country and had a pet sitter with her (a licensed tech that works for me) during that most high risk time frame. Ruined each of my vacations to an extent with me always concerned. This past October was the final one, stressed my whole vacation and I came back and promptly had her spayed. Ahhh, life has been so much more relaxed!!!

FYI, I didn’t spay my own dog, nor even have the other vet in my practice do the surgery. I had her done by a boarded surgeon as I was so paranoid about the surgery and I do these all the time. Paid a ton (considering I could have done it for free), but well worth it to me!!

Good luck what ever you decide!