CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Sarah16 on June 25, 2009, 09:23:56 PM
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I have booked Pippa into be spayed on Monday and as it is getting nearer I am getting more and more worried. The reason I decided to get her spayed before her first season is because she is so laid back at home and well behaved (a slight barking problem when excited, but we are working on it). She loves her off lead runs and I worry that she would find it hard not being able to go out for 3 weeks while in season and will find it easier having a couple of weeks of restricted walks now rather than in a few months when she is going through the teenage stage. Pippa is quite lean and dainty looking, she weighs 6.8kg and she is a lot younger than Mollie was when she was spayed.
I am also worrying how I will stop them from playing for few days while she is healing.
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Hi, you have a similar dilemma to me, mine is whether to spay or not. I have 2 bitches one is 2 the other 15 months and I don't have a problem not walking them when in season, we stay home and play ball in the garden instead and I get them big bones from the butcher to keep them occupied. They both love their off lead runs but they don't seem to mind not going out and doing something else instead. The only problem I have is if I take the bitch not in season for a walk and then the other one gets all disappointed that they are not going out so I keep them both in and do something else. I don't know what to do about spaying myself so I cannot advise I am trying to weigh up the health benefits of spaying over not spaying. Good luck with your decision.
If you look at my post a few below yours loads of lovely people have posted replies to my problem during today so take a look as some answers may help you.
By the way your puppy is absolutely gorgeous.
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We got Honey spayed at 7 months... I too started to have second thoughts about it as the date progressed and, while in future I might choose to wait till after a season, I definately think we made the right decision for Honey and us at the time...
The practicality of managing a season was one of the factors which we considered (though not the major concern) - as we both work the idea of leaving her at home without a walk was rather worrying (I took the week off work when she was spayed, so was able to look after her!).
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Jessie was spayed at 6 months but with hindsight we wished =we hadnt done it as she is now incontinent caused by early spaying.
We followed our vets advice but wish we had waited till after her 1st season....she has to have drugs daily now for the rest of her life to help control it!
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I would always wait to 3 months after a female had had her first season for spaying unless there was a medical reason for her to be done earlier
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I decided to wait until Chloe had had her first season after reading all the pros and cons on here. She was spayed on Tuesday and is recovering well. So far, it's been relatively easy to keep her quiet as most of the time she seems to want to relax anyway. Of course, this will probably change in a couple of days time, but we'll get through it. Good luck for Monday.
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I would always wait to 3 months after a female had had her first season for spaying unless there was a medical reason for her to be done earlier
In full agreement with cazza - I would never spay a bitch at this age (or castrate a dog either) they are still puppies at 6 months and far too young.
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We waited til after Lola's first season and although her season wasn't the best it wasn't difficult to manage.
I think if I had another bitch I would wait for til after the first season.
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I don't know much about it, but my instincts would be to wait until after first season when she's a fully grown mature doglet. However, I can tell you that my rescue Weim was spayed at this age (before I got her) for health reasons (she had several womb infections) and was absolutely fine afterwards and I do not believe has suffered at all as result of an early spay.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Hannah x
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Hattie was spayed at just over 7 months (she was definitely bigger than 6kg though, probably closer to 10kg). It was a really tough decision but I don't think we made the wrong choice. Our vet said that he spayed after the first season for the first 10 years of being a vet and has recommended doing it before the first season for the last ten years and he hasn't seen any difference in the dogs he treats, including regarding incontinence. She was brilliant while healing, especially as she's a wriggly, roly, itchy, bouncy little dog, and I don't think that it's changed her at all
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Both katie and Smudge were spayed/castrated at the time recommended by the vet, Think Katie was 7 months and Smudge 8 or 9 months.
I would probably do the same again.
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We didn't have Freya spayed (she is now 8), and 2 years ago she had to have an emergency operation for pyometra. She was so poorly we thought we might lose her. It was a dreadful thing for her to go through. I think if I had my time over again, I would elect to have the spaying. But, it is a difficult one.
I also have two boys now.....3 months and 7 months....and I am scared to death to make the decision. It is so hard when it is not a matter of life and death to decide to elect for surgery.
Good luck with your decision.
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I would always go for spaying and neutering, not necessarily at 6 months, but definitely in their first year. I've seen far too many bitches with pyometra and tumours, and dogs with prostate and testicular cancer that couldn't be saved. :'(
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In that case....I guess it is the sensible option. Freya certainly went through a really awful experience.....and then surgery was no option.
Have to get my head around opting for neutering for the boys..... ::)
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In that case....I guess it is the sensible option. Freya certainly went through a really awful experience.....and then surgery was no option.
Have to get my head around opting for neutering for the boys..... ::)
I see it getting done every single day and I've never seen a problem, apart from one dog who got an infection cos he licked at his stitches too much. It literally takes minutes to do, and they are carefully monitored during and after the anaesthetic. :D
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Thanks for that. I feel much more reassured. I am just over sensitive about anaesthesia as I lost Lily when she underwent minor surgery. Her trachae was damaged....it was heartbreaking. I know that this was rare....but it still makes you nervous about electing to have your dogs undergo surgery.
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I'm so sorry about Lily and that you lost her that way. :'(
It's easy for me to say don't worry, but when Gari was in having a GA last year I was a wreck, same when it was any of my rats. There is always a risk, but it is slight. The decision is entirely yours though, and good luck with whatever you decide. :-*
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Thanks so much..... :luv:
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My answer is short: YES, I would! Unless there were behavioural (nervous and/or aggressive dog) or medical reasons not to!
Vera
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Thanks for all our comments, I knew you would alll be honest with me. After to speaking to the vet, I have decided to postpone the op until 3 months after her first season when she will be bigger and will have matured. I feel a lot better now and so I know I made the right decision.
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Thanks for all our comments, I knew you would alll be honest with me. After to speaking to the vet, I have decided to postpone the op until 3 months after her first season when she will be bigger and will have matured. I feel a lot better now and so I know I made the right decision.
Good on you Sarah, I think this is the right decision ;)