Spaying - Before or After 1st Season??

[badgeralbert]

I just wondered what everyones views were here about spaying.

When Maisy went to the vets for her 1st jab we talked about spaying and that vet said if we decided to spay to wait 3 months after her first season.

When she went for her 2nd jab that vet said if we want to do it then they will do it at 6 months regardless of whether she has had her first season or not, it is not necessary to wait any longer.

Badger has been castrated for medical reasons so theres no worries there.  We probably will get Maisy spayed but I'm in no rush to have it done.  I would love to have an orange dog pup at some point in the next couple of years but I need to work on hubby big time, but I'm determined I will get there eventually, so she will need to be spayed if I get my way!!!!

So, those who have had your bitches spayed, at what age did you do it and what were the pros/cons.

Thanks.

[Cazzie]

This is one of the most posted about topics and im not surprised why, its a difficult thing to decided. I personally wait till after a 1st seaon but all my bitches have had either 2 or 3 seasons 1st  I feel 6 months is too young as they havent had time to develop and mature 

[lopey99]

I'm having the same dilema as you at the moment, cassie is due to go for her check up next friday (shes 5 & half months) and at our last vets appointment getting second jab the vet said have a think about getting her spayed and we'd discuss it at this appointment. She didnt push any time on us i.e. before or after season she just told us the pros and cons of both but i'm so confused. My main concern is the fact that we are going on hols at beginning of sept and cassie will be staying with my OH parents but there are a lot of dogs living nearby and knowing my luck she'll come into season around then. I'll keep doing my research and hopefully come to a decision but i'm gonna watch this thread!

[jools]

Both of my girls were spayed at 6 months - before their 1st season. I trust my vet, and that's what he advised. My understanding is that there is an increased risk of cancer, even if they have only one season, and I wasn't prepared to take that risk.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

[Karma]

As others have said, there are pros and cons.

Yes, if you allow the bitch to have even one season, you increase the risk of cancers dramatically.  On the other side the risk of "spay incontinence" is increased if you spay before first season - there is also some evidence that some bitches who are spayed early can fail to mature as well and remain slightly puppy-like (though I thought all spaniels were like this anyway!!!  ).  There are lots of articles on the web (Pro and Anti early spays) which got into far more detail about the risks and benefits of each - I found them doing a Google search for "bitch spay 6 months" I think.... bear in mind all are written with an agenda, so the Pro ones focus on the risks of having seasons and the Anti the risks of not!!

We decided to spay Honey before her first season.  The health factors played a big part, but there were also practical issues to consider - I could book a week off work to stay with her after her spay, so that the fact that she was limited to on-lead gentle exercise wouldn't be an issue, whereas there is no way we could have planned any time off to ensure she got adequate exercise during her season.  We live close to many dogs, and the only places we know to walk are used by many, many dog walkers... I think she would have been climbing the walls with the restrictions having a season would have placed on her.  While this was not the over-riding factor in making the decision, it did have its place in the considerations.
 

[woodlander]

Our vet advised to wait until 3 months after the 1st season.  She mentioned bladder problems in later life if done earlier. Sweep is now 10 months and had her season May/June so we are going to book her in for spaying in September.  She will be a year old then.  I don't know about all the medical pros and cons but it strikes me in my very simple way that to allow a dog to fully develop with adult hormones etc makes sense.  That is of course if there are no pressing medical reasons why it needs to be done earlier.

[Letichia]

This is one of the most posted about topics and im not surprised why, its a difficult thing to decided. I personally wait till after a 1st seaon but all my bitches have had either 2 or 3 seasons 1st  I feel 6 months is too young as they havent had time to develop and mature 

I agree with the above said. We let Mollie have 3 seasons first because i wanted her to be fully developed.
Although there are many people who spay at 6 months, so i think its really personal choice.

[Sheryl]

I get all my girls done after their first season.  I wouldn't wait any longer as one of my girls died of mammary cancer.  She developed it at 4, had the op to remove the tumours but died when she was just 6.  Spaying after the first season is just my personal preference now, rightly or wrongly.

[Angels of Fur]

Im unsure too. I wanted my girl to be spayed but i have a boy too and they are only 2 weeks apart. didnt wanna risk the timing so vet said could get them done together at 6months - maybe even 51/2months and then they can recover together.

6months is just before i go on holiday with them to Newquay, so will have to wait until im back. If Honey comes into season early before or during my away trip, then ill have to keep it that way and just ensure Alfie is done Pronto. Ideally i wanted to get them spayed and preferably at the same time.

I too heard the pro's and con's, its personal choice and i dont think ppl will judge you on the decision you make!! 

[bracken]

Mine are spayed after the 1st season.

My Rosie had her season 3 months ago, she will be spayed next month as I'm home for 6 weeks. I hate it, I worry so much whilst there in the vets  and for the first few days I feel bad and guilty but I know its for the best 

It can cut the risk of cancers 
but sometimes you lose the silky coat and the coat will go curly    my Bailey is very curly now but I love the curls 

[badgeralbert]

Mmm I think I'll keep going round in circles 

Badger was castrated a while ago (but not in his younger days) because when he was at the groomers she found a lump, so we had him "done".  After this his coat went all curly and haywire but I was just glad to have him here with me even if he was haywire and curly 

I do like the silky coat but I guess I will get used to loving another thick and curly coat again too  just not sure when.

She's only 15 weeks so we have a little more time to think about whats best.

[Lee67]

Our vet wouldn't spay Poppy until after her first season, he believes that they need to mature so that's what we did 

[BabyB]

We got Katie when she was 18mths old and had one season, so we had her spayed within 2 weeks of living with us as we also have her cousin, Henry who was 6 mths at the time.  A friend of mine has a chocolate lab and she is being spay this year having had one season.

Our first cocker was spayed before her first season with no after effects.  So I really think it's up to you when you want to spay her and get the advice from a vet you like and trust at the practice you go to.

We have a three vets in ours, but the main vet, Tom, I've known and trusted for 14yrs or so, so I always go by what he says, rather than the others as there advice can be a little different.

[KatieJean]

We are in the same situation with Willow so I'm glad this topic has come up.
We also lost a cocker with mammery cancer so wont leave it too long.
Our breeder said she had heard before season was sometimed being recommended
Our vet says it depends on the size of the bitch, the larger she is it is better to wait till after the first season so we will take willow for a check up when she is 6 months.
I'm finding it difficult to make a decision

[Sheryl]

Meant to say that Kali's coat didn't go curly at all, just more fine than usual