To Spay or Not to Spay

[sharonmansfield]

Hi,
I am thrilled to find this forum everyone seems so nice and helpful.
I have two cocker bitches, Bella is 2 years old and Jasmine is 15 months. I have the dilemma of deciding what is best for them as regards to spaying or not spaying. I was not going to have them spayed but I am now very concerned about mammary tumours and Pyometra if I don't. I won't be breeding from them and they are pets not show dogs however I just wondered what other people have experienced in having them done or not done.
How exactly does it affect their coats and has anyone experienced incontinence, as my dogs are young I don't want them to have a lifetime of incontinence.
Also has anyone experienced pyometra and mammary tumours from not having their dog done.
They have not had problems with their seasons, Jasmine is coming up due for her second one in August and Bella her 4th in September. The main drawbacks of not having them done is being unable to take them out when in season and I am finding it difficult to plan a holiday now for September when they could both be in season as I would not be able to let them run free on the beach.
I think I have decided to go with the spaying option but I don't want to rush into this as I keep changing my mind and so need some facts from others. I have asked the vets but they are very pro spaying and I need an overview from both sides.
I have been reading about spaying by keyhole surgery and they only remove the ovaries and its a shorter operation and does not require stitches, does anyone have any experience of this? I just want what is best for my girls at the end of the day. I tried to discuss this with my husband and he said he would go with whatever I decide!!!! 

[jools]

For me, I would definitely go with spaying. I had both of mine spayed before their first season, because I was really worried about tumours. I know not everyone agrees with the validity of the evidence that spaying before the first season is the way to go, but I trust my vet and took his advice.

Coco, my new rescue cocker is booked in to be spayed the week after next.

So, no doubt here.....I go for spaying.

[sharonmansfield]

Thanks for your opinion Judith its very much appreciated that you took the time to help me. Have you had any problems with any of your bitches since having them done or has it all been a positive experience after the initial operation.

[JennyBee]

Welcome to COL

I got Brodie spayed before her first season for the same reason as Jools, she did have a difficult couple of days after the operation but has had no side effects from the spay so far - apart from losing her lovely glossy coat

[mum2milly]

Hi Sharon, welcome to COL! My girl Milly (working cocker) had a suspected pyometra, and all this came about the week we were off on our hols to Dubai!
She had scans etc, but nothing was ever formally diagnosed. That scare was enough for me - she was barely a year old! We booked her in for a spay. Madam had other ideas though, and on her pre-op visit it was found that she was having a phantom pregnancy so the op got postponed.  
Anyway, the op was done, and all went well. My vet used subcutaneous sutures, which Milly never bothered about, and has left a very neat (almost invisible) scar.
Ok, so her coat has now gone rather spikey, but we haven't really looked back. Its great not having to worry about where to exercise her when in season.
I'll admit I did have a little twang of uncertainty about having her done initially, but after the threat of pyometra in such a young dog we felt it was a forgone conclusion. It also was never my intention to breed from her either - definitely something best left to the professionals in my opinion!  
Hope you find the right solution for your two girlies. (they look lovely in your avatar!)
Good luck!

Jo & Milly x

[wales07]

I think that the benefits of spaying to reduce the risk of mammary tumours may have already been lost as it must be done before a dog has  either one or two seasons. Mammary tumours are thought to be oestrogen sensitive in the same way that breast cancer is in women.
Pyometra can never be ruled out but it seems that vets can sometimes make it out to be much more prevalent than it actually is.
The only bitch i have had spayed went incontinent and i have friends whose spayed bitches have also gone incontinent.
I know a lot of people will disagree but i personally wouldn't spay a bitch unless the pros to the bitches health made me have to spay.

[jools]

Thanks for your opinion Judith its very much appreciated that you took the time to help me. Have you had any problems with any of your bitches since having them done or has it all been a positive experience after the initial operation.

  whos's this Judith person? 

I have had no problems at all with either spay....except for me worrying about them going through surgery 

[sharonmansfield]

Hi Jools,

I do apologise for calling you Judith, from a newbie like me thats quite bad, it just reflects how messed up I am trying to come to the right decision of what to do.
My last dog was a german shepherd and she became ill when in season she would just lay upstairs shivering for the whole time so the decision was easy for her and she was done before her next season.

[babushka]

Think I agree with Wales07. All my speyed bitches have leakage problems and the op itself is not without risk. I have a puppy and unless she has any health issues I won't be interfering with nature.

[Nicola]

If I wasn't going to breed (or show if I had show type Cockers) then I would have a bitch spayed after her first season. Tilly was already spayed when I got her (she's a rescue) and if she hadn't been I would have had her done. It means that neither you nor she have to deal with seasons or phantom pregnancies and also rules out the risk of pyometra. For your younger girl who has only had one season the risk of mammary tumours will also be hugely reduced if she is spayed now. Tilly does not have any incontinence issues and nor did my previous female dog, a GSD, who was spayed after her first season.

[lainy]

Theres no simple answer, I had a beautiful little springer spaniel whom I was persuaded to have spayed and she suffered a clot as a side effect resulting in me losing her. I have had two cocker girls who were spayed and thay recovered fine, except for the coats turning thick and wooly.....but I lost them both at 9 in a horrible accident. No one can predict what will happen, you must do what you feel is best for your dog in your own circumstances. I have two young girls now and for now have no plans to spay, but would not rule it out at some time

[jools]

Hi Jools,

I do apologise for calling you Judith, from a newbie like me thats quite bad, it just reflects how messed up I am trying to come to the right decision of what to do.
My last dog was a german shepherd and she became ill when in season she would just lay upstairs shivering for the whole time so the decision was easy for her and she was done before her next season.

  Don't worry.....I've been called much worse!

[bajoleth]

We never had our cavie spayed, not really sure of the exact reason if I am totally honest, i remember booking her in once then my FIL died and it was cancelled. The vet used to advise me to do it at every visit, liklihood of womb infections etc. We never intended breeding from her I think I just felt it was something to do for our convenience (every 6 mths mess etc) rather than something we were doing for her. She never had any womb infections or problems resulting from not being speyed. Will we have Belle speyed? who knows? Thats another thread

[bracken]

I have always had my girls spayed after their first season. Rosie my youngest girl was spayed last Aug but unfortunatly she now has problems with a weak bladder  This has totally gutted me, she has to go out for a wee very regular and i have to put a towel on the sofa after exercise when accidents a most likely 
So at the moment my next baby will be a little boy.
But on a positive in 28 yrs of young ladies this is the first time anything has happened 
Jo

[Rats and Dogs]

I work in a vets and have seen so many females with pyometra and tumours, some of them young. A lot of them were saved, but sadly, some weren't and their owners were devastated as they hadn't realised this could happen.

I would advice spaying, definitely for health reasons, but it will also be easier for them, and you, not having seasons.