Desexing

[Gretel]

I know there is considerable debate on this subject. I've always understood that a bitch desexed before her first season is very unlikely to develop mammary tumours in the future. Has this theory gone out the window? A friend has told me the vet is suggesting her girl should have a season before the op.

[Kirty]

Depends on a few things:

- breed of dog

- size of dog

- who you ask

- who your vet is

- personal preference

I think the general consensus is that large breed dogs should not be desexed prior to first season, however its not as much of an issue with smaller dogs.

[vetrg]

Dogs that are desexed before their first season run an almost nil risk of mammary tumours. Dogs that have had 5 seasons (I think but I read this paper a long time ago!) and are then desexed run the same risk as an entire bitch. Bitches that are allowed one season have an increased risk compared to no season but it is still small.

Allowing them to have a season allows them to mature under the influence of normal hormones before desexing. This is considered more helpful in large breeds than small ones but it is a matter of personal choice.

[mumtoshelley]

I got Shelley my female golden retriever desexed at 5 months old. I got her desexed this young cause the yard we had back then wasn't very high and another dog could of easly got to her. I didn't feel confident enough to let her go through a season.

[Gretel]

Okay thanks people It's a small breed.

[grace]

I have had large and small dogs and have always let my bitches have a couple of seasons before I desex them. I think they need the hormones to mature properly and have never had any problem with them developing mammary tumours.

[Sandra777]

I have owned bitches which have never been spayed and others which have been spayed quite late in life. I have had ONE bitch with mammary tumors and these were easily dealt with and did not recur. Seriously, you need to know and understand the risk of mammary tumors in your bitch's breed and family before you worry about the "risk'' at all. Some breeds have a bad track record for cancers and some families within those breeds have a worse record for mammary tumors than other sorts of tumors.

To me, the risk of spay incontinence would outweigh the risk of mammary tumours and I would never recommend anyone get a bitch pup from me spayed prior to her first season.