Aziah Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 (edited) Good that you work from home, if you hold off and let her grow up etc and she is in season you will really need to make sure that you're with her when she's out in the yard (there have been some amazing stories of lengths males will go to, to get to a bitch in season) She may only have the one season between now and 14 months of age or 2 (I wouldn't think any more than 2 though). Each bitch cycles differently, some come in every 4 months, some 6 and others 12... Edited March 15, 2007 by AZIAH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloes Dad Posted March 15, 2007 Author Share Posted March 15, 2007 Good that you work from home, if you hold off and let her grow up etc and she is in season you will really need to make sure that you're with her when she's out in the yard (there have been some amazing stories of lengths males will go to, to get to a bitch in season) She may only have the one season between now and 14 months of age or 2 (I wouldn't think any more than 2 though). Each bitch cycles differently, some come in every 4 months, some 6 and others 12... thanks so much for you help. after reading this article and discussing it with my partner we think we will hold off until 14 months. I will of course now discuss this decision wit my vet and see if they have anything to add Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hathor Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I would consult your local vet. Research has shown the it is better to spey a bitch BEFORE their first season. Mammary cancers etc are greatly reduced. My girl was done at 5 months, she is fine. Plus you don't need to worry about the hassle of a season. Often people don't realise how much of a hassle it is. They end up booking their bitch in to be desexed while in season, or too soon after season. Or their dog has had a misalliance (accidental mating). Less hassle to do it early. Plus - a juvenile bitch spey is cheaper, and the animal is under GA for less time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloes Dad Posted March 15, 2007 Author Share Posted March 15, 2007 I would consult your local vet. Research has shown the it is better to spey a bitch BEFORE their first season. Mammary cancers etc are greatly reduced. My girl was done at 5 months, she is fine. Plus you don't need to worry about the hassle of a season. Often people don't realise how much of a hassle it is. They end up booking their bitch in to be desexed while in season, or too soon after season. Or their dog has had a misalliance (accidental mating).Less hassle to do it early. Plus - a juvenile bitch spey is cheaper, and the animal is under GA for less time. Thanks for the input will definitely be consulting my vet. And talking through the research etc I must admit though I am leaning in the direction of holding off, In human terms I wonder how I would have developed if I had my sexual organs removed as a child before puberty. The argument of waiting makes sense to me. And I am willing and able to ensure no accidents occur. Can you point me in the direction of the Research re cancer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 CD the Zink article does mention it. As I said in my first post in this thread, this is a vigorously debated issue. You are doing the right thing by arming yourself with knowledge about the pros and cons of desexing at a particular time. From a personal perspective I can tell you that of the three (4 legged ) bitches in my house, two suffer from hormonal incontinence and one doesn't. Would you like to ascertain a guess as to which of those bitches was desexed after her first season and which were desexed before it? My dogs sister became very broody during her first (and only) season and nested madly with her fluffy toys... they really can get very hormonal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloes Dad Posted March 15, 2007 Author Share Posted March 15, 2007 they really can get very hormonal you know how to scare a man, the H word!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 they really can get very hormonal you know how to scare a man, the H word!!! Unfortunately, flowers, chocolates, champagne and footrubs won't help. She may enjoy watching chick flicks though. You can put her "on the pill" for her season but this medication (which I confess to knowing nothing about) would need to be discused with your vet. My very limited understanding is that it may have some long term impact on a bitch's ability to conceive but that is not a concern in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloes Dad Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 This is off the pet education website Spaying greatly reduces the chances of a female dog developing this condition. In those females spayed prior to their first heat cycle, breast cancer is very, very rare. The risk of malignant mammary tumors in dogs spayed prior to their first heat is 0.05%. It is 8% for dog spayed after one heat, and 26% in dogs spayed after their second heat. It is believed that the elimination or reduction of certain hormonal factors causes the lowering of incidence of the disease in dogs that have been spayed. These factors would probably be estrogen, progesterone, a similar hormone or possibly a combination of two or more of these. 26% in dogs apayed after 2nd heat... wow that is over 1/4 I imagine breeders must have to deal with this all of the time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 26% in dogs apayed after 2nd heat... wow that is over 1/4 I imagine breeders must have to deal with this all of the time? I have had many, many bitches over 30 years, and my mother before that. In all that time we have only ever had two bitches get mammary cancer, both were subsequently spayed and both lived to ripe old ages. Certainly nowhere near 26%, but then my bitches were never spayed, so I guess that figure doesn't apply to them. I also never vaccinate after puppy shots, which keeps their immune systems much healthier and able to resist cancer better. Their systems are also free of all the chemicals and toxins put in the vaccines, so less chance of getting cancer in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloes Dad Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 Yeah makes you wonder where they get this stuff huh? these stats would suggest that at least 1 in 4 of your bitches would have been effected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kodiak Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I am guessing it may be like a lot of the cancer stats for humans.... what they may mean is that the risk is 26% higher if you have an entire bitch... given the risk is 0.05% with desexing prior to first season....it may mean that they have a 26% (or a bit more than 4 times) higher risk... which would still be MUCH MUCH less than 1% (an possibly fall into Morgan's experience). I know that the media like to misrepresent cancer stats - so a 4 times great risk of developing breast cancer in xyz conditions becomes 25% risk. Does that make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloes Dad Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 I am guessing it may be like a lot of the cancer stats for humans.... what they may mean is that the risk is 26% higher if you have an entire bitch... given the risk is 0.05% with desexing prior to first season....it may mean that they have a 26% (or a bit more than 4 times) higher risk... which would still be MUCH MUCH less than 1% (an possibly fall into Morgan's experience).I know that the media like to misrepresent cancer stats - so a 4 times great risk of developing breast cancer in xyz conditions becomes 25% risk. Does that make sense? Yes I understand your point. Stats always make me wonder..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 The unpublicised joys of absolute versus relative risk There is always a suitable risk percentage to suit their argument! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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