Spaying Buffy When???

[suger n spice]

Hi, i enquired at my vet today about having buffy spayed.
200 pounds phew. Luckily the savings are nearly there.
However i was informed today by the vets assistant that i need to wait untill she has had her first season.
But after reading posts on here,it seems people advise spaying before that.
Should i check with another vets practice?.Any help greatly appreciated.
THANKS.

 

[darkchild16]

Some vets here will do it either way. Some wont it just depends on the office. I would look around.

 

[Maxy24]

Did they give a reason? I don't think they should force you to wait that long, suggesting it is one thing but saying they won't spay until then is another. I would check out some other places if you can, I don't really see any reason to wait until her first season unless she has something like an inverted vulva.

 

[Melissa_W]

In my mind, there are compelling reasons to wait until maturity. I'm not on my regular computer, so don't have all my links available, but here is one.
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

 

[Saintgirl]

I personally wait until maturity to neuter my dogs. I prefer that they have finished developmentally growing. It is a personal decision, and if you feel that you can't handle the responsiblitiy of having a bitch in season then by all means spay before!

 

[Maxy24]

Oh, I agree with the benefits of waiting until maturity I don't see the purpose of waiting until after the first heat (so either do it before heat or wait until maturity).

 

[fillyone]

Here's my .02.
If and only if you are prepared to keep your female away from all male dogs for a month (that means no outside alone, on leash all the time, etc) wait until she's 18 months.
If you can't do that, get her spayed before her first heat

And again, I can't stress how big that if is, male dogs and most female dogs will do just about anything to mate

 

[shadowfacedanes]

Oh, I agree with the benefits of waiting until maturity I don't see the purpose of waiting until after the first heat (so either do it before heat or wait until maturity).

A bitch can go into heat far before maturity.

 

[Melissa_W]

Another option is a partial spay. It's a lot less common, but it leaves one of the ovaries in so that you still get the hormones. They come into "heat" once a year, but there is no bleeding and she can't get pregnant. You have to find a vet that will do it though.

 

[Maxy24]

A bitch can go into heat far before maturity.

I know, that's what I'm saying. I mean that I see no point in waiting until after just the first heat (at like 7 months old) to get the dog fixed. I DO see the point in waiting until maturity I don't see any benefits of waiting until after just the first heat. I still think the average owner is better off doing it before they go into heat though.

 

[PoodleMommy]

To the OP... there are benefits to spaying before the first heat which include decreased risk of certain types of cancer down the line.

Unless you are planning to show your dog or you are overly concerned with your dog fitting exactly into the standard for its breed... it is better for their health to be spayed before the first heat. Every pet in my home is altered at 6 months.

ELissa

 

[Melissa_W]

This is the paper I was thinking of a couldn't find yesterday. Personally, think everyone should read this article because it's packed with really good information.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

 

[suger n spice]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Im going to phone around some more and try to find a vets practise that will do it sooner.Ive no plans to breed my cute mutt,so feel the sooner the better.