Spaying

[jtrippps]

I asked this question a while ago. Since then I've done some research and wanted to see if anyone else here has any updated info. What is the best age to spay a mastiff. I'm leaning more and more towards waiting until 18-24 months. Any info, suggestions or comments?

Anyone who has any personal experience with getting a mastiff spayed sooner or later?

 

[DMikeM]

18 to 24 months or never if there are no medical reasons and you can preven unwanted litters.

 

[jtrippps]

Hey Mike, what would your reason(s) be?

 

[DMikeM]

Not being able to prevent an unwanted litter, or illnesses of the reproductive organs.

 

[jtrippps]

What about age? It's def something I want to do because we have an intact male in our home. The vet says 6 months is the time he recommends. He says it won't effect her growth or development at all if done at that age.

 

[Sadies Mom]

What about age? It's def something I want to do because we have an intact male in our home. The vet says 6 months is the time he recommends. He says it won't effect her growth or development at all if done at that age.

It WILL affect the growth. I had Sadie spayed at the advice from my vet at the tender age of 6 months. Her legs are long and skinny and she is suffering from spay induced incontinence and has to take meds for that for the rest of her life. This my first hand experience with spaying too early.

 

[DMikeM]

Any early hormone removal WILL effect the dog in some manner. When you spay a female dog the vet removes the parts that produce the hormones that regulate all forms of growth, bone, muscle, and brain all of this is effected in some manner. Some dogs get thicker some thinner, bones might get long and thin or they might get over minerialized with calcium and create bone spurs. Some people say "Oh I had mine done early and she is just the way she is supposed to be and she lived to be 10 years old" and this is a WOW statement because they have no idea what that dog would have been like and that dog might have lived to be 16 to 18 years old.

So my advice, take your time, do what you can to keep them from breeding and let her get grown up before you un-fix her.

 

[Smokeycat]

He says it won't effect her growth or development at all if done at that age.

Ask him why the loss of hormones causes problems in humans but it won't cause problems for her?

 

[AZ Boerboel]

He says it won't effect her growth or development at all if done at that age.

Based on that, find a vet that isn't either blatantly lying to you to make a buck or completely ignorant of how living things grow and function. It most certainly will effect growth, temperament and intelligence.
6 Months on a mastiff or any large breed is way to early with how slow they grow. If you have to spay I would wait until at least 2 years.
Even though I do not plan to breed my BB I know I will never get her spayed unless she has some sort of medical issue that requires it.