Does spaying your em stunt or slow down their growth?

[Burnaby BC]

I have been asked to do it at 6mnths. I have absolutely no interest in breeding. I have also heard spaying or neutering had adverse effects on maturing.

 

[Smokeycat]

I haven't done a lot of research on the advantages/disadvantages of spaying due to the fact my dogs are male but the one thing that did stick out for me in what I've read is that many females spayed before 1 year have a greater risk of urinary incontinence than those after 1 year. That fact alone would make me wait. I've chosen to wait for me EM to be at least 1.5, likely even older, because I want him to have the bulk of a male which he needs to have testosterone to achieve. As long as you believe that you can handle her while she is in heat I recommend waiting until she is closer to being full size before spaying. If it is in your contract to spay at 6 months I recommend contacting your breeder and trying to get an extension. If it is your vet, remember its your dog and you are paying them so its your choice when and if you want surgery done.

 

[stephanieb]

There are pros and cons both ways. But as Smokeycat said, if you can handle her while in heat, I would wait.

 

[Burnaby BC]

She will only be in heat once I'm guessing. I ha a chihuahua that went into heat once. Wasn't that bad lol

 

[jcook]

I was going to spay my CC at 6 months as the vet recommended. But when i mentioned on here and to other large/giant breed owners their responses was to wait till at least 14 months, 2 years though is the ideal. However, I believe the health risks of her getting pregnant before age 2 are greater than the health risks of a spay before 2. So, just like others have said, if you can handle her being in heat, then postpone till she is done growing.

here are some links to info on spay and neuter

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/11/11/1434.full ( I really like this one because it is a TRUE scientific study. You can pretty much skip to the last paragraph though because that is where is states the overall findings)

http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/ddtc/sfiles/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

http://webcanine.com/2007/research-on-neutering-and-spaying/

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites...neutering.aspx

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...sZKWB4r05KuI1Q

http://www.rockymountainleonbergercl...ed-information

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

http://www.neutering.org/articles.html

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2045340

 

[ruthcatrin]

Early spay does not STUNT their growth, but it does affect it. Those horomoes are required to manage the growth plates properly. Neutering before they're all closed can result in an out of proportion dog, long spindly bones, which in turn makes all sorts of joint and tendon and ligament problems much more likely. It can also up the risks for certain cancers and thyroid problems.

Your vet will likely tell you that by not spaying when they want you to you're putting the dog at risk for cancer nd other problems, but the actual percenthe of risk for those isn't nearly as high as your vet will insist and don't become signifigant till about the age of 2. And shoot, I just realized someone wanted those numbers and I forgot to dig them out and now I don't remember who it was......

 

[Burnaby BC]

Any tips on how to best deal with a mastiff in heat? I have a 3 yr old. Will she get crazy?

---------- Post added at 03:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------

3yr old son*

 

[Burnaby BC]

3yr old son*

 

[ruthcatrin]

Crazy asin aggressive? No. But she may put extra effort into trying to escape, a 3yr old is just big enough to aid and abet...

There are several posters on here with intact females, if you don't get respinses here post it up in general.

 

[WalnutCrest]

As said above, try to keep your girl in tact until she is at least 15-18 months old ... 20-24 months even better ...