Hi, we are being advised by our vet to have our maiden Field Spaniel bitch speyed.

She is in excellent health apert from the fact that she has exhibited a couple of fatty lumps and has just presented with what appears to be a mamary tumour.  Obviously surgery will reveal the state of the tumour but we really waould like to have advice on the matter of speying.

Can anybody offer some objective advice, please?

Our previous experience with having bitches speyed was that hey changed dramatically in coat and general demenour.

Our Field is a lovely animal and we really do not want to do something that just satisfies the vet.

Thanks for your consideration.

Patrick Thomson.

There was a study I read about that stated the reoccurence rate of mammary tumours was not changed with spaying, so I would not bother having her spayed, but have the tumour taken care of. 

My five year old bitch who had had two litters developed a mammary tumour, and I had it removed (it was pea size).  It came back in same place some 3 1/2 years later and I had the gland and adjoining one on same lymph node removed.  She is now 12 years old.

I did have her spayed at the time, as I thought it might help, but fortunately mine is a breed whose coat does not change too dramatically, unlike the Spaniel breeds.