Hi, What age is it ok to get your bitch spayed ?. We don't intend to ever breed from our 6 month old BT cross so want to get her spayed but dont know if it is too soon to get this done. Also any idea on generally how expensive it is, We will be getting it done anyway but we seem to be finding our vets considerably more expensive than other vets on vaccinations etc. so we were thinking it was a good time to change vets if the spaying is so much more expensive than others.

Three months after her first season :)  Costs vary dramatically throughout the country - probably best to ring round a few practices nearby and make comparisons that way.

regards, Teri

My girl came into season last week which was the same week she turned 7 months old. I spoke to the vet and she said most vets charge by the weight of the dog because of the anasthetic, but it obviously does vary throughout the country. I was told by my vet that usually you can spay 10 weeks after the first season (i.e. from as soon as you see the blood showing the season has started, count 28 days, then add 10 weeks), although she did say you have to weigh up when carefully. My dog is 7 months old and 5 stone, and we were worried that by spaying her too soon she might grow even bigger (spaying early can lead to dogs growing bigger) and we don't want the risk to her hips. We initially thought we would let her have two seasons first. That said, she is miserable at the moment not being able to go walking (we have tried to scout out areas at different times to find somewhere we can walk her but it is just too risky so she is confined to the house and garden) and we now think it will be kinder on her to be able to be spayed three months after this season (her first) rather than having her go through this again.

There's arguments for and against 'early' spaying.  Many vets are adament spaying before a first season has no ill-effects on a bitch.  Early spaying also reduces the risk of a bitch developing some forms of cancer.  It also means that you and your dog won't have to go through the 28 days or so when she is in season ensuring that no dogs get too close to her and that she doesn't stray.  On the other hand there are arguments that bitches don't mature properly mentally if spayed before their first season and coats can sometimes be affected.  However, a lot of people argue that this is not the case.  Incontinence can occur in a spayed bitch but it is controllable by medication.  The only advice I can give you would be to weigh up the pro's and con's for your given situation and go with what you feel is right for your little girl and your family - to spay before her first season, or 3 months after? - its your call.

:)

[Edit to say] Vets rates vary across the country but for a Border Terrier I'd be looking at about £120 to get her spayed.

Hi Sam,

Peewee's post summarises this very neatly.

Personally, I spayed my bitch before her season, for three main reasons. One was that I did not want her chances of cancer increasing unnecessarily.

Two, I did not want other dogs harrassing her and risking her becoming aggressive towards other dogs. Unfortunately, I've seen this in a few cases with bitches where dogs have been allowed to harrass them constantly - obviously a lack of management on the owner's part, but something I didn't even want to risk.

Three and most importantly, was I didn't want her behaviour to change in the slightest as she has a wonderful personality. The hormone rollercoaster they go through can have a big effect on their behaviour. Ofcourse, in many bitches this change will be for the better and in a few it may be for the worse. My own personal opinion was that I wanted my pup to be exactly as she was - very sensible and attentive to me. However, if you have a very juvenile bitch, then it might be better to let her 'mature' by letting her have her first season. Also, there is research where spaying can actually make bitches with a tendency towards aggression, even more prone to aggression. So, if your bitch snaps easily and is that way inclined, then it may not be a good idea spaying her at all.

Spaying does not make bitches grow bigger. However, the change in their metabolism can make them prone to putting on weight. This is simply fixed by reducing the food intake.

With regards to coat, I have not seen this and there are people that haven't either. In the same token, there are many people that have seen this themselves. Perhaps it depends on particular breeds and coat types. Again, one of those things where you have to put a value against this.

Really, as peewee says, it's purely a personal choice and you yourself need to weight up the pros and cons and see which ones you put more importance to.

Vet bills vary depending on size of dog, but don't change vets because of cost. Research what facilities they each have and which vets you form a good relationship with and trust. That is much more important than cost.

All the best,
Patty

I had both my Bitches spayed midway between their first and second season, Bree (GR) now 16yrs has only just started to show signs of incontinence. Libby (FCR) has turned into  a huge fluff ball, but her temprament has never changed and she is my 'big girl'. IMHO there are no guarentees and a lot will depend on the dog in question and their breeding.

:D

Apologies for shocking spelling:rolleyes:

That is strange because my vet specifically said it can cause a growth surge (particularly in their limbs), and so that risk had to be weighed up. She also mentioned that weight gain was a possibility in addition to the growth, so we would have to watch what she eats, but the vet did specifically say they can grow bigger is spayed early. Sorry, I am new to this so I am just going on what the vet said. It was sufficient a concern that we decided to let her have a first season, which the vet also wanted her to have.

Thanks for all the advice, I will have to have a good think about it all. I suppose at 6 months we might be approaching her first season anyway so maybe we will wait for her first one and then get it done after that. I must admit I hadn't realised that most people dont take there bitches out at all when in season. Cant you just take them out on a lead somewhere quite or do they still attract off leash dogs from a distance ?

I've always taken my bitches out to safe places when they're in season. In all the years (since the mid-70s) and all the bitches we've only once had an offlead dog approach - and a roar from me made him keep his distance!

I think Peewee has put it perfectly. The only thing is I do know a friend who always keeps her bitches entire and she has had one incontinent after thier first season.  I have done all scenarios with different breeds etc and now prefer spaying early or after the first season. I personally have had no changes whenever spayed.
Go by what is best for you and your dog and if you have anywhere dog free at certain times of the day where you could exercise her.  I don't so mine living here are spayed before thier first season.
Bev

I am pleased we can still carry on with the walks, I would feel sorry for her being cooped up for that long. Thanks for the advice I think we will let her have her first season and then get her spayed.

You're right NannyOgg. The larger growth has to do with the growth plates of the long bones. Hormones, both testosterone and estrogens close off these growth plates (same for humans). At puberty the hormone levels increase and the animal stops getting taller. So neutering before these plates close can cause the animal to get a little taller than it would have if not neutered. This is longitudinal growth only here, not girth. Neutering can reduce the amount of calories a dog needs but you can control diet. How fat your dog gets is still related to exercise and feeding whether entire or neutered.

I was advised not to get my bitch done until after her 2nd season so she can continue to mature a lot more and I was also advised by my vet that they would not do her until she was at least a year old, it really depends on your breed. I then spoke with a trainer this week that said it made no difference if you did it after the first or second.

I had my bitch spayed at 7mnths and she done just fine i didnt want the aggro of males sniffing round either there is no law on whats the best age my vet recommended early for several reasons (breast cancer) (pyometra womb infection) if spayed before the first season it almost certainly stops mammary cancer too

There is an interesting report on early spay/neuter on

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

There is a reference to early neutered dogs being more prone to hip dysplasia as the growth plates stay open longer.   This can mean that the whole geometry of the dog is changed, with pressure distributed unevenly.

I've posted this not to make you folk who have neutered early feel guilty, but to give a balanced viewpoint.   Personally, I keep all my bitches entire, and we organise our lives so that the entire dogs go to work with my husband - haven't yet had a problem either with a sex-related cancer (touch wood) or frustration - it's just the way the pack shakes down into routine when the bitches are in season.

Of course, this doesn't suit everybody.    I  just think that any benefits which this operation may give are far outweighed by the cons as far as we're concerned.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Incidentally, the only neutered dog we have is my son's Jed, who was neutered already.    I have a horrid job this morning of trimming a nasty tangle of hairy yuck from under his tail, as he ate something silly and had an unset tummy.  

His feathering under his tail is much much woolier and denser than our entire dogs, so I'm not exactly looking forward to the job!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats