Hi

Our Cocker pup is now 6 months.  We have no intention of breeding from her and we are looking to have her speyed.

We have been getting conflicting advice. One vet said let her have a season then wait 3 months. Another vet said best time is before their first season.

I was always under the impression that it is best to let them have their first season.

Please can I get some advice.

Thanks
Ali

I would hold off as long as possible, a year or 2 years if possible, or even not get her spayed at all if you are ok with keeping her away from other dogs during her seasons. Those hormones do so much more than bring them into season, growth, emotional maturity etc. Often spayed spaniels develop a big woolly coat that is very hard to deal with too.

I would say let her mature before spaying so ideal between the 3 and 4 season although between the 2 and 3 may be ok. You will probably find that the cocker coat will be effected about 12 months after she is spayed.

Snap Lucy dogs, we posted together.

Probably the best time to neuter is 3 months after her first season provided she is over 12 months at the time of her first season.  She does need the benefit of her hormones to mature fully before she is denied the benefit through neutering.

Cockers do get a woolly and harder to manage coat after they have been neutered, however, there are many that continue to be hand-stripped successfully with good results.  Most pet cockers are clippered; if that's the case with your girl then the change to her coat due to neutering won't be evident as all the wool will be clippered off as usual.

Is your Cocker a working strain pup, Balibee? If so, coat changes post neutering tend not to be as great as in show-type dogs although often the livers can become fluffier/woollier than some of the other colours. Not that coat changes are an argument not to spay particularly, just something to be aware of.

Of course, there are all sorts of effects connected to spaying and to a large extent the earlier the more likely particularly some of the more common effects like the coat and early onset incontinence but all these can be helped by leaving the spay till the dog is around 5 or 6.

It is a matter of being aware of the side effects of both doing and not doing a spay and deciding according to your own personal circumstances, but do not be talked into doing it whilst the bitch is young unless you have no option but to do so.

I agree, it is a Working Cocker if memory serves me right in which case although they can have differing coat lengths and textures on the whole this strains coats are fine after neutering.

We've had plenty of Working Cockers in the family, they are always neutered at approx 18 months.

6 months is a Big no, no. First season is approx 9 months, so 12 months is usually when most vets would neuter, it is not horrendous to neuter at this time, as Working Cockers mature between 12-18 months, but agree 2 seasons + 3 months would be even better if you can stretch to 18 months would be ideal.

Neutering helps to cut down the risk of mammary cancers as well as accidental pregnancies and pyo so I would always recommend neutering bitches not to be bred from. :-)

I don't spay my spaniels (through choice).  My girls never run off and I don't have any males and I hate a neutered spaniels coat.  It goes wooly and unmanagable probably 6-8 weeks after surgery and tangles easier.  I look after a neutered boy and I tried oiling his coat to stop it matting but to no avail.  That boy too now comes for an 'all off'.
Neutering a dog too soon leads to all sorts of maturing problems both physically and mentally.  Also, the bitches vulva never develops properly and causes them pain.  A friend with a BC spayed her at 6 mths and she just looks like a tall puppy and constantly lickes her vulva which the vet says is a pain reaction.
I would wait till she has had a couple of season at least.

Many thanks for everyones advice.  Yes she is a working cocker.  I will take your advice and wait until she is at least 18 months then.  We were never planning on doing it this early it is just that when she went to the vet last week for her weigh in for her wormer he mentioned it and totally confused us.

Luckily we don't have any issues with access to entire dogs and quite happy to be careful with walks during her seasons so am quite happy to wait as long as neccessary.

I appreciate your advice, makes total sense :)

Yes agree with everyone who says wait or don't do it at all if it's not a problem.  Certainly wait until at least 18 months old - reasons are many.  Studies have shown that bone growth continues after neutering and this will lead to taller dogs and potential strain on joints not designed for the angles they end up.  Behaviour is another matter - dogs neutered before 18months behave differently - studies found that they are more aggressive, fearful, excitable and less trainable than intact dogs. Healthwise they can suffer from incontinence and other health issues including including certain cancers.  Whilst there is an increased chance of mammary tumours in intact bitches these are usually found early and are treatable.

Personally I would wait and I ask anyone having a pup from me to wait until they're mature, bone plates have fused and if bitches have had at least one season.  I now get people to agree to a minimum age of 18 months.  I am happy for them not to neuter as long as they're responsible - I wouldn't let them have a pup unless they were responsible!

Vets have been known to put pressure on people to have their pets neutered early, but it's really due to irresponsible people allowing their dogs to roam and become a nuisance or having puppies.  Responsible people will ensure their pets don't do this.

Many vets seem to bring up neutering at the pups first check up, it is steady income for them and they don't mention the many pros to doing this too early. There are breeders in the US of my breed who get their pups done at 8-12 weeks before sending them home with their new owners, I think this is barbaric and dread to think what issues these dogs develop later.

There are alternatives such as laproscopic tubal ligation in females and the "snip" vascectomies in males which allow the hormones to do their jobs but won't allow reproduction to take place, the full procedure can then be carried out when fully mature if so wished.

If you google " early spay/neuter " there are lots of articles come up.

What vets also fail to mention in males is that a timid male should never be neutered as you are taking away what little testosterone they did have only adding to the issue.

Well done for researching this topic before being swayed by the vets.

My response would be almost identical to Carrington's.  The vet that advised 3 months after a season is totally right.  You definitely want your girl to have developed properly before having anything removed. 

While we can only guesstimate the correct "halfway house" between seasons, it is for a very good reason.  If a bitch is spayed just prior to her season starting, or very soon after finishing, her hormones will be raging.  When spaying is carried out midway between seasons, when hormones are more settled, there are far less blood vessels for the veterinary surgeon to tie off. 

Common sense tells us that, the less work he has to carry out, the faster the operation can be completed.  Which means less anaesthetic for your girl.  :-)

If you'd like to read up on some scientific research here is a list of articles addressing health, behaviour and social concerns with neutering.

This is a reading list of articles and papers by Veterinarians, breed clubs, trainers and others on the pros and cons of neutering or spaying your dog that I have found helpful and very educational. Most are based on extensive Veterinary research and also provide references you can check further. If you are wrestling with the question of when or whether to neuter/spay these may help. They do not all agree and one is even a rebuttal of another. One is a link to a radio show interview. One is a link to a medical testosterone suppressant not yet available in N. America but is in the U.K. and Australia. Some are not easy reading.

I think I personally found the first two in the list to be of most help and I appreciated the non-biased way the information was presented. The list is in no particular order, articles were simply added as I discovered them. If the links are not clickable I have tried to include the name of the paper and author in case you have to search for them. I hope this helps folks out and good luck with your decision. A tip, I went to my Vet to discuss the first two articles with her.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf
Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs
Laura J. Sanborn, M.S.
May 14, 2007

http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.231.11.1665
Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats,
Margaret V. Root Kustritz, dvm, phd, dact

http://www.savethedals.org/earlyneuter.htm
Veterinary "Review" Article on Neutering, with Implications for Dalmatian Stone-Formers    Abstracted by Carroll H. Weiss
Study Group on Urinary Stones
Research Committee
Dalmatian Club of America

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/neutr.html
NEUTERING MALE AND FEMALE DOGS
Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M.
©2003 for BREEDERVET

http://www.littleriverlabs.com/neuter.htm
The Question Of Neutering and at what age
(Put together by Gregg Tonkin, Little River Labradors from postings by Pam Davol PHD and Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP)

http://leerburg.com/pdf/neutering.pdf
Should You Neuter Your Dog?
Ed Frawley, Leerburg Kennels   * words are l e e r b u r g.com and L e e r b u r g Kennels

http://www.traciehotchner.com/dt/files/WillWeChangeOnEarlySpay-Neuter_Villalobos.pdf
The Bond and Beyond for VPN December 2008
by Alice Villalobos
Will We Change on Early Spay-Neuter?

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/castrationindogs.html
ISSUES REGARDING CASTRATION IN DOGS
Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M.
©2003 for BREEDERVET

http://www.petresource.com/Articles%20of%20Interest/new_views_on_neutering.htm
New Views On Neutering
By Ruth Marrion, DVM

http://www.acc-d.org/2006%20Symposium%20Docs/Session%20I.pdf
Non-reproductive Effects of Spaying and Neutering
Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Non-Surgical
Contraceptive Methods for Pet Population Control * www.acc-d.org
SESSION OVERVIEW - Dr. John Verstegen

http://www.peptech.com/HTML/Animal_Health/Superlorin_general.html
A non-surgical method to suppress testosterone

http://prdupl02.ynet.co.il/ForumFiles_2/23999370.pdf
Pros and Cons of Neutering
E. Hardie
Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/rspca.shtml
RSPCA Admit to Spaying and Castrating Puppies AT SIX WEEKS OLD
Stan Rawlinson MTCBPT.MPAACT
Doglistener Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer

http://users.lavalink.com.au/theos/Spay-neuter.htm#vacc
Should I spay or should I no..?  -- pros and cons of Spay-neuter
Hungarian Vizsla Health Resource

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/spaying_neutering.shtml
Spaying and Castration (Neutering) Dogs and Cats A Stark Warning
Stan Rawlinson, a full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer.

http://www.wholedognews.com/
Spay, Neuter, and Cancer: Revisiting and Old Trinity
Myrna Milani, BS, DVM

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete One Veterinarian's Opinion
© 2005 Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP

http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/Documents/PedRebuttal%20.pdf
Rebuttal to "Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete"
Lisa M Howe, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS Associate Professor, Small Animal Surgery Co-Chief
Surgical Sciences Sect Dept of Vet Small Animal Clinical Sci
College of Vet Med and Biom Sciences Texas A&M Univ College Station TX 77843

http://www.pluggd.tv/audio/channels/dog_talk_the_radio_show/episodes/4njnh
Dog Talk Show #96 Tracie Hotchner (10-18-2008)
Early spay/neuter may be harming our dogs! Hear Dr. Christine Zink, DVM, PhD, DAVCP on the physical benefits of delaying neutering and trainer Parvene Farhoody on how it can reduce aggression.

http://www.antrozoologisenteret.no/artikler/art_breed.pdf
Effects of breed, sex, and neuter status on trainability in dogs
James A. Serpell* and Yuying Hsu+

http://users.skynet.be/fa242124/a-english/castration-dogs.html
Gonadectomy and behavior
Dr Joël Dehasse

http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/Gosling/reprints/AABS05DogPersonalityReview.pdf
Temperament and personality in dogs (Canis familiaris): A review and evaluation of past research
Amanda C. Jones *, Samuel D. Gosling

http://www.skeptvet.com/index.php?p=1_23_Benefits-Risks-of-Neutering
Evaluating the Benefits and Risks of Neutering
The SkeptVet -  the owner of this blog is not identified but the articles referenced are searchable.

http://www.petfinder.com/for-shelters/pediatric-spay-neuter.html
Pediatric Spay/Neuter
Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA

http://k9harmony.co.uk/spaying-and-castration/
Spaying and Castration - What Your Vet and the Rescue Centres May Not Tell You
Pauline Waller, member #178 Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers, - articles referenced and searchable

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=1123732;hl=castrate#pid1123732
To Castrate or Not? - Interesting discussion regarding a young male targeted by an aggressive older male.

http://www.cdoca.org/downloads/files/Early%20SN%20and%20Behavior.pdf
Non-reproductive Effects of Spaying and Neutering on Behavior in Dogs
Deborah L. Duffy, Ph.D., and James A. Serpell, Ph.D., Center for the Interaction of
Animals and Society, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

http://www.2ndchance.info/spayneuter.htm
At What Age Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog or Cat?
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Neutering My Pet?
Revisiting The Idea Of Early-Age Neutering
Ron Hines DVM PhD  10/05/09

http://saveourdogs.net/category/health/
Articles and links to Veterinary organizations opposing mandatory spay/neuter

http://askdryin.com/blog/tag/dog-behavior-arousal-aggression-spay-neuter/
Can Spaying Make Dog Behaviour Worse?
Sophia Yin, DVM, MS        March 5, 2009

http://www.associationofanimalbehaviorprofessionals.com/effects_of_neutering.html
The Effects of Spaying and Neutering on Canine Behaviour
James O'Heare, Based on section from Aggressive Behavior in Dogs, 2006,

http://www.petfriendlyworld.com/chatforum/showthread.php?t=23096
The Behavioural Effects of Canine Castration
Hazel Palmer, 1993  See post #8 in the chat forum at Pet Friendly World.

http://www.cdoca.org/downloads/files/Early%20SN%20and%20Behavior.pdf
Does Spaying and Neutering Reduce Aggression?
Dr. Polley DVM, 2001   American Dog Breeders Association

http://www.gpmcf.org/respectovaries.html
A Healthier Respect for Ovaries (in dogs)
David J. Waters, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS
Director, Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies
Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation

http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009b/091201OvarianResearch.html
Message for women and dogs: keeping ovaries is linked to longevity
To the Purdue Research Park, http://www.purdueresearchpark.com

http://www.rockllewellinsetters.com/OvaryExposureLongevityStudyfromAgingCellJournalbyDavidJWatersetalDec2009.pdf
Exploring mechanisms of sex differences in longevity:  lifetime ovary exposure and exceptional longevity in dogs
David J. Waters,1,2 Seema S. Kengeri,1 Beth Clever,1 Julie A. Booth,1 Aimee H. Maras,1 Deborah L.
Schlittler1 and Michael G. Hayek3
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may09/090515j.asp
AVMA: Mandatory spay/neuter a bad idea
Javma News, May 15, 2009

http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/male-dog-neutering.html
Veterinary Advice Online:  Male Dog Neutering
http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/dog-spaying.html
Veterinary advice Online:  Dog Spaying (Spaying a Female Dog)
Dr. Shauna O'Meara  Pet Informed:  http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/index.html