Do most members who are not breeding from their golden retrievers spay their bitches. Does it affect their coats ?. Do they have any problems with incontinence. Am in two minds what to do? Could Someone give me some advice please?

Hi - I had my golden spayed at 6 months old. She is a little incontinent, but I don't know if it is from the spaying or if it is just how she is, because she has always went pee in her sleep. Now she takes pills (like treats for her) before sleeping.

I did ask my vet about this though , before she was spayed, and was told that it wouldn't cause incontinence. Then, once she became a certain age and was still going in her sleep, they gave me the pills and said that sometimes spaying does cause incontinence. So, I'm not sure if they tell you that it doesn't, so you'll get them spayed, or if it most likely won't in most dogs.

Anyway, in training class after she was spayed, I talked to the trainer because it was only a week after her surgery & wanted to be sure it was ok to take her to class. My trainer said it was a good thing to have her spayed because more dogs are being diagnosed with uterus cancer and especially golden retreivers.

I think it's up to what you feel is best. It is a preventative against cancer, but I do believe it can sometimes cause incontinence...

~~ m

Oh, by the way, her fur is exactly the same as before!!!