To spay or not to spay???

[Rio and Me]

My Rottie x Lab girl is 2 in november!
she is not spayed yet due to the price of spaying!
but what are all the pros and cons of spaying, (not puppies as a con as i am able to secure her during her seasons),
this whould help as i would like to have her spayed but i dont want a fat (or to have to cut her food down) incontant dog!
Ky and Rio

[Uabassoon]

(not puppies as a con as i am able to secure her during her seasons),

That's what you think but sometimes their desire for an evening of fun is stronger than your containment, I've heard so many stories of people that end up with a litter because their pet escaped. But PLEASE spay your dog, it's well worth it. By getting them spayed it eliminates the chance of ovarian cancer and decreases the chance of mammary cancer.. so in the long run saving your dog from lots of pain, and saving you money. Your dog will be so much healthier if you get her spayed. Pets don't actually get fatter if you spay them, the reason why people think this is because usually people who spay their pets have their pets living the indoor life of luxury so of course they are going to be heavier then the stray dog who has to fend for herself that is unspayed. But please please please for your dog (who sounds like a beauty, and I would love to see pics) get her spayed.

[mugsy]

SPAY HER!

Altered dogs live, in general, a longer, happier life. They have zero chance of getting some cancers. Yes, altered dogs do tend to gain some weight, but with a little management that doesn't happen. In fact, our Tigger, who is a Husky/Pit mix has difficulty keeping weight ON. Right now his ribs and hip bones are sticking out and we feed him ALL the time.

Also, we don't need anymore unwanted puppies in the world and why put her through the trauma of pregnancy and puppybirth?

Ok, sorry, I'm off my soap box. :)

[shais_mom]

Unless you are a responsible breeder, there is no reason for you NOT to spay her.
You might think you have her secure but one of these days she will get out. It isn't a question of if but when.
You would be astounded to find out the amount of puppies 2 unaltered dogs can have in just 5 years if none of their offspring are altered. The number is 64,000 puppies!!
She will be healthier, happier and have a longer life. My GR is on the chunky side but she also has hypothyroid. If you are basing your love and desire for your dog on her weight, then you don't have the love and passion for your dog that the rest of us do here.

IMHO

[isis]

You really should spay her.She really could get out oneday.I can understand that you don't want her to get fat because that can cause some health problems,but at the same time she would be happy and live longer!:)

[Rio and Me]

I am going to spay her after her next season (its to late now).
But what are the chances of incontance?
Also there is an Anti mate injection that is given twice a year that is a possiblity!
its not that i dont like my dog fat its that i dont want to cut her food down by half (as some people have to) because she loves her food!
Ky

[Uabassoon]

But what are the chances of incontance?

I've never heard anything about incontinance due to spaying..



Also there is an Anti mate injection that is given twice a year that is a possiblity!

Earlier you said you hadn't gotten her spayed due to the expense, this will be more expensive in the long run. Plus it won't reduce the chance of cancers. If you love your dog then you should want her to live as long and healthy of a life as possible. Spaying really is the best solution.

[robinh]

Really would like to welcome you and do hope that we see pictures of your baby. We do love pictures!

Now I'll wade in. It is so much better for the dogs to have it done.

I have three females and one is not spayed. The only reason the puppy isn't done already is that she's scheduled to go in November. We talked to the vet when we were in a week ago and made the arrangements. He said it would be a good time for her to have it done.

Weight can be controlled. You don't have to feed her less, just don't feed her more and keep up her normal amount of exercise.

It's something I really insist on with our females and I can't remember that we have ever have had a problem with incontinence.

As for expense, if she has a litter and has problems it will cost you the spay fee and then some taking care of those problems. And that even take into consideration the cost of any problems she'll run into later if she gets mammary or ovarian cancer.

OK, I step down now. Thanks mugsy for allowing me to use the soap box.

[Kater]

Originally posted by mugsy
SPAY HER!

Agreed! Take a look at petfinder.com and you'll see the results of female dogs not being spayed--- so many homeless doggies! :(

[wolfsoul]

I agree, spay her. You said you don't want her to get fat. It is a myth that dogs get fat because they get spayed. An owner might notice decreased energy after the spay, and might not feel the need to go for walks as often. This is why dogs get fat after they are altered. Lack of exersise and poor nutrition.

[Logan]

I think you are going to get the same message from most of us, especially those involved in rescue. Spay her. Watch her weight, but I have not seen any big weight issues with my own girls, attributed to their spaying. I have heard of incontinence issues with older spayed females, but they are easily controlled with hormone pills, twice a week.

For your own good, and the good of your dog, spay her.

[Cookiebaker]

SPAY!

[lovemyshiba]

For all of the reasons everyone posted, spay her!!

[binka_nugget]

Yep..I'm pretty sure everyone's going to give you the same answer.

I'd stick to spaying rather than the twice a year injection. I don't think many people have heard of the injection, therefore it probably is fairly new on the market. Spaying is a very common thing that almost always ends up with good results.

If you check your local shelter, they may have a spay/neuter program that will spay your dog for you for a cheaper price than some vets. I think the spca here said it was 50 dollars compared to our vet for 100.

[dragondawg]

The incidence of mammary cancer among spayed dogs is near 0%. After the first heat they have a 7% chance of developing mammary cancer later in life. After the second heat and there after the percentages go up to 25% or 1 in 4 will develop mammary cancer.

[Byakko's Mom]

SPAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Just look up Pyometra and find out how awful that is for a dog to go through and how expensive it is. The treatment is a spay but a really expensive spay since they are sick, not to mention everything everyone else has allready mentioned. Please do your dog and yourself a favor and spay your dog it is a lot less expensive in the long run and many puppies are from no chance it will happen litters and we certainly don't need more unwanted puppies in the world today.

[Albea]

I was stupid enough not to spay my first Golden, not because I wanted to breed her or couldn't pay the bill, but because I thought it would be painful for her. She died of breast cancer at the age of 9 1/2. That was a long time ago and I learned my lesson.
My next two Golden girls were spayed as soon as they were six months old. They never gained weight or had any incontinence problems.
Please, do your pup a favor that will keep her with you, happy and healthy, for a long time. Spay her!

[mruffruff]

PLEASE SPAY!

For all of the above reasons. And a dog that is spayed (or neutered) is less likely to roam.

There have been cases of male dogs breaking windows to get to a female in heat!!:eek:
And dogs can mate through a chain link fence.

Mary

[Cataholic]

You know, I haven't really seen any 'evidence' of this weight gain due to altering your doggie, male or female. The facts seem to be...as ALL of us age, our energy levels decrease...but, our ability/desire to eat stays the same. I wonder how much of the weight gain is really just the natural progression of life?


As to your comment that she really likes her food....well, kids really like candy, too, but, you have to limit the intake.

[cloverfdx]

please spay her- as everyone else has said

we stupidly did not spay our jack russell terrier X untill this year, she had to go in for emergency surjury due to pyometra (spl?) and we nearly lost her :( it is the dumbest thing we have ever done and never will i have an intact dog again. also my rotti X was not done untill she was 3 years old so the percentage is higher for her getting mamery cancer in her older/ or not too older years, and that thought makes me sick :(

[lv4dogs]

I say spay (just look at my sig)
There have been a lot of facts stated for reasons to spay, there is only fact not to spay which is to IMPROVE the breed!
Pyometra is what I was going to say but was already mentioned. When I worked as a vet tech I saw many dogs come in w/ that, an emergancy spay is required & it is deadly (the cancers are deadly too).

Fatness ussually occures cause the owner increases the food &/or decreases the excersize. it is a myth.

If you love your dog you will get her spayed.

there are many programs out there for individuals that can not afford the full cost of spaying/neutering. Your local shelters & vet should be able to get all the info on that.

[micki76]

I think dogs are like people; some get fatter as they age and some don't. All three of my dogs are altered. Millie is the only chubby one. :rolleyes: Chester is in fine, trim shape and so is Aneko (we've actually had to put weight on her). Neither of my girls has any incontenence issues and Aneko is 13-15 years old!

[clara4457]

Micki76 - I agree totally. Once I had Penny spayed her energy level went way up - she is a great deal more active now. Once I got her spayed, her incontinence went away.

Leo is a little overweight, but that is because he would eat everything in site if I let him :o not because he is neutered.

[shais_mom]

I wouldn't own a pet that was NOT spayed or neutered.

[Shelteez2]

no one has mentioned is that allowing a dog to go through heat after heat increases it's chances of getting pyometra.

http://www.askdrpetra.com/Dogs/Pyometra%20in%20Dogs.htm

[cloverfdx]

Pyometra has been mentioned a few times * a few posts up*

[Shelteez2]

Originally posted by cloverfdx
Pyometra has been mentioned a few times * a few posts up*

Whoops. I suppose it helps if I read all the replies before I post, huh?

[belle67]

Please spay her! :)
Not only will there be no puppies running around but it also cuts the risk of mammary cancer.
Our girl is spayed (a condition of her adoption contract) and she has never been incontinent or put on weight. And she is 5. Lots of exercise and controlling about of food will help with that.