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I'd always heard to spay around six months or before a female's first heat.
But then I read this article the groomer put up in the breakroom and you know it really kind of makes sense to me.
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
Grant it, so long as you're a RESPONSIBLE owner, it shouldn't be a problem for a year or so until you get them fixed. Then again for every responsible owner there are 50 irresponsible ones...
My opinion is that you should fix the animal AFTER the first heat or first litter. (First litter ONLY if intentional for breeding). The 6 months rule should correlate with the first heat anyways. For male dogs fixing should be done after the testicles have "dropped".
I say this from experience. My cat got "fixed" at around 3 months. It was the BIGGEST mistake! Her mentality is a little "immature" and never seemed to become a full adult. She is over 10 years old! Her physical status has been the worse effect. Everyone has commented that she is a "fat cat". However, she is NOT fat in any shape or form. Her "breasts" fell down and it is a lump of droopy skin! A fat cat's skin is taught well hers is extremely loose.
I've noticed other animals that have gotten fixed too early and they have "maturity" issues. That's just my opinion. My next time getting my animals fixed I will wait. I am just NOT comfortable with the trend of fixing animals early. I do see the point of it. There are too many unfixed animals without responsible owners. This provides a "protection" from encouraging more unwanted animals from neglectful owners.
Talk to a few vets and decide what is best for your animal. This is just MY Opinion. Please make your own. ;)
I have heard that extra large breed male dogs should be neutered at 18 months. When you buy from a breeder though -- you HAVE to follow the contract. :)
Every one of our cats who were spayed as young kittens at the shelter before we adopted them (in most cases, earlier than three months) all have this exact problem. I knew it had something to do with being fixed because EVERY CAT we've had fixed that young has this problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooby4
What about male cats, though? I don't want Double-Oh to start spraying... and getting him fixed will help stop the behavior, but if you get him neutered before he starts spraying he doesn't "lose" the ability to spray but he's never done it before to know he can do it. O_o If that makes any sense. lmao
I noticed it said "canine athlete" several times in that article, including in the title. "Early Spay/Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete".
Canine ATHLETES differ a lot from ones that are family pets, regardless of it's breed.
I think a dog should be spayed/neutered ASAP after it's first heat cycle; only because the cycle itself is natural for the dog. I would also say that I think every dog should have at least one litter because it is natural, but I know that would be a devastation and I know better because of all the irresponsible people on this Earth.
Molly's getting spayed on Monday and is approx. 6 1/2 months old but hasn't reached a heat cycle yet, so could she be younger than 6 1/2 months?
I know the article was written with canine athletes in mind, but the article also states "particularly for the canine athlete" meaning including (and stressed for), but not limited to, canine athletes. ;)
EDIT: There's a very good chance she IS 6 1/2 months and just hasn't had her first heat yet. Jamie was 11 months before she got her's :)
Thats an interesting article, one that makes a lot of sense.
I've always been a fan of spaying/neutering at an older (between 6 months to 2 years of age) *IF* you are responsible AND are having no behavioral issues.
Jessika, I understand what you are saying about male cats. Thats a tough call, just like male dogs though. Male dogs can continue to mark if they have already learned the behavior too. Do you want to neuter them late & take the chance that they may start to mark (or spray when relating to cats) or just get it done early so you have less of a chance to deal with the problem? I think thats a personal choice, if you want to risk it or not.
I went through a lot of worrying with Tiki about that issue. I wanted to wait until he was between 6-9 months of age but I did NOT want him spraying. I couldn't keep him inside for the life of me so luckily that made up my mind for me. I didn't want any stray cats to get pregnant. I got him fixed when he was right around 5.5 months or so.
BTW, I have also noticed the saggyness associated with female cats that are spayed at a real early age.
BCMom, there is a good chance she just hasn't had her heat yet, not all dogs have them at the exact same age. A dog her size usually (but not always) has their first between the ages of 6-9 months of age. Just like with people the age is not always the same for each person.
Sue - Kaige isn't neutered right? Have you had problems with him marking?
In general aren't larger dogs supposed to start marking around 12-18 months? I hope to neuter Buck around then, but I have to avoid marking because I'm getting ready to plant two gardens in my backyard! :(
Quote:
Originally Posted by .sarah
You are correct, Kaige is still in-tact. He has not had one single behavioral issue associated with being in-tact, as of yet. ~~knocks on wood~~
He does not mark at all. He will stop ALL the time to smell where other dogs go but hasn't once pee'd where they pee or the like. He has also never lifted his leg yet either. And he's 9 months old, well in a few days he will be anyways.
I have always heard that males start marking when they hit puberty, no matter what breed or size, which is usually between 4-9 months or so. Like you said though, it's generally speaking. I'll have to do some further re-search on it & see what I find.
In my personal experience I usually see male dogs starting to mark around 6-12 months of age.
I also personally think that a lot of it has to do with what the dogs overall behavior is like, what they are exposed to & how they are trained. Like for ex. a more laid back, friendly dog tends to mark later on in life if at all, one who is laid back BUT is exposed to other dogs marking may pick up on the habit a little sooner. A more aggressive dog or one who has to compete over food, shelter, attention, toys etc... usually starts to mark earlier, even if they are lower ranking in the pack. Some shy/reserved dogs may start marking earlier & some may start later, it really depends on why they are shy to begin with. Like with Raustyk (yes she's a girl but she marks like crazy) is shy because she was abused, she was already lifting her leg & marking when I first got her at 6 months of age. My friends dog who is shy because he just isn't socialized that often (a 4 year old in tact male :rolleyes:) and he hasn't marked a day in his life & has also never lifted his leg.
Hmmm, I have always been a fan of really early neuters and spays before the first heat, but that article does make sence. I was thinking that was you would stop the the dog from maturing sexually. Dog knows we don't need any more pet dogs in this world, so I'm still for early alterings from shelters. Now that I've seen both sides though, I'd say that if you are RESPONSIBLE you should do it whenever you want to have it done. I can see why it would be really better to wait for a while for the working dog.
Yeah you know it kind of makes you re-think everything!
Thanks for the info Sue. I'll just have to watch his behavior and snip him when I think marking may start soon. Hopefully he will make it to a year, that is the age I'd really like to neuter him at. *crosses fingers*
Females:
Spaying before the 1st heat reduces the chance to zero of developing mammary cancer.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=584
males:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=574
My personal preference is to spay a female dog before their 1st heat.
(spay 6-7 months of age)
No opinion on males accept to make sure they do not in pregnant
other dogs or if a behavior problem neuter before all the
harmons kick in.
Yes, fixing your animal BEFORE it's first heat may reduce the chances of getting many different types of diseases. However, those diseases may be treatable in the short term. Fixing the animal later falls more into the "long term" care of an animal.
Fixing an animal later, allows them to experience some "sexual maturity". The horomone changes and bodily characteristics that come from this "change" are more important in my eyes. It allows the animal to mature properly and get rid of some of their "bad habits".
For example: What if you were "fixed" at age 13. A woman who never got a period or a boy who never got "stimulated" (Sorry folks :o ). Would your maturity level change who you are today? A woman never developing breasts and boy's voices NOT change?
That essentially is what is happening to our animals when we don't allow them to formally go through "Puberty". They may never get "breast cancer" but are they ever going to mature, calm, cool and collective? What would you rather have?
Ps. All my animals are fixed. One too early, the dogs just right, and the ferret already done. The one too early still has issues to this day 15 years later.
I have never had a female
dog with behavior issues for spaying before the 1st heat and
neither has anybody else I know that can tie it in
to spaying. (the old protocol use to be wait till after the 1st heat)
So I will stick with the opinions of the most current protocol on vet studies on spaying until I hear different. :)