Spaying at 9 months?????

[Giselle]

The issue with the physical "distortion" due to early castration is that the animal does not go through the influx of hormones that is conducive to sexual maturity. Because the animal does not reach sexual maturity, he doesn't "fill out" to the point where an intact animal would. This often results in gangly, long-legged pups whose chests don't quite drop or fill out. With companion animals, this is no problem. These small aesthetic details are only discernible to a judge, which is why early castration *is* a problem for potential show dogs. Then again, the whole purpose of showing is to evaluation breeding stock, but I digress.

I was also wondering about Scooby4's comment regarding 'batches of puppies'. I have to say I'm as confused as Suki, but, at whatever rate, as long as you speuter your dogs and don't contribute to the overpopulation problem, I'm happy!

My suggestion is to get your dog speutered as soon as her heat is over, and you should be fine. Just be sure to NEVER leave her unattended. Good Luck! You'll really need it!

[Jessika]

"Speutered", there's a new term!

[steph]

Our vet recommend neutering around 6mths of age, there is no need to worry if your dog is older, we've spayed dogs of 4 - 8yrs old, but we highly recommend blood tests to see if they are ok for the anathetic.

I think neutering is the best way to go, if you dont want to breed your dog. Not only does it prevent un wanted pups, but also a uterus infection, which can be deadly, and testicular cancer in the males.... and i also read that studies show that neutred dogs/cats live longer (not sure if that is true though!!!)

[Scooby4]

What I meant buy the first set or batch of puppies is that some people may want to breed their animals at first before being fixed. I have some friends who have arrangements with other owners to breed their dogs together. They generally sell the first set of puppies and share in the profit.
There is also people who didn't take care or the dog/cat got loose and got pregnant prior to the "fixing". So there is going to be a first and LAST litter of puppies born. That situation has to be taken into account when fixing after the first litter.
My cat shortly after being fixed developed the sagging breasts. It was about a month afterward I noticed it. She was fixed about 3 months of age. A little too young for my taste. However, I lived out on farms most of my life and fixing animals wasn't part of it. I decided when I moved into the city that my animals would be always be fixed. I took my vet's advice and had my cat fixed at that age. I wanted to wait till 6 months.
Ironically, in the city I live in, IF you adopt an animal from their shelters you MUST have the animal fixed within 30 days of adoption. This is regardless of age. That rule I am NOT happy with so I have made sure to adopt older dogs. Scooby and Shaggy BOTH were older when adopted. They did well on their nuetering.
As for the animals developing certain cancers or diseases due to NOT being nuetered, I don't believe it entirely. It's like saying to me, because I have breast I now have a chance at breast cancer. So removing my breasts eliminates my chances of cancer? No it doesn't. Would I then have the sex organs removed from my animals because of this same chance? Not until it was time to do it appropriately.

[Lady's Human]

this is off topic, but:

Actually, scooby, there is a growing number of oncologists who are recommending radical mastectomies for patients in severe risk groups for breast cancer. Not women who have lumps, but women in severe risk categories.

How many members of the ORIGINAL vienna boys choir developed testicular cancer? None, they didn't have any testicles. They were castrated before puberty to preserve their voices.

[catnapper]

Yes, spaying or nuetering before sexual maturity does stop cancers because its the hormones that changes things, not the organs themselves. It does not completely rule out cancer, it merely greatly reduces your risk of cancer. Nobody said my spayed girls wold never get ovarian cancer - they just will have such a low percentage that I'll never worry about it. But its been prooven that the risk is incredibly high if she was never spayed, and that risk increases with each heat cycle.

As for profit on a first litter.... they made profit?!?!? Then they weren't being responsible, and I'll tell you why. They might have made $2,000 off a litter but then they should have put that much into the endeavor with vet tests (I sure hope they had lots of blood tests to asssure health and temperment of both pets involved), with prenatal vet care for mama, with vet care and first rounds of shots, deworming, etc, with supplies for the pups such as blankets and the copious amount of laundry involved, not to mention any advertising they might have done to attract buyers, and quality food for both mama and pups after they've been weaned. There's more but I am just scratchign the surface with the basics. By the time they were also done with running mama to the vet, running the pups to the vet, running to and fro for supplies, you've spent a fortune of gas and time. Sorry but nobody makes out and walks away with money on a first litter. Your firends may think they made money, but if they at down and calculated, they would be shocked at what they really spent in time and materials.

[Scooby4]

Notice I said ONLY the first litter they try to breed off. It is funny how many people try this and think they are going to make a profit! Pretty much after the first litter I find many owner's don't want to go through that again. That is when they get them fixed. I don't think any of my friends who tried this EVER made a profit of any kind. Not many buyer's for $400 puppies who's breed is in question.
The vienna boys choir castrated!!!? NOT that I have ever heard of. They just kick the boys out when they hit puberty and their voices change. That is why they are called a "Boy's choir"! The boys are typically kicked out by the age of 11 or 12. It is the same with the group "Menudo" in Mexico. Their singers are also kicked out by age 15 or 16. They are too "mature" and outgrow their teenage fans.
Really you thought the vienna boy's choir was castrated?

[Lady's Human]

the ORIGINAL vienna boys choir. Like circa 1500 or so, not now.

[labmomma]

Hey there,
Get your dog indoors and keep her there until heat is over. Take her out for potty breaks but make it a quickie and try to hose down the area. The scent will get on the ground and attract every male in the area. I've heard of males chewing through wood doors to get at a female. Please be careful because the males lose all sense when a female is in heat.
God Bless you and yours

[IRescue452]

I don't know of any female cats with sagging bellies but I know plenty who were spayed before their first heat. No correlation. There is also no correlation between physical health and maturity and when animals are spayed and neutered. Before the first heat shows the overall best results for dogs and cats. Be logical here and don't fall for old wives tales and a few speculated cases.

[dab_20]

Personally I think you should spay your dog before the first heat... around 6 months old. Your dog is plenty old enough... please get her spayed soon!

[luvofallhorses]

please get her spayed NOW!