Re: spaying

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

At 05:44 PM 11/13/01 -0800, you wrote:
> This is a Gina
> question, but thought with all the girls in the last litter - others
> might have this question....  I was thinking about getting Katie
> spayed right before Thanksgiving so I could have some days at home with
> her.  Gina - did you recommend waiting longer?  What are the
> advantages to the dog of waiting?  I looked in THE BOOK but couldn't
> find any info.
> BTW it was great seeing Ditto and Lucy in the ring - they looked
> gorgeous!  It was also fun to see some rare breeds - there were some
> bizarre looking dogs there.  In my eyes nothing competes with the
> beauty of a golden :-)
> Peggy

Peggy and All,

I don't recommend before 5 months preferably 6 months.  Early spay
and neuter tends to give you taller dogs that do not mature out well no
hormonal rush so to speak an incomplete process.  I air on the side
of waiting till Martin Luther King Day (holiday wise).  But in all
honesty a spay done on Friday by Monday on a young pup is no big deal, to
the point that by Monday you will want to go back to work just to rest
from the puppy. :-)  Spays at this age are no big deal past the
first day.  Right guys???  

Another consideration that needs to be looked at with girl puppies is if
they have any vaginitis, ( vulva discharge) if so it's my strong
recommendation that you do not spay until after a heat cycle. Completing
the heat cycle and the hormones that come with that will fix a vaginitis
issue.  However bitches who are spayed prior to a heat cycle that
have active vaginitis can have serious health problems with UI infections
for life.  Little girl puppies often have vaginitis and you should
check or have your vet check.  It's no big deal and unless it is
accompanied by a UI or bladder infection that causes discomfort and or
frequent urination needs not be treated except with time. 
Antibiotics for simple vaginitis are often just a waste.  Here are
some links:

Read the last line of this one :-) 
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1713&articleid=929

Urinary System and Disorders:

http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=2&cat=1733

Anatomy of the Reproductive System:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1554&articleid=920

Historically our girls do not go into season before 10 to 12 mos of
age.  Unless they are placed with Brad and Kim who have Riley and
Raegan who both cycled for the first time at about 8 mos of age. 
DiTTo just came in this week at 10 mos.  Both Riley and Reagan had
vaginitis and B&K opted to allow them to cycle once and wha la no
more icky pooders...  

Anyway I hope all this helps!  IIene you have anything to add? Or an
apposing view? 

Gina