Re: Time to Spay/Neuter

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Dear Ellen,

Thank you so much for your addition to my post.  This point you make below 
really clicked for me.  It's so true that most vets don't deal with intact 
animals with much regularity.  I think this is why often there is a rift so 
to speak when a client says well my breeder said...  Breeders are not vets 
but anecdotical experience has to be worth something.

As you all know I try very hard to work hand in hand with vets and try not 
to second guess them but on the topic of when to spay a bitch puppy I think 
it is important to make sure your not dealing with chronic vaginitis or an 
immature vulva.  When the girls in this litter were examined by my vet and 
I neither one of us felt that any of them had high vulva's or abundant 
discharge to indicate vaginitis.  However that was 4 months ago and growing 
has taken place. Please let your vet know your concerned for your puppy and 
that going through one heat cycle is not the end of the world if he/she 
feels it might be worth consideration.

G

>Ellen wrote:
>Unfortunately, because so many vets don't deal with intact animals, they 
>are sometimes not as educated as they could be.  I've taught my vets at 
>work a great deal about intact boys and girls. Most vets will tell you 
>that there is no difference as to when you spay/neuter, but there 
>definitely can be.  And if your girl has had problems with vaginitis or 
>UTI's, I think it's well worth it to give it a shot.  I'd far rather deal 
>with one month of a heat cycle once, than a possible life time of UTI's.