new study on spaying early????

[smfidler]

So while on our playdate this evening, our friends told me they were going to be spaying their EM soon(she's roughly 5 months) as a vet tech(who said she owns a GD/GM) told her that they had a new study out saying it wouldn't effect their growth/hormones. I told her that I would take what a vet tech says with a grain of salt and that I haven't heard that anywhere before 18m was good. Has anyone heard that?

 

[ruthcatrin]

I've heard lots of places that 'early is better' or 'early causes no problems'' but either the person has no idea where that data came from, or the data comes from one of the studies that only looked at small to meduim sized dogs. And very very very few vets and techs will admit that data might be faulty. They will almost always insist early is fine or better. When you press them to provide references for that they point to the same old studies.

 

[cwayaustx]

Nine out of ten vets will tell you whataver they think you will believe to get you to spay/nueter. Unfortunately most vets have little if any specific giant breed experience in nutrition or hormones from what I can tell. Just sayin

 

[DMikeM]

Tell them give you written proof with case study and results.

 

[AKBull]

They probably also advise that the dog be put on Science Diet.

 

[smfidler]

It's what I told her, she takes her to banfield inside petsmart and they had also told her to feed her purina(which I have always understood to not be good quality). But we've never used it so I am not sure I am correct

 

[ruthcatrin]

There are dogs that do well purina, but it is by no means what I'd consider to be good food....

 

[smfidler]

We take our dogs to the vet on base for this reason, they are a heck of a lot cheaper b/c it's ran by the Army and they aren't out to make money. They have NEVER tried to shove more than heartguard or flea/tick meds on me, which makes me a happy camper When the vet tech said normal age to "fix" is 6 months, I came back with all the info I have learned on here and various other sites and said it's not up for discussion.

 

[Gunny]

They probably also advise that the dog be put on Science Diet.

Lol. I was going to post that exact response.

 

[Jerms]

So 6 months is too early to spay any mastiff?

 

[voidecho]

The general consensus around here (not unanimous) , based on multiple sources, is that it's better for the dog's long term health to wait until 18-24 months. Based on what I remember reading there are more good reasons to spay a female than neuter a male, but none of the benefits seemed to outweigh the risks of neutering at six months or earlier. If there's a medical condition that requires spaying at six months, then you've got to do what you've got to do.

 

[Jerms]

Wow-- i actually have an appointment to have my corso spayed next week. Shes only 5 1/2 months.

 

[ruthcatrin]

there are several threads on the subject, one not to long ago in here in the general topic

 

[Jerms]

Im glad i read this thread just in the nick of time.

 

[ruthcatrin]

This was I think the most recent one: http://www.mastiff-forum.com/showthread.php/8742-To-neuter-or-not-to-neuter

There's also a thread down in the EM section on spaying, the information goes for both spay and neuter though, that had a bunch more links.

 

[Jerms]

Thanks. I definately have a little less trust in my vet now.

 

[smfidler]

Thanks. I definately have a little less trust in my vet now.

Which is why I come on here and ask for loads of advice since our vet does not specialize in giant breeds.

 

[Jerms]

I tell ya if I would have spayed my girl and then read this thread and the link ruth gave I would have been beyond furious.

 

[raechiemay]

I am waiting also & I'm glad I have this forum & didn't spay D at 6 months but her being in heat right now is kind of a big PITA. She has now decided she is afraid of her diaper & runs away when I go to put it on her after coming in from outside. Ugh.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Unfortunetly alot of vets just don't understand the difference. I've really come to think that this is one of those things, they were taught in school that spaying early is ok, based on these studies, and they're honestly just either not aware of the newer work looking at the differences between a teacup dog and an EM or don't believe enough work has been done to make it worth while. The GOOD ones will take your refusal to spay early and ask you for your references, and then go do research on their on, and at least accept the concept. The bad ones will hound you to death about your choice. I bypassed the whole arguement by telling them I was planning on showing Apollo, which stopped all such non-sense in its tracks (yes I cheat, but hey, it ended up being true!). Honestly though, when your vet tells you something RESEARCH it. Heck, I research everything MY doctor tells me, no way I'm not going to do it for my dogs.....