When to spay

[2mastiffs&me]

I have a 13 month old and we just went thru her first heat and I've read to wait to have her spayed but what the general consensus 18 24 months ??

 

[DennasMom]

Somewhere in there... 18-24 months is the earliest I've heard for recommending a spay. You want them to be near finished growing before they lose the hormone support.

How'd the first heat go?

 

[2mastiffs&me]

Somewhere in there... 18-24 months is the earliest I've heard for recommending a spay. You want them to be near finished growing before they lose the hormone support.

How'd the first heat go?

It wasn't as bad as I'd heard she isn't a diaper fan for sure unless I'm watching her constantly she will tear it off

 

[2mastiffs&me]

I tried to talk to my vet today and I got the nurse or tech and she was telling my that the wait period only applies to male dogs and that I should get her in next month and I explained that I had done alot of reading and looking at breeders sites and they all recommend a later time 18 24 months at least and she said that I should follow my vets recommendation they are more in following for the dogs health than breeders and bloggers I asked to speak with my vet but she wasn't there and I had all ready talked to her and she said she'd do it whenever I was ready to get it done it this nurse was selling me I guess to get it done and that the bigger she gets the harder on her it will be

 

[Nik]

My understanding is that there are risks in waiting with the spay but that there also risks in getting it done too early. Pyometra (sp?) is a risk for waiting but then again for growth and development it is better to wait. We ended up doing our spay at 14 months which is earlier than I would have liked. Kahlua had only gone through one heat. I was really hoping her first heat would be later so we could make it to 18 months. Kahlua is also smaller than most mastiffs though (since she is a mix) and her growth had seemed to stop over the past couple of months so f0r us we decided to risk doing it earlier than our preferred 18 -24 months. Our vets here heavily push to spay or neuter asap so we have had to push back in order to wait with our dogs. But, honestly I think that push for early spay or neuter is more the culturally accepted mode and has little to do with whether it is best for the dog.

 

[2mastiffs&me]

I agree and all I've read is wait or try not to at all. Maura is at last check 115 pounds and fit the nurse at the vet clinic scheduled her for Aug spay and tbat would put her 15 months I think but I may hold off til 24 or until I can find more research saying different here are some pic

 

[Boxergirl]

What Nik said. I had Ella spayed at 4 years old. It is a more difficult surgery. There's more fat coverage that the vet has to deal with and that's one reason they push for an earlier spay. It's easier for them. That being said - Ella had a difficult surgery and recovery. I wish I'd have done it around 18 months. I would never leave a female intact. The risk of pyometra is huge. My parents lost a dog to pyo and my daughter, who's a tech at an emergency clinic, has seen way too many dogs come in and have to be euthanized due to pyo.

 

[marke]

I agree and all I've read is wait or try not to at all.

I've spayed quite a few dogs , and a spay due to pyo is a lot more expensive , a lot more dangerous , and a lot tougher on the bitch than a traditional spay , which is a horrendous surgery under the best circumstances ...... a laparoscopic spay is hands down the best way to go if you have a vet that does them regularly ......... as far as age i'd gamble on 3-4yrs , I've had my share of experience with pyos ....... i'd never spay a bitch if I didn't know how dangerous and costly it is not to .......... one of my dogs left unsprayed will almost without fail come down with pyo after 4-5yrs ......... I knew a girl had weimaraners , she bred a few litters , told me her dogs didn't get pyo , I do know a bred dog will last longer , but they're in no way immune ...... her 8 yr old house dog came down with pyo , an emergency pyo spay is nothing you want to do to an 8yr old dog , her house dog only lived 8yrs ........... the best safest solution for a dog with pyo is to have the pyo cured first by an experienced vet , about $1000-1500 , and then spay them after their cured , another $1500 .........

 

[2mastiffs&me]

Thanks for that info and I appreciate every one sharing their thoughts and experiences it helps alot to here others stories more than just reading about the possibilities . This is my first giant breed dogs and I've had the best experiences with both my older neo and the corso pup best 2 dogs ever lol and I thank you all for helping me learn about the course of actions to take towards their health and well being

 

[2mastiffs&me]

Oh and yes the cost factor was and is a issue that I prepared for in advance of getting these 2 ladies haha they have their own health savings acct. Funded by me and direct deposit lol

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Hold on, wait the 18 months minimum. Let the body get to full growth, let the joints mature. You'll be glad you did. Don't let the vet or his staff rush you...it's not their dog...it's not their dog's health....and, it has a monetary value hitched to it. Large Breed and Giant Dogs NEED TO FULLY MATURE. The threat of Pyo is rare and hugely unlikely in any dog under four.

I did my research...I fought with my "former" vet, I brushed off "his palpable disgust" at my choice AND I was correct. My Girl Is Hale and Healthy, a fact that I attribute to her great diet - Thank You, ACANA! (And Mommy's Home Cooking!) - and to US for waiting so that her health outweighed our discomfort at her three or four heats.

Bless Yourself With a Healthy, Happy, Dog. It's only a small sacrifice in time for a big payoff in the future for her joints (and I think, for the brain development.)

 

[2mastiffs&me]

I've have decided to wait til 24 months and then spay my vet she is willing to do whatever I wanted she had asked if I wanted to do it the same time she had her cherry eye operation at 9 or 10 months and I said I was going to wait for at least one heat and she was fine with that now the nurse or tech was the one pressing that it wasn't necessary in females and that it's harder on the dig to wait but I just let her bloviate and schedule an appt. That I will cancel later and I feed acana as well and both my girls love it and they allways get complimented on thier coats and looks as far as the heat it wasn't near as bad as I had thought and had in my mind just extra laundry and diligence and no trips to the dog park but that's manageable and again thanks for the reply