Hello everyone,

I am new here. I am upset today, because my Vet told me that because my dog, Britney, a yellow lab, was spayed at 9 weeks old from a shelter, she will probably end up with bad bones, hip dysplasia, and is 5 X more likely to develop bone cancer.

I am very depressed. If I knew this information, I would of begged the shelter to let me spay her at an older age.

Since this devasting news that I received today, I researched this topic on the internet. I found out that in large dog breeds, if a dog is spayed under 6 months old, they are 5 times more likely to have bone problems, hip dysplaysia, hemangrosarcoma, bone cancer, and 20 % more chance of having urinary incontinence!

I understand the the shelters are trying to prevent over population of pets, but this isn't fair to our dogs! In my opinion, these health problems mentioned above from early spaying, shouldn't be the alternative or the solution to the Over population of our pets. This isn't a solution! We need to keep our dogs healthy and safe... because we want the BEST Quality of life for them.

My dog is only 6 months old, and the Vet said that her growth plates in her bones are not developing normally, because she didn't have the proper amount of hormones in her body.

I wanted to share this information with you. Hopefully, the word will get around, and Animal Shelters will stop spaying large breed dogs that are less then 6 months of age! My vet today said the ideal age would be at 9 months or older, NOT 9 weeks!


Susan

[sibebaby]

Wow, I did not know this. Thanks for the info. We are getting a new puppy next weekend and was going to take her in to be spayed but after reading your post I think I will be waiting. And Im so sorry to hear about your fur baby. It must be real hard. I wonder if they even realize the danger they are putting these dogs in. I mean they have a vet right? You would think their vet would advise against it. It really make me so mad. . Thanks again for the info.

My dogs were neutered at 6 mos. and that is the earliest that our vet would do it. Of course, after our second dog was neutered I did hear that 9 mos. to 1 and 1/2 years is the best to wait for. But so far our GSD doesn't have any problems. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed. (Makes it hard to type tho!

Bandit was already nuetered when we got him, & we have no idea when it was done or how old he is. Our best estimate on his age is around 4 years old, since we've had him for almost 3 years & he was at least 1 when we got him. Bandit thinks he's still a puppy though, constantly running around chasing the birds & Courage. We're going to get him nuetered too, when he's old enough.

We always heard that your female dogs have to go through at least one heat before she can be spayed... which can occur anywhere between 6 mon to 1 1/2 years, depending on the breed. When we had females that we were planning on spaying, we always waited for their first heat before calling the vet & scheduling the surgery. True, it was sometimes difficult to watch her constantly while in heat, but we would rather watch them like a hawk for a week than to have to worry about their health for 15+ years. Know what I mean??

I am not sure that it matters if a female has her heat before spaying, but I do know that you should wait until 6 to 9 mos. The one female we had was spayed at 8 mos. and did not have a heat that we know of, and she lived for 14 yrs. So just FYI

[beks]

That's really good to know, thanks for telling us! i don;t have a girl dog but one day i will probably get a little puppy My bo Cyrus is like almost 11 months or is 11 months i think, he is not nuetard yet but is getting it soon, i wonder if there are any problems a male dog has a higher risk of getting if he is nuetard to early, does anyone know?

That is so sad to hear about your dog. I have always heard (& my vet recomended) that you should wait until after their 1st heat. It's a shame that the shelters are doing that to dogs. The shelters here don't spay or neuter animals until they are older. They give a rebate for getting them fixed.

Originally Posted by PitBullLvr

The shelters here don't spay or neuter animals until they are older. They give a rebate for getting them fixed.

Same with our pound... When you go adopt a dog/cat from them, you sign a little piece of paper saying you will get the dog spayed/neutered by such & such age (if they are a puppy) or within so many days (for adult animals). Then you take the vet's receipt/paperwork to the pound after its done & they will refund some of the money you paid to adopt the dog, but only if it's done by the date on the paper you signed. I know some people put it off until they can't get the refund anymore, and they get really upset about it. But it's their own fault for procrastinating.

I so agree with you!!!!!
ITS SO NOT FARE TO OUR DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my old longe hairred dachshund(he died five years ago)
had bone problems.Dachshunds get lots of back problems.
When he got older he couldnt walk up or down the stairs.:-(