I'd opt for spaying unless there were other health reasons not to.
It's not nice to put them through surgery, but I would far rather put a healthy young dog through the op than risk them having pyometra in later life and require emergency surgery at a time when they are poorly and not necessarily at the best time for a spay.
Aside from the health issues, I consider spaying is convenience for the dog rather than for me. I didn't find Minnie's season any trouble at all really, but I felt frustrated for her that she couldn't leave the house and garden for weeks.
I won't pretend surgery is not a worry, but you can have a blood test ahead of the op to check things are functioning ok and also pay a bit extra to have the dog on a drip during surgery, which is what I opted for with Mins and would do in future.
I'm lucky Angela as when kelly is in season she can run around the fields here & I'm always with her. Being out in the open it is very rare to see other dogs unless we go furher afield. You have some valid points which I will consider.
Thank you all for your advice on this matter. After doing some research & taking in your points of view I have decided to leave Kelly entire as I think it is best for her & I'm happy to keep her as she is.
You have all helped me to reach this decision so thank you all for your posts.
I too am wondering whether to spay or not and have my 5 year old booked in but am now having doubts...
Holly had puppies last year but had to have an emergency cesarean as the first pup was trapped but all went well and she recovered very quickly. I have no more plans to breed and am only concerned about her future health. I also have access to a big enclosed area so I don't have the worry about her getting pregnant again.
But its difficult to know what the best thing to do for her health is and I'm trying to balance up the risk of pyometra and mammary tumours and surgery/post surgery risks.
Does anyome know whether there are increased risks with spaying if they have had puppies or a cesarean at all?
Any advice or past experiences would be really helpful as I'm struggling to decide!
I've also heard that spaying can change their personality and they become lazy. If i do have her spayed I will carefully watch her weight as, like most labs, she'll eat anything she can get hold of! But as hyperactive as she is at times I love her just as she is and while I suspect this isn't often the case I wondered if anyone had seen a significant change in their labs after spaying.
Firstly let me dispel the Spaying/Weight gain/Laziness myth - Both my girls are spayed, they were done after their first season, neither are lazy or over weight
The only thing that perhaps would have put me off was the cost, luckily we got discounted spaying so it cost me £35 for one and £99 for the other.
I would not hesitate to get any bitches spayed should I ever have another girl, perhaps it's because I am very involved in rescue and owner education that I am so passionate about spaying and neutering.
The benefits far outweigh any negatives, yes the operation can be invasive, but they can now spay via keyhole surgery so I have heard.
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
I have no knowledge at all about spaying but your vet mentioned search internet now most doctors human ones will tell you not to search internet for advice because of so many conditions you could have and frighten you to death think what most have said leave her as she is if shes happy.
I mind my vet ask me ones if my two are spayed and i said no and they said way not becouse two of my girls are show dogs but my two my old dog which i no longer have both of them was spayed but two which i got the now will not get spayed unless if they have a reason or if i decide to stop showing .
I appreciate you have made your decision however for the information of anyone else considering it - there is a very emotive thread on the Boxer forum where someone had decided to keep her dog unspayed, the lady is now very distraught as her dog has to undergo surgery for mammary tumours which could have spread to other areas in the body as undected, and she wishes she had spayed her. I have quoted her latest post "well got results today of *** lump and vet said it does not look good she has an aggressive tumor she is booked in for a chest x-ray to see if there is any spread to other organs if not spread they will go ahead with mammary strip. has anyone elses baby had this done vet tells me it is very painful i dont know if i should put her through it"
I would always advocate spaying - not just from the rescue side but also from the number of males (entire and otherwise) who go missing when they get a slight scent on the breeze.
China has a heart murmur but sailed through her spay - the problem was keeping her quiet for the required time.
I have no knowledge of spaying but will have to give it serious thought after my dog's first season. On a visit to the vet we were offered key hole spaying which as little lab has mentioned is a less invasive procedure. While not wanting to hijack this thread - does anyone have any knowledge on this.
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