Spaying

[Ashley]

Following on from Amanda's post 'season', I thought I would ask when you had your bitches spayed? At what age were they? Were there any complications (oh look, me worrying again).

Holly is about 4 and a half months now, and we have been unsure whether or not to get her spayed soon, or wait until she had her first season.

All opinions and advice are welcome.
I've not spoken to the vets regarding cost, but have put £200 away in the hope that that covers it.

Would just like to see what everyone else thinks. Finding the varying opinions i've read elsewhere quite interesting.

Thanks x
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Ashley with Holly & Murphy.
I hope to one day be as great as my dog thinks I am right now!!

[Janis]

my last dogs which were some 20 years ago were spayed just after their first season but my two bitches i have at the moment were done at 5 and a half months old by the vets in condorrat and i have had no problems! cost was about £150 approx but had additional costs such as collar to stop stitches being bitten out and ear drops which had nothing to do with the procedure!

[Lorna]

All my bitches were spayed. Most between 6 months and a year old. Just make sure it is between seasons. She will be fine, Ashley. Best to avoid trouble if you are not going to breed her.
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Regards,
Lorna, Basil & Poppy
Great Danes are not substitute children. They are much more important than that!

[suzanne l]

this is an ongoing debate this question. even amongst veterinary personnel. if done before she has any seasons, the risk of her having a mammary tumour later in life are almost non existant, however, having even just the 1 season will mean she has a small chance of getting these later in life (dont want to worry you) and these tumours can be quite common in older females.
its a personal choice, and never having owned a bitch i can say from a personal choice, just from a veterinary one.
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your cat will never annoy by barking at 3am, he wont attack the postman or eat the curtains, although he may climb them to see how the room looks from the ceiling...

[Janis]

suzanne i agree with you on this one! my mum's bitches were always left to have one season and i fell into the trap of the same timing with my pups and 12 to 14 years later all the bitches had mammary tumors though some of them died or were put down due to other attributes!

my two now i had done at 5 and a half months with no season! so i hopefully will avoid this situation!

[suzanne l]

janis - you say that as if you dont normally agree with me
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your cat will never annoy by barking at 3am, he wont attack the postman or eat the curtains, although he may climb them to see how the room looks from the ceiling...

[marcella]

[Janis]

not at all suzanne , just a turn of phrase!