I am asking for advice here on this topic, bc my vet is strongly urging me to spay Rosie now and I want to be sure I make the right choice. Rosie will be 7 mos on the 24th and I know she is probably about to hit her first heat.

My vet tells me she really should be spayed before her heat to prevent an increased risk of breast cancer, which I obviously don't want. But, I have read here that letting her go through that heat will benefit her.

Can you please help me weigh the options. I want to make the right choice for my baby girl.

Thanks!
Jaime

The increased risk for breast cancer is very low after one cycle, but the vet won't tell you that.

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I am very curious, having rescue dogs, they are usually fixed before I get them. What are the benefits in waiting for one heat cycle?

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A Golden at the end of the day, makes the stress go away!

What does your contract have about spaying? Have you discussed this with your breeder?

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/2/9/2029053/deciding_whether_and_when_to_neuter_a_golden_retre iver.pdf
"Females neutered prior to their first heat cycle have less than ½ of 1% chance of
developing mammary cancer (breast cancer). In females neutered after the first
cycle but before the second, this risk increases to 4%. And if a female is not
neutered until after her second heat cycle, this risk increases to about 13%. If
detected early through regular mammary exams, most but not all mammary
cancers can be treated successfully with surgery and sometimes additional
therapies."

Rhonda's article goes on to explain that waiting through the first heat may help lower the risk of other problems. Such as thyroid diseases, hip dysplasia, other cancers, and helps to keep some of the pups bones from growing to long which can make ACL's more of a risk.

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I don't have a breeding contract. I bought Rosie from a friend, who got her from a byb when she was 3 mos old. My friend was highly allergic so I took her.

One of the things besides weighing different health issues is when she is in heat she cannot be let out of the house for her safety without a leash and a human. She can't go out and about for walks during this time. Some counties in Maryland have actual laws against it. If you are in classes with her you will have to ask the instructor if she is allowed in the classes during this time.

It really is all about weighing the risks and what is actually doable for your family.

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She's never alone anyway. I am always with her on walks, and we she never goes in our yard without someone (it's small).

I guess I'll just have to research more. But the time is coming, so I figured I would ask here first.

Beidget just turned ONE on Saturday, and she is due for her spay next week.

We had a contract, and part of that was to NOT have her spayed until she reached a year old.
The reasoning was so she would reach her full growth potential.

But it sure was tough going through that first heat, and keeping her sequestered.....

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JaimeNTJ - My Liberty is just over 8 months. I actually HAD an appointment to have her spayed at about 7 months old. I did my research and I decided to wait until she has her first heat cycle. I am getting a lot of questions from friends/relatives, but I don't care. She's my dog and I will do what I feel is best for her. I read the article about deciding when to neuter a Golden. I think the odds are much better if you wait one cycle. I know someone else posted the link, but I'm not sure if you read it? I'll post it again here:

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/2/..._retreiver.pdf

Ultimately the decision is up to you. I do think it is kind of "old fashioned" to have them spayed as young as possible. Like a lot of people on here said to me, would you have a 9 or 10 year old child have a hysterectomy? I think you'd likely want to wait until they were fully grown and developed. That is kind of how I look at it.

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

Great article, thank you. That is exactly what I was looking for. I am fine with the "mess" of a cycle. I have dealt with it before with another dog. I just wanted to make the best choice for her.