Hi everyone.

I was hoping some of you all could give me some opinions and maybe personal experience with early spaying. We plan on getting Gracie spayed and was informed that for the month of december the local humane society is arranging free spaying/neutering for the month of december. This would be very helpful cost-wise although if we wait its still getting done, and the vet that is doing the spays is Gracie's regular vet. My big issue is that gracie is only 15 1/2 weeks old and to me that seems very young to spay although the vet assured me it could be done now and would have no lasting health affects. In the past with all my animals, dogs and cats, they were all at least a year to year and a half old for the dogs before they were ever altered so i have very big concerns here. The original idea for Gracie was to wait untill she's at least a year or maybe a year and a half old to get most of her growing in. I really need to make the decision soon as i'd need to for sure book the appointment before the end of the week so she could be spayed the last of december if i go this route. So please everyone, all advice is appreciated because as of right now while its tempting, my gut reaction is its just too young.

Thanks in advance

Becky

How about waiting until next December?

If it's only this December.. I would pass. Four months is too young. I would wait until 7 months at least.

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15.5 weeks???? No...wait. WAY to young IMO. Vets will tell you its safe to neuter/spay at any age because of two things. 1. Money and 2. Population Control. I wont give my opinion on either but studies have show its best to wait till at least growth maturity at 18-24 months to spay/neuter. I would rather pay the full cost to spay later then pay the small cost to spay now and deal with possibly health effects from it later on possibly costing thousands

The Negative Aspects of Neutering « DogtorJ.com :: Food Intolerance in Pets & Their People :: Home of The GARD

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

People will argue that spaying and neutering does not cause these issues or contribute to them, I believe that because spaying and neutering is painted as "Oh its the healthiest things for your pet" that nobody could possibly ever believe that removing a dogs hormonal balance/system which controls more then just reproductive could ever cause any problems...if a human gets a hysterectomy they usually need hormone supplements because it throws everything out of whack.

Way too young.

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"You own what you condone." ~ Mike Lardy

Thank you for the replies so far. I agree that i thought it was too young and admit that i did feel a bit pressured by my vet today when i picked up flea meds to go ahead and book her. And due to my reluctance one of the front office ladie's who also works with the humane society said something that really did leave a bad taste in my mouth and if this wasnt my long term vet i probably would be looking for a new one right now...still considering it though. She commented to me why should i have a problem spaying her now since she's not registered if i wasn't thinking of having a litter from her. Gracie WILL be spayed...i'm just not sure when.

My reply would of been "Not that its your business but I plan to research and seriously think about a surgical/medical decision that will alter my pets hormonal function for life". 15 weeks is way to young. I would be waiting till at least 12 months 18-24 being more ideal

I personally do not spay/neuter but if others choose to thats their decision. People seem to think that removing a vital part of a dogs body function will have no negative effects when it simply isnt true. It may not a be a huge effect but a tiny one.

Im seeing more and more breeders put clauses in their contracts that state if the dogs spayed/neutered before a certain age (18-24 months seems to be the most popular) it voids their health guarantee

I prefer not to discuss spaying and neutering with vets. Not a single vet supported my decision to wait. They all told me it was a bad idea except for one vet, who didn't say anything at all, but I could tell she wasn't in support of it either.


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There is also a small percentage of dogs who were spayed early who get spay incontinence. Treatment is usually with estrogen. And estrogen has been linked to breast cancer in dogs....

Our experience. We had two Goldens before Max--both females. The first, Golda, was spayed at about 8 months, before her first heat. The second, Chewy, was spayed at about 7 months, also before her first heat. Golda lived to be about 13 and Chewy lived to be 14 1/2. Neither ever had a sick vet visit and they both lived normal, active lives.

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Dave

I always have them write in my first appointment to never discuss neutering with me unless neutering will directly benefit a medical condition my dog is suffering from (like testicular cancer). If they do not abide by my request I find another vet. I dont like to be looked down on for not following what is politically or socially correct these days, I refuse to allow my dog to suffer or go through an un needed procedure