spay or not

[dfward]

i have a 5 yo whippet bitch...... i have not got her spayed .. is it vital to or not

[alzheimer]

I would say definitely YES - not only because it saves you the inconvenience of having an un-neutered dog - but because it also avoids the worry later on when female dogs can develop uterine problems such as pyometra - a very dangerous condition that can kill if not treated promptly - and is expensive to treat anyway.

[Anneho]

Yes if you do not want to breed from her, there are far too many unwanted puppies around who all end up in rescue centres, who are full to over-flowing.

[barb1314]

Also worth thinking about mammary tumours which can develop in an entire bitch,as well as the worry of pyometra and unwanted puppies (far too many dogs in rescues already) Personal choice at the end of the day but I have always had bitches all spayed after their first season and had no problems

[jules77]

I definitely wouldnt routinely spay a young bitch, irrespective of whether I wanted her to have a litter. I nearly lost one bitch who was spayed young when she had her routine booster. I didnt know at the time that neutering increases the risk of adverse reactions to annual boosters. However, I would consider it when she gets to 6 or 7 years of age due to the risks of pyometra. Read this document

http://www.collienet....fSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

[woofgang]

well, how does she do when is season? Does she get stressed and unhappy? Do you have to keep her in and does she hate it? What is her general health like? What does the vet say? I wouldn't say it was vital but I'd need a really really good reason not to.

[anneasquith]

im no expert, but i do feel unless domestic pets are to be bred, then its kinder to have them neutered.

[woofgang]

Anne I have kept both neuter and entire dogs and bitches. Some are quite happy celibate and entire and some are not, some male dogs are stroppy left entire and some are not. It depends on the animal.

[charliep88]

to spay or not to spay ask yourself would you like it?

[eyethenkyew]

Yes - unless you want loads of unwanted puppies to add to the thousands already put down every year???

Your dog cannot make the decision itself - act responsibly or don't have one. They'e not fashion accessories.

[jules77]

What a ridiculous statement eyethenkyew, not all owners of entire bitches have unwanted puppies.

[RATTER15]

eyethenkyew, Stupid comment!!!!

charliep88, a lot of people are getting the equivalent operation, sterilization, hysterectomy, even I have been sterilized, I did get to keep the danglies though.

[eyethenkyew]

1: Thousands of unwanted dogs + puppies put down every year - fact.
2: Unspeyed bitches can give birth - fact.
3: Speyed bitches can not give birth - fact.
4: Uncastrated dogs can breed - fact.
5: Castrated dogs cannot breed - fact.
6: Irresponsible owners of unspeyed/uncastrated dogs are to blame for 1 above - fact.
7: Too many breeders driven by cash incentives and pandering to vanity - fact.
8: Animals cannot make decisions for themselves - only owners can - fact.
9: Effective legislation to control irresponsibility is lacking - fact.

[lankeela]

If the poster was planning to breed from the bitch then the question would not have been asked in the first place. It is not vital, but in bitches it does lessen the chances of mammary tumours and pyometra.

[RATTER15]

eyethenkyew, the reason it is a tupid comment is your sweeping statement that the OP is going to loads of unwanted puppies unless she has her dog spayed, not all unspayed bitches are roaming the streets ready to be mated by every passing dog!!

Stupid comment!!

[dfward]

i keep her under strict control and she does not mix with other dogs as i live in the countryside.... when she comes into season she is totally happy

[Kleiber]

I had my last bitch spayed but as yet, I haven't had my 14 month old collie done. She's had one season and wasn't at all "distressed" as someone put it! My other (male) dog is neutered (medical reasons) so, because I keep Meg under control, there's no danger of unwanted pups. I'd like to add that a friend of mine has 2 bitches (mother and daughter), both unspayed. The daughter was deliberately mated just before Xmas and now they can't find homes for all the pups. They "don't believe in spaying", despite advice. I'll probably get Meg done when she's a bit older.

[ladybirder]

Your post has made me so cross Kleiber, what idiots. Just what we need, more unwanted dogs. What a pity they didn't take your sound advice.