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08-10-2009, 03:07 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 225
| Does early spaying increase growth? My little darling is just about 3 ˝ months old. I have been reading about when to have her spayed. I have come across some different opinions so thought I would check them out here. I have read that small dogs mature earlier, they go into their first heat a little sooner and that not allowing them this first heat could actually cause them to grow a little larger. Something about the progesterone triggering the pituitary gland to start the “stop growth hormone”….could be misunderstanding this. Does anybody have any experience with early spaying or late and the difference in growth? We are not going to breed her and I am ok with coping with one heat cycle(I think, not sure what it all entails). I want her to mature properly and I want to keep her as small as possible. Thanks for any help you may have. This is my first post by the way, hope I did it right. I don’t even have a picture of Eva up yet (have to figure that out still). I know this is a Yorkie site, I did find it by doing a Morkie search though so hope it is ok to have signed up. Look forward to your advice. Mary |
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08-10-2009, 03:48 PM | #2 |
I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,068
| It really is important to have her spayed as soon she's ready. With every heat, their chance of developing mammary cancer increases. The risk in dogs spayed prior to their first heat is 0.05%. It is 8% for dog spayed after one heat, and 26% in dogs spayed after their second heat.(Spaying (Ovariohysterectomy) Female Dogs) Doing so will slow down her metabolism but it shouldn't affect her size too much as long as you don't overfeed her and make sure she's active. That's the case with any dog though, spayed or not. I've never heard anything else about it directly causing her to grow larger, though. I hated the one heat we had to go through with Maggie. I'll never do it again!
__________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper Last edited by PrincessDiana; 08-10-2009 at 03:51 PM. |
08-10-2009, 04:00 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Texas USA
Posts: 2,473
| Based on all the information I've researched, I've decided to wait until Apple is 18 months old to spay....Here's an informative article to check out, and also read the ones posted at the end of the article...I don't plan to breed my little girl, but I've made this decision, based on my own personal research...I think each person needs to research and make their own decision based on the information they find, and then feel comfortable with that decision... http://www.angelsezine.com/2009/03/31/what-you-dont-know-could-kill/ This article is, in no way, trying to persuade you to make the decision I made, but just another article, to add to your research, to help you make your decision... |
08-10-2009, 04:41 PM | #4 |
Lovin' My LilBug! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,513
| I think when it comes to health and the dog possibly being a bit bigger, I think I'd pick health. I've never heard that though.
__________________ love my lillybug! rags and ribbons! |
08-10-2009, 06:01 PM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 225
| I came across a few different articles on this but this one below really got my attention. Other than complications from the actual surgery I had never thought about what else could happen with this operation. Just have more to think about now. A study by Salmeri et al in 1991 found that bitches spayed at 7 weeks grew significantly taller than those spayed at 7 months, who were taller than those not spayed (or presumably spayed after the growth plates had closed).(1) A study of 1444 Golden Retrievers performed in 1998 and 1999 also found bitches and dogs spayed and neutered at less than a year of age were significantly taller than those spayed or neutered at more than a year of age.(2) The sex hormones, by communicating with a number of other growth-related hormones, promote the closure of the growth plates at puberty (3), so the bones of dogs or bitches neutered or spayed before puberty continue to grow. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered well before puberty can frequently be identified by their longer limbs, lighter bone structure, narrow chests and narrow skulls. This abnormal growth frequently results in significant alterations in body proportions and particularly the lengths (and therefore weights) of certain bones relative to others. For example, if the femur has achieved its genetically determined normal length at 8 months when a dog gets spayed or neutered, but the tibia, which normally stops growing at 12 to 14 months of age continues to grow, then an abnormal angle may develop at the stifle. In addition, with the extra growth, the lower leg below the stifle likely becomes heavier (because it is longer), and may cause increased stresses on the cranial cruciate ligament. In addition, sex hormones are critical for achieving peak bone density.(4) These structural and physiological alterations may be the reason why at least one recent study showed that spayed and neutered dogs had a higher incidence of CCL rupture.(5) Canine Sports Productions: Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete |
08-10-2009, 08:06 PM | #6 |
Thor's Human Donating Member | Yes, I have read this, though I have no more information than you have... sorry. Dogs that are s/n tend to be taller than unaltered dogs. I am still strongly in favor of spaying, though, I believe it is the healthiest option for the individual dog and dogs in general.
__________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger. |
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