[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Thanks Irene, especially for posting the cons as I found this in the link and thought it was worth posting for the members here to read. It is a great example of the scare tactics and misuse of statisitics by vets to convince people that neutering is better for their dog's health.

Most of the links state that they, as vets, agree to early spay/neuter for pet over population but not to protect a breeder's lines. I have a problem with either of these reasons as an excuse to neuter a puppy.

Dr. Johnson,

The last time I was in with our Golden Retriever puppy, we talked about the time frame for having her neutered. At the time you suggested that we let her go through her first 'heat' to enable her to grow to her full potential. I agreed without question.

This weekend her 'heat' ended, at least from the standpoint that she's no longer spotting. I seem to remember that you suggested waiting until she was about a year old before you performed the surgery.

This morning, my wife stopped in to have our pup weighed (67 lbs.) and was told by several people, including, I believe, your associate, that she should have been neutered at 5 months and that we should bring her in soon (i.e. before her weight surpassed 75 pounds) in order to save money.


To me, the amount of money we're talking about is relatively insignificant compared with allowing her to develop to her full potential. I have full faith in your judgement, so I'm very interested in your opinion of when she should have the surgery.



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Dr. Johnson responds:

Hey there!
Thanks for the email - I understand your concern. You got the party line, and you see a discrepancy.


To the main point: You're doing the right thing, spaying after first heat.


But let's talk:


FACT:


If you have your dog spayed *before* her first WHOLE-YEAR is out, you greatly reduce, if not eliminate her chances of developing breast cancer.


What the doctor recites:


Spay before first heat = Reduced risk of breast cancer later.


Spay after first heat = Doubled (but reduced) chance of breast cancer later.


BEFORE you panic, let me explain that the above is the "Veterinary" party line that most doctors are attached to. But they're not telling (may not know) the whole story and neither is the Veterinary-establishment when they tell people this....The whole 'drive' is for "early" spay or neuter because in some (often rural) areas, this is a REAL problem. Which is; the first heat almost always ends up as a first pregnancy!


FACTS:


Spayed before first heat - lifetime chance of breast cancer = 1%


Spayed AFTER first heat - lifetime chance of breast cancer = 2%

One versus two percent.


So you see there's a number there that the "powers-that-be" can "play with" to essentially persuade people spay early.


Yes, the chances DOUBLE but when you're talking one versus two percent, there's a GREATER chance that she'd fall down the stairs, startled by a thunderclap, but only on a Thursday, and break her neck; than that she would EVER succumb to breast cancer.


Vanishingly small.


The difference: Well, the overall difference is a completely different dog in terms of bone mass, size, structure, relatively increased resistance to post-spay weight gain, and more complete psychological development which includes elements of loyalty, maternal-instinct-to-protect, feelings of territory and vigilance, etc.. Things that have not "occurred" to puppies at four to five months BUT which occur as an important part of a nesting (post-adolescent) instinct which dogs spayed young never get.



I think I shall print this for use at the office and web site because it does clarify a lot of things which I am sure other people will encounter over time.


If you have any concerns or questions please let me know. I have a real "soap box" about this because there's a difference in what you should tell under-educated people in pet-overpopulated areas versus what you can tell an educated middle class person who wants to do their best by their generally cool, healthy, normal dog.


For the record, none of my dogs (Penny, Trudy) are spayed. And they never will be because another thing that the establishment doesn't tell you (may not know) - the first and especially second heats are bloody and nasty but subsequent heats are really VERY mild and can be lived-with, no problem (at least from my small breed dogs).

By not spaying my dogs, AT ALL, I get two benefits:


1) My dogs can eat EVERYTHING (including tablescraps which I love to indulge them with, even though you're not supposed to) and they do not get an ounce of fat on them. Their metabolism is unedited.

2) My dogs WILL SURELY die of breast cancer or pyometra when they are about TEN OR ELEVEN years old; instead of surviving until they're seventeen as flakey-skinned, smelly, blind and bug-eyed, toothless, hobbling, skin-and-bones, falling-down-the-stairs, senile, wrecks. <My hot button>


It's NOT that I do not love my dogs. To the contrary. The worst, cruelest thing to do to a dog is carry it's time past the point of "companionable condition", and their own ability to have "fun".


The people who love THEMSELVES more than their dogs are the ones who say "I love my old paraplegic incontinent blind and deaf dog - and (s)he deserves a long life, every day God has given them!"

They're naturally (lovingly) selfish and don't want to let go. The ancient dog is incarcerated in a nasty-falling-apart prison and it's lifetime of freedom, boundless energy, close-human-contact (Licking your face) and individual vitality is a fading memory. They think the antique dog appreciates the sick-bed, the hesitant hand holding, the tears, and the time. They don't even 'understand' these human gestures in the face of their suffering.


Through a pet's life, we intervene with medicine when it's curable and/OR can restore health. That's good!!


But veterinarians ALSO intervene with medicine (like charlatans), when a condition is obviously INCURABLE and CANNOT restore any semblance of health - and it makes me want to quit this profession when people do that.

Some vets are doing that for the money-to-be-made on the "oh so profitable" downward spiral, but perhaps the majority because they are so "pro-animal" that they are blind to the suffering (and the broken spirit) of the pet itself.


How did we get on this subject from Spay?

I'm here. Email me or just call me any Monday or Friday. 770 977 5377


Thanks


Erik