http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
Here is a site I often refer folks to, to read some more about Early Spay and Neutering. While the title is in reference to Canine Athletes, it is readily applicable to all dogs.
So in terms of baby teeth; they will start coming out fast, and many dogs have most baby teeth gone by 7-8mths old.
There are many good reasons to wait. With females, sigh isn't it always the female of any kind that is more complicated, the risk/benefit of timing of spaying is a more complex situation. For me in terms of health of most PET female dogs, I would always spay. that being said the question is when? For me my decision is based on the high risk of pyometra, and to a lesser extent other cancers. This is where knowing your breed comes into play. What are the pertinent cancer risks for your breed?
For me I would spay after the first heat; this timing is usually long enough to insure growth plate closure; and you just need a Lateral View of the tibia growth plate that will tell you if this last growth plate has closed. The small (for most breeds) increased risk of cancer to me is offset by the great benefit of having boney growth development.
I am glad to see you are researching and wanting to make the best informed decision for your girl that you can
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Originally Posted by hobbette  I woke up today and realized Yumi is almost 6 month old! she lost her 1st tooth today! I'm trying to decide WHEN I want to get her fixed. I want to get any left over puppy teeth pulled when I do and was wondering when all the teeth that are coming out should be out?
I know she may go into heat if I leave it more than 6 months, and getting her fixed before then can help prevent certain types of cancer etc. I seem to remember reading also that if they're spayed before their growth plates close it can keep them open longer than they should be and effect bone density? as well as increasing chances of certain types of bone cancer... It seems like in such small, bouncy little dogs it might be worth waiting. (Yumi is getting to be a real jumper lol)
The chart I saw said the risks were still pretty small if you waited until mature. I think it went from .005 to .08 (.005 being spayed before the 1st heat .08 being spayed before the 2nd where as intact was at 1) any thoughts on negatives vs positives? |