Your dog having one heat can develop breast cancer w/o even being bred. When your girl has a heat & you see how her body reacts, such as swelling of breasts etc, then you might have a better idea of her health & breeding condition. My girl actually had a lot of swelling. We are going to see the vet before her next heat for a thorough exam & address the issue of heat, mamatory swelling & pregnancy. I think his advice will confirm my thoughts to spay & not take the chance. Here is a article that may help & specifically says females that have never had a heat rarely develop cancer, they are far more prone once they go into heat.
http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/mam.html
It has some graphic pics but all kinds of info & pics of other illnesses, diseases & surgical pics.
Also go to the help/injured section & breeders section & look at all the HELP ME PLEASE, lots of pups & mommas dying, its scary.
I had puppy fever too
but I think I am better off spaying my girl & not risking it. If something happens to her during spay- shame on the vet, but if I breed her or continue to let her suffer heats until she develops cancer-shame on me and I would never forgive myself
I will leave the breeding up to the professionals.
Good luck on whatever you decide. You may see if she develops any swelling in her mammatory glands during her first heat, if not she might be ok, if she does I say spay. Good Luck
