Female yorkie born 31 May 2018

[dropmyload]

The vet says I should get my baby spayed end of November, just before her first heat.

Pro and cons?

[matese]

Follow your vets advise. For every heat your female has puts her at risk for mammary gland tumors and Pyometra which can be fatal.

6 months old is appox, the time a females comes into first heat, some of the tiny ones it could be a month or 2 later.

Years back I had 2 females I did not have spayed, why? because at 6 months old they were so tiny, I didn't want the to go "under the knife", I was scared for them. When one was 13 years old she got Pyometra, her uterus was filled with puss and erupted causing puss to go though out her body. I rushed her to the vet where her underwent a full hysterectomy. At this time I had the world's worst vet that had no overnight care. I was given my dog back that was not fully out of anesthesia which really was not an issue, just a scary situation for me. For 9 days I watched my dog die before my very eye, every night I was rushing her to the vet, she wasn't eating, she had no control of her bladder. I took her to an emergency clinic because she was now walking into walls. They put her in an incubator and told me to call them in the morning. 7AM the next morning I called I was told 15 minutes after I left she had passed away.

I would never want anyone to go through what I did, or what my girl went through, the pain, the suffering.

6 months later my 10 year old showed signs of Pyometra, I rushed her to my now new vet, they performed surgery which was successful, they kept her for 3 days, she was doing good but died 6 months later.
I implore everyone that gets a female puppy to spay before first heat, do not breed, breeding should be left to the experts.

[lilgidget]

So sorry for your losses. It's so very important to get our little ones spayed as soon as it's safe.

[Lovetodream88]

Only pros no cons. If you spay before the first heat the mammaries do not develop so there is pretty much no chance of mammary cancer. You also don’t risk the chance of a uterine infection that could be deadly. You don’t risk her getting pregnant either.

[Judy in Waco]

I know it's terrifying to think about your pup going in to be spayed, but please do it. It really is the best thing to do for her.

I am going to go look for any photos of her you've posted.

[Sdwhitt]

My baby girl is 6 months old and I’m terrified of the thought of what is coming soon. My vet wants to wait and be sure her teeth are coming in correctly so they can correct that at the same time if necessary.

[matese]

Follow your vets advice, when spayed any baby teeth that have not fallen out are removed at this time.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Sdwhitt

My baby girl is 6 months old and I’m terrified of the thought of what is coming soon. My vet wants to wait and be sure her teeth are coming in correctly so they can correct that at the same time if necessary.

I would not wait past 7 months or yourisk her going into heat. The vet can tell which teeth are baby teeth and pull them when she is getting spayed.

[lisaly]

I prefer to wait until the growth plates close and also to wait until the baby teeth remaining can be pulled. Through the years I have had five female Yorkies and one more with my mother. Four were spayed at approximately eight months, one at about ten months because she went into heat sooner, and my Katie was spayed at three years old because she was with her breeder until then and had been bred. An X-ray can be done to determine if the growth plates are closed, but in a Yorkie they usually close by eight months. Katie’s show breeder prefers that her puppies are spayed after the first heat. I realize that there is a higher chance of mammary tumors if you wait, but there are other factors to consider.

I find this article very helpful. These studies were done with larger dogs, but I believe they are worthy of consideration. All of my little ones love (loved) walking, and when in heat, I didn’t feel safe walking them, so this was one of the reasons I preferred they be spayed.

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/...tions_2013.pdf

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by lisaly

I prefer to wait until the growth plates close and also to wait until the baby teeth remaining can be pulled. Through the years I have had five female Yorkies and one more with my mother. Four were spayed at approximately eight months, one at about ten months because she went into heat sooner, and my Katie was spayed at three years old because she was with her breeder until then and had been bred. An X-ray can be done to determine if the growth plates are closed, but in a Yorkie they usually close by eight months. Katie’s show breeder prefers that her puppies are spayed after the first heat. I realize that there is a higher chance of mammary tumors if you wait, but there are other factors to consider.

I find this article very helpful. These studies were done with larger dogs, but I believe they are worthy of consideration. All of my little ones love (loved) walking, and when in heat, I didn’t feel safe walking them, so this was one of the reasons I preferred they be spayed.

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/...tions_2013.pdf

Growth plates will still close after being spayed or neutered. There is a huge difference in larger dogs and smaller dogs. Larger dogs do better waiting until a year or so to be fixed because they are still growing but minus filling out a little, small dogs are generally done growing by 7 months. What little studies they have done with small dogs show their bones and such remain unaffected to spay and neuter by 6 or 7 months and that there is no difference in doing it then or waiting.

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Growth plates will still close after being spayed or neutered. There is a huge difference in larger dogs and smaller dogs. Larger dogs do better waiting until a year or so to be fixed because they are still growing but minus filling out a little, small dogs are generally done growing by 7 months. What little studies they have done with small dogs show their bones and such remain unaffected to spay and neuter by 6 or 7 months and that there is no difference in doing it then or waiting.

As I stated, Yorkies’ growth plates often close by eight months, and this can be determined by an X-ray. It’s not a question of whether growth plates will close; it’s whether the delay of the growth plates due to the removal of sex hormones affects their orthopedic growth.

“Bitches spayed at 7 weeks had significantly delayed closure of growth plates as compared to those spayed at 7 months, and those spayed at 7 months had significantly delayed closure of growth plates as compared to those left intact”

Dr..

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by lisaly

As I stated, Yorkies’ growth plates often close by eight months, and this can be determined by an X-ray. It’s not a question of whether growth plates will close; it’s whether the delay of the growth plates due to the removal of sex hormones affects their orthopedic growth.

“Bitches spayed at 7 weeks had significantly delayed closure of growth plates as compared to those spayed at 7 months, and those spayed at 7 months had significantly delayed closure of growth plates as compared to those left intact”

Dr..

The issue is there are no real studies in small dogs that show there are orthopedic issues with a pup being spayed at 7 months before their first heat. In fact the one that was done said there were no issues therefor spaying before the first heat is still the best option. The mammaries do no develop before the first heat so there is no mammary cancer, no accidents that can happen when spayed before the first heat and no infection in the uterus. All signs still point to it being best to spay before the first heat.

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

The issue is there are no real studies in small dogs that show there are orthopedic issues with a pup being spayed at 7 months before their first heat. In fact the one that was done said there were no issues therefor spaying before the first heat is still the best option. The mammaries do no develop before the first heat so there is no mammary cancer, no accidents that can happen when spayed before the first heat and no infection in the uterus. All signs still point to it being best to spay before the first heat.

I have typed out a lengthy response three times, but I keep losing them, so this will be my last attempt. Half of my last post disappeared, as well. There are many factors if one wants to read the entire, well researched article. It’s just not a black and white issue. In terms of orthopedics, it talked about the closing of growth plates being delayed when removing the sex hormones before they reach maturity. A Yorkie’s growth plates generally close by eight months, but a simple X-ray will verify that. It doesn’t mean we can’t use these results knowing a Yorkie reaches puberty before a Golden and extrapolating the results.

I will respectfully disagree and choose to spay a female after the first or second heat. Dr. Zink recommends waiting until after the second heat because of the incidence of other cancers and the orthopedic considerations in pups that were spayed early .

In response to mammary tumors, she wrote, “ One study indicated a slightly increased risk of mammary cancer in female dogs after one heat cycle (8% increase), greater risk with two heats (26% increase) and increased risk with each subsequent heat.(19) However, a recent systematic review of the publications that advocate neutering to reduce the risk of mammary tumors in dogs indicated that 9 of 13 reports had a high risk of bias and the remaining 4 had a moderate risk of bias. This study concluded that the evidence that neutering reduces the risk of mammary cancer is weak and do not constitute a sound basis for firm recommendations.(20) Additionally, at the time when several of these studies were conducted (late 1960s). . .”

Pyometra is a real threat, so I will always chose to spay my females or leave the ovaries intact and do a tubal ligation. All of my dogs love walking, and I won’t walk a pup in heat, so that is another factor for me. I don’t like to deny them something they love. Katie was spayed at three, since she was with her breeder until then. She was bred after she had attained her championship and then retired early. Her breeder prefers that her pups be spayed after their first heat. Katie has well defined nipples, so we routinely examine them.

We have a huge overpopulation problem and too many pups are being euthanized, and because of this, I advocate spaying and neutering. To say that there are only pros and no cons is wishful thinking. This well-documented article by an esteemed veterinarian shows that.

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/...tions_2013.pdf

Dr. Zink’s credentials
From Wikipedia: Christine "Chris" Zink DVM, PhD, ACVP, is the director of the Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also holds professorships in the Department of Pathology at Johns Hopkins and in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Zink researches the response of the immune system to retroviruses such as HIV and is currently investigating an animal model of antiretroviral therapy[1] and the potential of a common antibiotic to prevent HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.[2][3][4]

As a veterinarian, Zink is known for consulting and writing on canine athletics[5] and is an expert on stem cell therapies for dogs.[6] She was named Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year at the 2009 meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).[7] Her books include Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete, Dog Health and Nutrition for Dummies, The Agility Advantage, and Jumping from A to Z: Teach Your Dog to Soar and Building the Canine Athlete: Strength, Stretching, Endurance and Body Awareness Exercises.[5] Zink is a Toronto-born Canadian[6] and has won several awards for her photography.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by lisaly

I have typed out a lengthy response three times, but I keep losing them, so this will be my last attempt. Half of my last post disappeared, as well. There are many factors if one wants to read the entire, well researched article. It’s just not a black and white issue. In terms of orthopedics, it talked about the closing of growth plates being delayed when removing the sex hormones before they reach maturity. A Yorkie’s growth plates generally close by eight months, but a simple X-ray will verify that. It doesn’t mean we can’t use these results knowing a Yorkie reaches puberty before a Golden and extrapolating the results.

I will respectfully disagree and choose to spay a female after the first or second heat. Dr. Zink recommends waiting until after the second heat because of the incidence of other cancers and the orthopedic considerations in pups that were spayed early .

In response to mammary tumors, she wrote, “ One study indicated a slightly increased risk of mammary cancer in female dogs after one heat cycle (8% increase), greater risk with two heats (26% increase) and increased risk with each subsequent heat.(19) However, a recent systematic review of the publications that advocate neutering to reduce the risk of mammary tumors in dogs indicated that 9 of 13 reports had a high risk of bias and the remaining 4 had a moderate risk of bias. This study concluded that the evidence that neutering reduces the risk of mammary cancer is weak and do not constitute a sound basis for firm recommendations.(20) Additionally, at the time when several of these studies were conducted (late 1960s). . .”

Pyometra is a real threat, so I will always chose to spay my females or leave the ovaries intact and do a tubal ligation. All of my dogs love walking, and I won’t walk a pup in heat, so that is another factor for me. I don’t like to deny them something they love. Katie was spayed at three, since she was with her breeder until then. She was bred after she had attained her championship and then retired early. Her breeder prefers that her pups be spayed after their first heat. Katie has well defined nipples, so we routinely examine them.

We have a huge overpopulation problem and too many pups are being euthanized, and because of this, I advocate spaying and neutering. To say that there are only pros and no cons is wishful thinking. This well-documented article by an esteemed veterinarian shows that.

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/...tions_2013.pdf

Dr. Zink’s credentials
From Wikipedia: Christine "Chris" Zink DVM, PhD, ACVP, is the director of the Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also holds professorships in the Department of Pathology at Johns Hopkins and in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Zink researches the response of the immune system to retroviruses such as HIV and is currently investigating an animal model of antiretroviral therapy[1] and the potential of a common antibiotic to prevent HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.[2][3][4]

As a veterinarian, Zink is known for consulting and writing on canine athletics[5] and is an expert on stem cell therapies for dogs.[6] She was named Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year at the 2009 meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).[7] Her books include Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete, Dog Health and Nutrition for Dummies, The Agility Advantage, and Jumping from A to Z: Teach Your Dog to Soar and Building the Canine Athlete: Strength, Stretching, Endurance and Body Awareness Exercises.[5] Zink is a Toronto-born Canadian[6] and has won several awards for her photography.

I guess we will have to leave it at disagreeing. No real studies have been done on small dogs so there really is no proof at this time. I stand strongly that spaying before the first heat is best. This also going by what I learned in school as well as candid talk with my veterinarian. If mammaries don’t develope you can’t get cancer or non cancer tumors. I spay my females before their first heat and have not had issues and will continue to do so until there are studies done on small dogs to prove otherwise. On another note I have had some issues posting too.