YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community


Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member!

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us.

Go Back   YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community > YorkieTalk > Yorkie Health & Diet
Register Blogs FAQ Calendar JavaChat Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-23-2006, 07:59 PM   #1
poo
Yorkie Yakker
 
poo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 35
Confused Should I spay my baby?

Pancake is 5 3/4 months and she is a yorkie/toy poodle mix. She is 6 lbs and the vet guesses she will be 10 lbs full grown. I would prefer it if she didn't get much bigger than that; of course, I love her so much and would be happy with her no matter what size she is. After reading yorkieK9trainer's thread on neutering, I wonder if she will grow bigger if I do spay her. Maybe I will wait until she is full grown to prevent her from growing beigger than she normally would. We were at the vet today and he said she was ready to be spayed. I've only ever heard good things about neutering/spaying your pets, but why should I put Pancake through a painful procedure when it's not necessary; she will not be having pups. Also, according to this referenced article, there are many more concerns regarding spaying than the vet told me about today. Well according to my vet there were no concerns only benifits, and you just do it. And I would like a little more information to go on than that. I guess the major source of concern for me is that I have been trying to find actual facts on why to neuter, but all I have found so far is: your pup will be healthier, and better behaved. But where is this information coming from? Sorry this is more of a rant than a question, although I still have not made up my mind and am open to any suggestions or comments you have regarding your spayed or neutered fur baby.
poo is offline   Reply With Quote
Welcome Guest!
Not Registered?

Join today and remove this ad!

Old 05-23-2006, 08:11 PM   #2
Stewie Rox the Sox
Donating Member
 
StewiesMom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 6,306
Default

Dogs dont really grow bigger after they are altered. They may get a little wider though. Like for example if you had major surgery, you might be a little sore and pack on a few along the way to recovery That's the way I look at it. No real 'growth spurt' so to speak would occur as the result of a spay or neuter though.

Of course there are concerns about undergoing surgery, but I think the benefits far outweigh the "risks". You will reduce her risk of cancer of the reproductive organs to almost zero and that's one of the best benefits. Also, unaltered dogs are more territorial and unspayed females will have discharge all over when in heat. I have also heard that altered aids in preventing potty accidents, but I'm not sure about how true that is.

Best wishes for whatever you choose
__________________
Kristy & Stewie
StewiesMom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2006, 08:28 PM   #3
YT 3000 Club Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 3,065
Default

I read the post too and appreciated the information, but wouldn't base my opinion on one opinion. It might all very well be true, but for now I'm still voting for spay/neuter unless you plan on breeding. Recommendations for vaccinations are also changing, but you will find many resources to base your decision on, not just one.
Lacy's Mom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 12:19 AM   #4
Mom to 6 Beautiful Furkids
 
MyTrixie143's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,409
Default

You should definately get her spayed if you don't she could end up with cancer. When I was a child we had a golden, the best dog I ever had, an well we didn't get her spayed, we didn't realize the importance of it. So as odds have it she developed cancer and had a emergency spay done. Needless to say she didn't live very long after that happened. I would give anything to go back and do it all over again to get her spayed early rather than putting it off like we did. I know several other people who had the same thing happen to their dogs, so it really is important for them to get spayed. Your girl is at a good age and weight to get her spayed. Like they say, the benefits out weigh the risks. And as long as you monitor her intake of food and amount of excercise then you should not have to worry about your dog gaining weight.
__________________
A dog is a furry person! http://www.dogster.com/?300866 Tracey and the gang
DestinyHarmonyScamperGracieLillieKiwi Hershey Peppi
MyTrixie143 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 01:35 AM   #5
Donating YT 2000 Club Member
 
Olivier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,999
Default

All my puppies are neutered or spayed before leaving my home and no one became bigger than what they were supposed to be .
Olivier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 03:12 PM   #6
poo
Yorkie Yakker
 
poo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 35
Default

Thanks for the info. I will look into it a little further, but we will most likely do the procedure. I still have the feeling I should wait until she is a year old, but I guess I will talk to my vet about that and see how he feels about it. Anyway, thanks again for the help, I really appreciate it!
poo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 03:16 PM   #7
YT Addict
 
DazzlinYT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 462
Default

There has been research that spaying/neutering before sexual maturity does increase the chance of being TALLER, as the growth plates close later due to the lack of hormones telling them it's time to close...but she will only be heavier if you let her get chubby.

On the other hand, there are SO MANY benefits to spaying before the first heat, including you just about nip the chance of mamary cancer/tumors in the bud, which to me is worth it for a little bit taller dog!

Quote:
Originally Posted by poo
Pancake is 5 3/4 months and she is a yorkie/toy poodle mix. She is 6 lbs and the vet guesses she will be 10 lbs full grown. I would prefer it if she didn't get much bigger than that; of course, I love her so much and would be happy with her no matter what size she is. After reading yorkieK9trainer's thread on neutering, I wonder if she will grow bigger if I do spay her. Maybe I will wait until she is full grown to prevent her from growing beigger than she normally would. We were at the vet today and he said she was ready to be spayed. I've only ever heard good things about neutering/spaying your pets, but why should I put Pancake through a painful procedure when it's not necessary; she will not be having pups. Also, according to this referenced article, there are many more concerns regarding spaying than the vet told me about today. Well according to my vet there were no concerns only benifits, and you just do it. And I would like a little more information to go on than that. I guess the major source of concern for me is that I have been trying to find actual facts on why to neuter, but all I have found so far is: your pup will be healthier, and better behaved. But where is this information coming from? Sorry this is more of a rant than a question, although I still have not made up my mind and am open to any suggestions or comments you have regarding your spayed or neutered fur baby.
__________________
Becki & The Dazzlin' Yorkies
DazzlinYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 03:18 PM   #8
I love my boys!
 
megan_kat22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,913
Default

you have gotten a lot of good info. in response to your last post about waiting til she is one year old, i have read and heard that you should spay her before her first heat to reduce the risk of cancer. just something to look into
__________________
-Megan, Tucker & Tripp
"My little dogs- heartbeats at my feet" www.dropshots.com/megan_kat22
megan_kat22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 03:28 PM   #9
Lovin' 2 Girls
Donating Member
 
abbie's mom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 3,593
Blog Entries: 4
Default

Isn't the risk of cancer high if the bitch is not bred? I'd like to breed Abbie at least once, as I'd like to have a pup by her...??
__________________
abbie's mom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 03:35 PM   #10
YT 3000 Club Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 3,065
Default

Females spayed before their first heat cycle have 96.4% less risk of breast cancer. Spaying after the first heat but before a litter still reduces the risk by 84%. Breast cancer is four times more common in dogs than in humans.

Spayed females have no risk of uterine infection, or uterine, ovarian, or cervical cancer.

Dogs and cats have their own sexually-transmitted diseases, many fatal, and some potentially contagious to humans. Spayed and neutered pets are rarely exposed to these diseases.

There are many complications associated with pregnancy, having babies, and raising a litter - infections, emergency c-sections (very expensive), seizures due to calcium deficiency, etc. The risk of pregnancy and rearing a litter is far greater than the risk of anesthesia and spaying.
Lacy's Mom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 03:40 PM   #11
YT Addict
 
DazzlinYT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 462
Default

Seriously, assist in a few deliveries, then re-think that decision. Breeding is NOT FUN.

On the two litters I've bred, 1 pup died at birth, one at 13 weeks, one was too small to show, one went to the dam's breeder, one went to the sire's owner, and one stayed here. I got several things from this litter, BILLS mostly, POOP, sleepless nights, heartache and a few sweet puppy kisses. Oh..and terror as we had to PULL babies from their mommies, mommies screaming, and me having to take a klonopin and sit in the corner and cry while my friend did the job! LOL Breeding STINKS.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lacy's Mom

There are many complications associated with pregnancy, having babies, and raising a litter - infections, emergency c-sections (very expensive), seizures due to calcium deficiency, etc. The risk of pregnancy and rearing a litter is far greater than the risk of anesthesia and spaying.
__________________
Becki & The Dazzlin' Yorkies
DazzlinYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 05:34 PM   #12
Lovin' 2 Girls
Donating Member
 
abbie's mom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 3,593
Blog Entries: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzlinYT
Breeding STINKS.
And, I'm 'seriously' not being flippant here when I ask: "Then, why do so many do it?" Having heard that breast cancer was higher in unbred females is one reason I've entertained the notion of breeding Abbie once. I don't want her to go through any of these horrific things; but the fact is, birthing is NOT FUN in any species, I'd imagine.
__________________
abbie's mom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 06:37 PM   #13
YT 3000 Club Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 3,065
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by abbie's mom
And, I'm 'seriously' not being flippant here when I ask: "Then, why do so many do it?" Having heard that breast cancer was higher in unbred females is one reason I've entertained the notion of breeding Abbie once. I don't want her to go through any of these horrific things; but the fact is, birthing is NOT FUN in any species, I'd imagine.
Breast cancer is lower in spayed females and almost nonexistent if they are spayed before the first heat. I think you might be thinking about pyrometra an infection of the uterus. The risk is higher in an unspayed unbred female, but not a risk to a spayed female at all. Every time an unspayed female goes into heat without being bred she runs a risk of developing pyrometra.

I do not have a good answer for your other question. Whelping a small dog is not a pleasant experience. Most first time Yorkie moms are in pain and do not know what is going on. If you do not have a lot of knowledge and confidence that you know what the dangers signals are and when to go to the vet it is not a pleasant experience. It is very stressful. Of course, after whelping, then the experience is very rewarding, if the puppies are healthy.

If no one bred Yorkies, then none of us would have them so I am not against breeding. I just do not recommend it unless you know what you are getting in to and no what the risks are. The more knowledge you have the odds of having a successful outcome improves, but even if you do everything right every whelping has risks to the mother.

In breeding Great Danes, even the whelping process was enjoyable, but it is very, very different with a small dog who is yelping and biting at her back end and seems to not know what is going on, especially when it's your baby.
Lacy's Mom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 06:44 PM   #14
YT Addict
 
DazzlinYT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 462
Default

I can think of only 2 reasons why the MAJORITY do it..

1. Ignorance/Indiference/lack of education
2. Think they're going to make a buck.

Quote:
Originally Posted by abbie's mom
And, I'm 'seriously' not being flippant here when I ask: "Then, why do so many do it?" Having heard that breast cancer was higher in unbred females is one reason I've entertained the notion of breeding Abbie once. I don't want her to go through any of these horrific things; but the fact is, birthing is NOT FUN in any species, I'd imagine.
__________________
Becki & The Dazzlin' Yorkies
DazzlinYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2006, 06:44 PM   #15
YT Addict
 
DazzlinYT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 462
Default

Great answers Lacy's Mom!
__________________
Becki & The Dazzlin' Yorkies
DazzlinYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks



Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




Google
 

SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:45 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167