Why aren't people spaying their female dogs?

I think that I can answer that from one viewpoint.

I was one of the hold-outs.

I had my precious..once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog. She had had two litters, and was retired from motherhood. However, she was so very dear to me, that I couldn't stand the thought of her being away from me all day..and to put her through surgery! NO..She would think I had let her down..I could be risking her life from anesthesia reaction..for no good reason. I was responsible, and knew I would keep her from being mated again..I just wanted the longest life possible for her.

Well, she got pyometra! and died a slow, painful, agonizing death, despite all that we could do.

Of my three female dogs that have died since that one..all at advanced age...ALL of them died from desease that would have been prevented by spaying..Mammary cancer.

I miss the extra years that I might have spent with them, and feel guilty for their pain and disease.

I finally learned, and got my beloveds spayed. ...but then, I am a slow learner..sigh.

My own vet is in his 50's..and states that he has never lost a dog from, or during routine spay or neuter surgery.

Many vets do educate, but as you see by some of the answers people choose to disregard what they are told..They choose to believe what they want to believe.

I work in a vet hospital...pyo is VERY real and way too common. It can be fatal..many times an owner isn't aware the dog even has it until it is very ill, once it reaches this point the chances of a positive outcome are greatly diminished...emergency spay surgery is needed and at a time when the dog is very, very ill...the stress of the illness coupled with stress of surgery is not a good combo.

Mammary cancer is also a very real issue....I have seen it in some very young dogs. It is not an old dog issue. We've had dogs that weren't even 3 yet die from it despite all treatment efforts. Also mammary abcesses are all too common in unspayed females and is seen in females as young as 9 months of age.

Weight is a very flimsy excuse not to spay...dogs don't gain weight because of being spayed but rather by too many calories and to little exercise. A little owner monitoring can go a long way to keep weight at a healthy level...I will also add that there are a lot of overweight intact females as well...owner indulgence is the cause.

Every animal I have ever owned has been spayed/neutered. After over 30 years in animal rescue I know there are far too many dogs/puppies, cats/kittens in this world without me adding to the problem.

I know not every person who chooses not to spay/neuter intends to breed, but many are just not up to coping with animals when a female is in heat. Whether they own the female or the male or worse both they don't realize the lengths a dog will go to when it's time to mate to find a partner. If they live in the country a long way from anyone else they don't realize that a male can smell a female in season from miles away so they are not safe. This is over and above all the health risks they are put at when they are not spayed/neutered.

Yes I have heard of pyometra. I have seen what it can do too. Even when you get the dog to the vet in time to save it's life it's very nasty what that poor girl goes through. It's not just a case of spaying and all is well. It will take her time to recover as well as needing antibiotic treatments and often IV fluid treatments too. Very costly. If you are too slow off the bat getting her to the vet she will die.

Chetco I had tears in my eyes as I read your post. I pray at least one person will learn from it. I'm so sorry you lost your precious girls too soon.

My choice now would be to wait until after the second heat or until 1 1/2 yrs old or more, according to breed or breed type, to alter. I'd be responsible about containing my dog during heat, and I'd spay earlier if there was any chance breeding took place. The reason for this is NEW STUDIES that are showing that early spays are not good for female or male dogs, before full growth. Though you are right that one form of cancer is less likely there are now other types of cancer associated with early spays.

I used to believe six mos.

I have three spayed female dogs and believe in spaying! But fully informed means keeping up with the pros and cons according to the latest research and according to breed of dog. Many in America support early spay and neuter because of the tendency of many owners not containing their dogs effectively and protecting them during heat cycles (from fence jumpers, etc.) and the resultant overload of unwanted litters or pups that end up in shelters when people realize the responsibility of owning a dog.

For male dogs, some worry that it's like castrating a person. Well the dog doesn't see it that way, and for those worried about appearances, there is always "Neuticles"..lol

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/spaying_neu...

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

I have owned one dog who was not spayed before her first heat. There was a medical reason for this (immune disorder), but after her heat she immediately went into a false pregnancy, which increases her chances of cancer. She is fine for now, but there is always fear in the back of my mind now. I would hate to lose her early to such a horrible thing.

My other girls have all been spayed before their first heat. Low and behold! They are incredibly healthy and my two 11 year olds are so healthy they are going to live past their average life span for their breed.

I have known of one dog who died during a spay. For those who use that as an excuse, if you were betting in Vegas you would be bankrupt. The odds are much greater of getting a killer disease.

I am inclined to believe this controversy has much more to do with ego, misplaced religious beliefs, and machoism than the health and well-being of our pets.

Chetco, I am so sorry. It must have been heartbreaking for you.

I had my dog spayed but I had not heard of pyometra until last month when I looked up info about spaying on the internet last month. I thought it was just someone talking about something wierd so I did not ask Vet about it.

Wish I had ask now after reading all the above.

It is a shame vets aren't more forth coming but so many just do not have the time to spend with their clients and clients don't ask the right questions, It's a shame someone hasn't published a good handout for vets to give to their clients explaining the dangers of not spaying/neutering their pets beyond the usual about reproducing unwanted puppies.

My female dogs are spayed. My vet told us that if done before the first heat the chance of cancer is much less. She did not specify what type of cancer. So I guess I got the most important part of the info.

I FIX MY PETS B/C I CARE ABOUT MY PETS!!!

Plus, I do not want to spend the money nor deal with a pregnancy plus i want her to LIVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE!!! IF YOU CANT AFFORD TO SPAY, THEN DO NOT GET THE DOG IT IS NOT COMPLICATED!!!

edit: ok um even if you do take all the precautions and what not of having your unfixed pet, there is still a chance she could get pregnant (male could get her pregnant) fixing is the best way to go about this, yes animals die under anestheia, so do humans, yet that doesnt stop surgeries from happening. Really, I consider being responsible for my pet including ensuring her life of being healthy and long, fixing has these benefits. and also good for you, you put diapers on, but there are others who have no idea what it means for a dog to be in heat or what to do, and then bam shes pregnant, so dont say there is no big deal b/c pet overpopulation is very serious and if your not fixing and are not a REAL breeder then you are part of the problem.

I haven't spayed my yorkie yet, but I plan on it after her first "season". I have always gotten my animals "fixed" not because of the vet suggesting it, but because I don't want puppies and I feel that animals are happier when they don't have those urges.