I am definately going to spay our shelter puppy, since it will reduce the chances of her getting pyometra and mammary gland tumors.
Although it is recommended to spay before 6 months, are there any side affects of being spayed before her first heat? Wouldn’t she need some hormones for developement?
There’s an old myth that you should wait until after the first heat to spay, but there is no evidence that this has any benefits. And of course, it carries the risk of her getting knocked up.
Go ahead and check with your vet to find the best spaying time for your breed (some dogs develop faster than others.) She will develop just fine.
No, she doesn’t need it. I can (and will) look up some articles. IIRC, one of the biggest side effects seen with early spaying in dogs is incontinence as an adult. Not all dogs have it (my dog was spayed prior to first heat, she doesn’t suffer and is past 4 years now), but the slight chance is increased with early spaying.
The major side benefit is a dramatic reduction in the odds of getting mammary tumors (which you yourself mention), since many of those depend on hormones and are estrogen dependent. IIRC, it is something like a 20% reduction if spayed prior to first heat, and 8% reduction if spayed before the second heat.
Plus decreasing the chances of an “Oops” litter
Hehehehehehe…
“Bitch”
[/Peter Griffin]
I got my percentages wrong (or at least I cannot easily find where I took them). If spayed before first heat, the chances of mammary tumors are extremely low, if spayed before second heat it is 8% and it increases to 25% if spayed after the second heat on.
And again, the only side effect that jumps to my mind is increase risk of incontinence. Unfortunately works call and I’ll be out for a while.