Spraying After 1st Heat? - Page 2

Heidi-G · 09-16-2008, 08:33 PM

thanks for all of your comments, as I mentioned I tend to trust Sophia K when it comes to my doberman, so I think we will be waiting.....about when is the first heat?

**Doberdog** · 09-16-2008, 08:46 PM

When I got Peaches from the rescue she was in her first heat so I had no choice. I waited till just after she went out of heat and had her fixed. She has had some slight leaking only right after she voids. When I let her back in I have to dab her with some toliet paper then she is fine, but no leaking randomly or at night.
I got my MaggieMae (non Dobe-1/2 Shar Pei and 1/2 ???), from the pound at 10 weeks. They of course fixed her before I picked her up. No problems at all with her.

**Kratty** · 09-17-2008, 08:14 AM

We spayed our first one before her first heat and we had a few occurrences of leaking, didn't know any better at the time. We waited until after her first heat for the second one. I believe the hormonal changes they go through during the heat is critical for their development, like filling out. It seemed with my first one, it took her a longer time to fill out than the other one.

I will admit that going through a dog's heat cycle, being the first time I experienced it, was the worst 6 weeks of my life. The sluttiness was an understatement. If I wasn't paying attention, my foot would be violated by her. Ugh.

feverone · 09-20-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi-G

thanks for all of your comments, as I mentioned I tend to trust Sophia K when it comes to my doberman, so I think we will be waiting.....about when is the first heat?

I'm have their 1st heat around 91/2 mths BUT alot of bloodlines are differant.. I tell people to spay by 81/2 mths no earlier... for that leaking reason. But it is true about Mammary cancer if spaying after 1st heat... It may not happen ?
But I lost one to that, and trust me it was a terrible to watch .......JMHO

littlebirdbabe · 09-21-2008, 09:15 AM

I just had my girl done (Thurs.) @ 6 mo. The only thing I would say is the Vet made the final skin sutures disolvable and under the skin. She chews/shreds EVERYTHING! Even with constant supervision I wasn't convinced she wouldn't do damage to herself. Good luck either way!

gatehouse · 09-21-2008, 05:54 PM

I have a copy of an article regarding spay/neuter and effects if anyone wants the whole thing, email at maura@gatehousedobermanns.com. Basically it says for males, if done before 1 yr - increase in bone cancer (osteosarcoma); increase in cardiac hemangiosarcoma; triples risk of hypothyroidism; quadruples risk of prostate cancer; doubles risk of urinary tract; increase risk of orthopaedic disorders and risk to vaccine reactions.......
females - done before one year - significant increase in bone cancer, splenic hemangiosarcoma and cardiac hemangioscoma; triples hypothyroidism; causes spay incontinance; risk of persistent uti, vaginitis, etc.doubles urinary tract tumours;risk of orthopaedic disorder; and vaccine reaction.

In a nutshell? Wait till at least a year :-)

**berkshire** · 09-21-2008, 07:11 PM

I think both your vets are correct - they're just talking about different risks.

There is a significant increase in incidence of incontinence in females spayed early. However, there is also a significant increase for risk of mammary cancer. Females spayed before first heat have an ~1% chance of mammary cancer, 8% after first heat, and 24% after second heat. I guess it comes down to which health related issue concerns you most - mammary cancer or incontinence.

There is a good article to read that was published by one of the leading canine reproductive specialists (at Minnesota's vet school) that I think is the most un-biased out there. It's been linked several times on DT:
www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

prophecy · 09-21-2008, 08:06 PM

i have past experiance only with males,post neuter. however,Beep (my gsd) doesnt appear to be leaking after her spay.She is age 1 1/2 and had 2 cycles before her surgery.my males had problems with holding their pee for aprox 3 weeks post op,then were fine on holding it.

**melbrod** · 09-21-2008, 08:19 PM

Had my girl spayed after her second heat at around 2. She still became incontinent during sleep as she aged, but was easily manageable with meds.

Heidi-G · 09-23-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael327

I am waiting until 3 months after her 2nd heat to spay my little girl. My vet is in agreement with that decision. That will put her about 15 -16
months old.

Michael.....when about should I expect her "first" heat?