Town Hall Topic – Spaying/Neutering

**Kratty** · 02-28-2006, 07:42 AM

Topic – Spaying/Neutering

A recent thread made me thing about this issue further and needs to be discussed in more detail. I am providing a few links to some articles that have debated on other forums and would like to get every ones opinion on this subject.

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenl...vet/neutr.html
http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenl...ionindogs.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
http://www.geocities.com/rottndobie/...terCancers.pdf
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

Do you plan on neutering/spaying your Doberman? What age are you planning on doing this? If you already did this, what age were they when you did this?
Do you think spaying/neutering at an early age impacts their growth due to missing hormonal changes? Slower to fully mature physically?
Do you think having this done, prevents certain risks of cancer.
What gender benefits more, male or female?
What are the Pros & Cons do you see for spaying/neutering?

Luv_my_Bruno · 02-28-2006, 08:52 AM

Thanks for making this

I look forward to see the answer's and will be checking out the links

Pippinislove · 02-28-2006, 04:33 PM

Do you plan on neutering/spaying your Doberman? What age are you planning on doing this? If you already did this, what age were they when you did this?

Yes, any dogs I get, unless breeding quality, will be speutered. Age depends on what I got the dog for. If I just got a companion dog I will probably neuter it earlier than if the dog was purchased for a sport like Schutzhund.

Do you think spaying/neutering at an early age impacts their growth due to missing hormonal changes? Slower to fully mature physically?

I haven't researched it enough.

Do you think having this done, prevents certain risks of cancer.

Yes.

What gender benefits more, male or female?

I would say female. No false pregnancies, no pyometras, not as likely to get mammary cancer, no going through heat.

What are the Pros & Cons do you see for spaying/neutering?

Pros? No unwanted puppies, no having to deal with annoying dogs in heat and dogs wanting to mate, no pyometras or testicular cancer and so on and so forth.

Cons? They have to go under to get it done.

LapDog · 02-28-2006, 09:00 PM

Do you plan on neutering/spaying your Doberman? What age are you planning on doing this? If you already did this, what age were they when you did this?
Duchess is already spayed. She got spayed a few months after having her first heat. She was about a year and halfish...

Do you think spaying/neutering at an early age impacts their growth due to missing hormonal changes? Slower to fully mature physically?
Our breeder recommended that she got spayed after her first heat...then when we took her to get spayed at our holistic vet we were talking about her being spayed after her first heat...and she brought up that it was good to wait for their body to grow...especially for large athletic dogs.
I agree either way...I can see how it can lower the risk of cancers...but I think the commercial food, treats, water, and shots...and other factors are more likely to cause cancer.

What gender benefits more, male or female?
Not sure lol. Duchess hasn't changed at all or much lol

What are the Pros & Cons do you see for spaying/neutering?
Not having to deal with the "doggy periods" is what I call them.
Not having to worry about seperating male and female ever
No unwanted pregnancy process
No puppies...I love mutts...but I'd be embarrassed if I accidently added to the problem of dogs without homes!

joce · 02-28-2006, 09:16 PM

I'm going to copy and paste something from a pei forum because ti says my stance pretty good,but I'll answer the other stuff too.

There are a lot of things that go inot it. Because I never trust that a person can keep a dog without making more I usually say neuter as soon as possible,BUT I would never alter one of mine before they have fully grown. For my dobe that may be as old as two. Some people also can nto deal with a female going through heat,or a male when they smell a female going through heat [Bang Head] Its not fun stuff!

If a dog has a genetic pre disposition to have bad joints,bones,urinary problems etc,it is better to let them get all their growth hormone that goes along with the sex hormones. A dog that is fixed before puberty grows diffrently. They are a little taller and their bones(from what I understand the sex hormone should eventually seal off the growth hormone and it doesn't) grow diffrently.

But to the normal pet owner who doens't have a ton of experience I would say to neuter as soon as possible,same with anyone who has had an accidnet in their home. And I don;t care how old a rescue in my house is,they will be fixed during their transistion to their new home.

This is a huge issue with dobes and now labs with the recent study on hip dysplasia. I will try to look for the articles.
This is one I found and the other discussion was on a dobe board you would ahve to join to view but I'll have to look for it.
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
This si a great quote form the article" I think it is important, therefore, that we assess each situation individually. If a pet dog is going to live with an intelligent, well-informed family that understands the problem of pet overpopulation and can be trusted to keep their dogs under their control at all times and to not breed them, I do not recommend spaying or neutering before 14 months of age."

I hate saying stuff like this because then there is more of a risk people will have accidnet pups but when I weigh the pros and cons early altering just isn't for me. But it is for a lot of people.

Found the other links! you may have to join but its worth it.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/11341/thread/1130246256/

That rally answered everything but will you get your dobe altered. byron is six-ish now and still not done. He had a reaction getting a lump off and I've not wanted to put him back under. My corgi recently had a tumor and got fixed but it came back that she would ahve had the tumor regardless. I don;t know if I mentioned it above but the inverted vulva(is that what they call it?) seems to be pretty common in dobes and if you fix before the first heat it will not fix itself and often the dog is fixed before its even noticed.

Pippinislove · 03-01-2006, 04:19 PM

There is no need to wait until after the first heat to spay a dog.

Dober_addict · 03-01-2006, 11:56 PM

Most of what I'm going to say has to do with females as that's what I'm used to.

Do you plan on neutering/spaying your Doberman? What age are you planning on doing this? If you already did this, what age were they when you did this?
My Dobes were already spayed/neutered when I got them (Keeva was done at 4 months, Winston at 7 years). If I got them as pups though, I'd get them spayed/neutered between 8 months & a year or after their first heat as I do believe it effects their growth. If the dog is just going to be a companion and not invloved in any sports, then I'm fine with spaying before hand. I am one to neuter the boys at a younger age before they develope certain behaviours.

Do you think spaying/neutering at an early age impacts their growth due to missing hormonal changes? Slower to fully mature physically?
I believe dogs should be spayed after their first heat as it must affect their growing/maturity somewhat. I'm not a fan of spaying really young (16 weeks or younger) at all.

What gender benefits more, male or female?
Neither benefits more IMO. I think both are equal.

What are the Pros & Cons do you see for spaying/neutering?

Pros:
-Don't have to deal with their season
-Don't have to worry about males getting at your female
-Don't have to worry as much about males being aggressive around other males or aggressive when they sense a female in season.
-Smaller chance of cancer
-Don't have to owrry about an accidental litter

Cons:
- Affects their growth somewhat, I believe.

**Kratty** · 03-02-2006, 07:32 AM

* Do you plan on neutering/spaying your Doberman? What age are you planning on doing this? If you already did this, what age were they when you did this?

Always plan on neutering/spaying any dog I have because I have no plans of ever breeding them. We had our girl spay around 6 or 7 months old. Due to my experience, at the time, we had it done. Since then, I learned more and my thoughts have changed.

* Do you think spaying/neutering at an early age impacts their growth due to missing hormonal changes? Slower to fully mature physically?

I do believe, in females, that this does impact their physical growth if they are spayed before their first heat cycle. Their natural hormones due assist in their growth developement and they fill out at an earlier stage. My girl was very leggy for a long time until she started filling out but this did not occur until she was over a year old. It does seem that spaying before the first heat cycle did slow this down alot. I think the next female I get will not be spayed until after her first cycle, but probably not wait until the 2nd cycle.

* Do you think having this done, prevents certain risks of cancer.

None of the data I have seen proves that neutering/spaying prevents cancer. On the contrary, it just reduces the risks of certain types, but may also increase the risk of other cancers. This is a tough one to decide on, since it seems the data is all over the place and the experts really do not know. This will defiantely go on my list of questions for the next breeder I decide to deal with for my next dog.

* What gender benefits more, male or female?

Both genders do benefit from this, but all for specific reasons that are different from each other.

* What are the Pros & Cons do you see for spaying/neutering?

For my girl,
the Pros: no unwanted pregnancies, a lower risk of some types of cancer. Not having having to deal with the panty issue when in she is in a cycle. Even though I saw some neat ones that are being sold today. Very fashionable.

The cons: Physical growth hampered by early spaying, Increased risk of other types of cancer.

Overall, it seems the cancer issue is a poop shoot with spaying/neutering. But on the other hand, the physical growth due to their hormones is higher on my list of when I will spay my next female. If I get a male, then I will have to consider the right age to do this. I am not sure if I could wait until 2 years of age, as some recommend, especially if this is causing other behavioral issues if I can not correct with training.

snickerdoodle · 03-14-2006, 05:00 PM

Do you plan on neutering/spaying your Doberman? What age are you planning on doing this? If you already did this, what age were they when you did this?

Depends on why I bought the dobe. Now i have only ONE spayed female she is spayed for medical reasons ONLY!. My Male is intact. and my two new female will also be intact. My male is awaiting his OFA to be done then we will make that ultimate decision. Otherwise, I havent and wont. there are pros and cons.

Do you think spaying/neutering at an early age impacts their growth due to missing hormonal changes? Slower to fully mature physically?
I dont think it impacts growth but i think that is impacts their behavior or can impact their behavior dramatically. Sometimes Id like to nueter my husband !!!

What gender benefits more, male or female?
Personally I like females as companions and Males as protectors. Depends on what I am looking for.

What are the Pros & Cons do you see for spaying/neutering?

Pros:
-Smaller chance of cancer

Cons:
- Can also increase other types of Cancers due to hormonal changes.
- Cant Show if the dog is show quality

Responsible owners wont allow an ACCIDENTAL LITTER and allow males to get to their females.

JennSLK · 03-20-2006, 01:26 AM

Jazz whont be spayed. Because she is a show dog. I am also getting a huge cut on her perchase price because I have a breeding agreement. Dan wants to keep her bloodlines so we have decided that IF she pases all required health testing, is over 2yrs and has her CH title we will breed her. He gets the whole litter and pays for all $$ for health testing