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BPO Medical Forum => Treatment & Preventative Meds => : k2campbell December 09, 2005, 04:50:30 PM

: Spaying Advice?
: k2campbell December 09, 2005, 04:50:30 PM
I have heard so many mixed reactions on when to have Kate spayed.  6 mnths, 8 mnths, and even waiting until after she goes into her 1st heat?  Would anyone have any advice for me (please)?  Or - when did you all spay your female Big Paws?  ???

I've only ever owned males (so) spaying is new to me.  Kate will be 6 mnths in January...

Thanks!  ;D
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: Kiahpyr December 09, 2005, 04:55:59 PM
Kiah was 8 months old when I got her spayed. I was going to do it at 6 months, but didn't have the funds to get it done. Kiah went into heat at 8 months also. My vet said it's better to have them spayed before the first heat. It cuts down on the risk of certain types of cancer.
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: doglover December 09, 2005, 06:09:24 PM
Molly, my saint was spayed at 8 weeks by the rescue before I picked her up, Abbi my Lab mix was spayed at 6 months. Both are doing fine. Molly will be 6 months on the 29th.
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: k2campbell December 09, 2005, 07:21:37 PM
Holly, Doglover & Tajsa,

Thanks so much for your opinions and facts.  I figured getting her spayed around 6 or 7 mnths would be the best.  I think that is what I will do from here.  I'll chat with her vet this week and make my final decision.  ;)

Holly - your insight regarding pros and cons justifies why I've gotten so many "mixed" answers on this - thanks!  ;D

One more thing I forgot to ask - has anyones' females ever humped?  I know it sounds funny (and our vet said it's normal) but seems odd for a female to hump?  Hee hee - it sure is funny though!  She doesn't do it constantly, just once and a while (but) I had a shocked look on my face the first time she did it! :D

Tajsa - love the new avatar  ;)
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: kathryn December 09, 2005, 09:57:55 PM
I just had Kaila and Cinder both spayed last week.  Kaila is 11 months and Cinder is 20 months.  Michael wanted to wait until Cinder went through her first heat which was okay since it snuck up on us.  I had Kaila knocked down to have her hips x-rayed because she was limping constantly so it really seemed like the perfect time to get her spayed on one visit.  If I did it over again or with another female I would spay before the first heat cycle but the age doesn't really matter to me.  Just my own personal preference.   

For the humping issue: Cinder tried humping Kaila a couple of times before she was spayed but she hasn't tried again since the surgery.  I also have a female Boston Terrier that humps.  She usually humps the large squeaky toys.  I am not sure what the toys have done to deserve the treatment.  But then again she also marks the yard like a little male.  She hikes her leg and everything.  I have never seen a female hike her leg and mark until Marty.  I think she may be a male dog stuck in a female's body. 
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: k2campbell December 09, 2005, 10:54:14 PM
KFC - thanks for your insight  ;)

We're going to spay Kate for sure before her 1st heat, we've decided that today.  Just have to schedule it with the vet and it's a go!  I'm a little nervous to put her under, I just don't like doing it (but) she has to be spayed (so) it's irrelevant I guess...

SO GLAD to hear I'm not the only one who has a humping female!  I know - what do toys do to deserve that - lol!  Kate pees like a girl, so at least she's got that portion of "feminimity"!!!

Your girls are beautiful - and that dumb bell toy in your avatar - Kate has the same one!  ;D
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: shangrila December 10, 2005, 12:05:49 AM
We had Zoey done at 7 months...I would deffinately try and make sure it is before the first heat.

Zoey has never really humped, but I would be shocked if she did not only because she is a girl but because she has bad hips. She does do this thing with one of her boyfriends that is a dominance game that is basically her version of humping though. They are so weird - first he will hump her, then he will lay down and she will stand over top of him, then they repeat - it's like 'ok you're turn to be dominant, now my turn, now your turn, my turn'.
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: k2campbell December 10, 2005, 02:19:45 AM
Thanks Shangrila  ;)  We will definitely have her spayed before her 1st heat...

Zoey's dominance game sounds interesting!  Hee hee - must be funny to watch!  ;D

How is she doing btw (hips)?
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: GR8DAME December 10, 2005, 03:16:50 AM
Although Raven is the smallest of my dogs, she rules over the two larger males. She has humped each of them at one time or another to assert dominence. Since it is not an acceptable behavior in our males we also made her quit as well. But she has done it, and she was spayed at about a year (when we rescued her), and she is about 10 now. She doesn't lift her leg, but interestingly neither of the male dogs will cover her urine, either.
Stella
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: shangrila December 10, 2005, 08:21:11 PM
How is she doing btw (hips)?

Honestly, not so great. We are doing everything we can but she seems to be struggling more and more with getting up and with stairs, and we are constantly worried about her  :-\
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: kildeskennel December 10, 2005, 08:45:30 PM
We recommend spaying at 6 months BEFORE the first heat.  Everyone has different ideas, I personally feel it is best.  Females who come into heat and are not bred are suseptible to certain types of ovarian uterian cancers, it is my understanding that this is a risk only if the female is left unbred and continues to come into heat.  So spayi9ng her right after her first heat would probably not do her harm, numerous heats could. 
: Re: Spaying Advice?
: k2campbell December 11, 2005, 03:01:03 AM
How is she doing btw (hips)?

Honestly, not so great. We are doing everything we can but she seems to be struggling more and more with getting up and with stairs, and we are constantly worried about her  :-\
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Shangrila - That is not what I was hoping to hear regarding Zoey's hips.  I'm so sorry.  I'm thinking of you guys and Zoey and hoping for the best.  Take care.

Thanks all for your spaying (and female humping  :o) advice!  Glad to know Kate's not the only one who has done it!!!