Strange question about female dogs

[Dean Saliba]

Hi Guys,

This may sound like a bit of a strange question to ask as a newbie but here we go.

Is there a point where a female dog will stop going into season/heat?

[lassie]

Hi Dean , no unless you have her spayed, which if you dont intend breeding from her is the best thing to do. Best time to have her done is Usually 12 weeks afer shes had a season.

[dlambertz]

hi dean
i agree with lassie except as to when to spay a bitch. i like to see them done before there first season. it takes the risk of breast cancer down to almost zero if done before the first heat cycle.

[lassie]

hi dean
i like to see them done before there first season. it takes the risk of breast cancer down to almost zero if done before the first heat cycle.

IMO I prefer mine to have a season first as it can and does bring on incontinence, well in our breed anyhow. :D

[nancy]

I am waiting untill Breagh is one before I get her spayed as a lot of people have said this is best.

[dlambertz]

I am waiting untill Breagh is one before I get her spayed as a lot of people have said this is best.

i have always went under the advice of my vet. and they have always suggested before the first heat.

wonder why there is such a difference in opinion... afghan owners told me not to spay mia at all....

[Aurora]

Not unless you spay her.

[MaryGrace]

I would spay her. :)

[Becky]

I spayed Maddi before her first heat (she was 6.5 months). Personally would have it done before the first heat if at all possible.


This is taken from http://www.vetinfo.com/dspay.html

When to Spay

Q: Dear Dr. Mike, We have heard conflicting opinions on whether to spay our border collie before or after the heat. Can you give us your objective opinion on this? Thank you

A: I hope that you have not heard conflicting opinions from vets! It is pretty much universally agreed upon by vets that the best time to spay is BEFORE the first heat period. If a dog is spayed prior to the first heat, the odds of developing mammary cancer later in life are less than 1%. If spayed between the first and second heat periods the risk increases to about 8%. If spayed at any time after the second heat period, the risk of mammary cancer is about 25% in the dog (same as in an unspayed dog). There are no reasons not to spay prior to the first heat that I am aware of. A few dogs do develop incontinence from low estrogen levels after spaying but this does not appear to be affected much by the time the dog is spayed. Some dogs just develop this problem after spaying.

With the obvious benefit of spaying before the first heat and the lack of any problems that have been proven to occur as the result of spaying early, there does not appear to be much reason for controversy to me.

Mike Richards, DVM