Opinions on spaying

[Dadbear]

I'm considering having my 5 month old Yellow Lab spayed. Her name is Sadie. She is AKC and has great lines. She's really a sweetheart and handling really well so far, too. Could you guys please weigh in on your opinions of spaying? I've heard it can affect temperment and handling as the dog ages. I'm curious on the ups and downs of both sides of the issue. Thanks.

[rasbo]

not sure.I have a purebred lab that wondered in one day ,we couldn't find the owners anywhere..I took her to the vet and had her all checked out, she had been spayed..She fetches and obeys loves to play and is very gentle around the grandkids..She is hardmouthed though.   good question I'm thinking on having my redheeler spayed..Ive had my males cut and they were fine,except the look they give you the first week after..they did grow into large dogs for heelers

[KDume]

I had my lab spayed at six month's. There is to many breeders to justify dealing with little puppies,as cute as they may be. It has only been a month and she is just as great as before. I would like to hear what everyone has to say though! Good luck!

[bearpaw]

Might be a good idea to wait until she is 1 to 2 years old and until you figure a few things out about her.

Does she need to be spayed?
She is the best dog, do I want puppies?

I know a few guys who later wished they wouldn't have spayed their dog.....

[Rowdy]

If in doubt, wait.  That's my opinion because like a previous poster said you could possibly regret it.  One of the major concerns is weight gain and incontinence (sp) if it's a bad spay job.  My mom got her lab for free, a beautiful chocolate, but soon realized why.  The vet had done a terrible spay job and everywhere the pup lays when she gets up there is a little puddle of piss.  She put her on meds and they work but the new vet said she would need to be on them forever.   

Jake

[GoldTip]

I think more humans should be spayed, thats my opinion.

[smdave]

My Lab has incontinence after spaying, the hormone pill was prescribed as once a day, I now give her a half of a pill amonth and she has no problems. I have never read that this is because of the job the Doctor did, if you search on the internet some breads are more prone to this then others, Labs are one of them.

There are benefits to spaying your dog, no unwanted puppies with sneaky neighbor dog, there are many health reasons to spay Labs. Decreasing the chances of cancer and other fatal illnesses will keep that purebred around for many years to come.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
For a female Lab, benefits of spaying include:
Elimination of heat cycles (and blood staining in your house)
Reduces negative behaviors

Help protect them against serious health problems such as uterine infections, breast cancer and other cancers

MYTH: My Lab is so special that I want another one just like it.
FACT: Although your Lab may be the perfect pet, that doesn't mean that its offspring will be an exact copy of it. What are the chances of a human family having carbon copy children? Not possible.

MYTH: It is better to have a litter before altering a Lab.
FACT: Evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat cycle are typically healthier. Removal of the reproductive organs before the first cycle decreases the chances of cancers, urinary tract infections, and other illnesses.

MYTH: My Lab's behavior will change after being altered.
FACT: This is true but positive. Female Labs maintain any nurturing or loving personalities they had before the surgery as well.

[Rowdy]

My Lab has incontinence after spaying, the hormone pill was prescribed as once a day, I now give her a half of a pill amonth and she has no problems. I have never read that this is because of the job the Doctor did, if you search on the internet some breads are more prone to this then others, Labs are one of them.

There are benefits to spaying your dog, no unwanted puppies with sneaky neighbor dog, there are many health reasons to spay Labs. Decreasing the chances of cancer and other fatal illnesses will keep that purebred around for many years to come.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
For a female Lab, benefits of spaying include:
Elimination of heat cycles (and blood staining in your house)
Reduces negative behaviors

Help protect them against serious health problems such as uterine infections, breast cancer and other cancers

MYTH: My Lab is so special that I want another one just like it.
FACT: Although your Lab may be the perfect pet, that doesn't mean that its offspring will be an exact copy of it. What are the chances of a human family having carbon copy children? Not possible.

MYTH: It is better to have a litter before altering a Lab.
FACT: Evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat cycle are typically healthier. Removal of the reproductive organs before the first cycle decreases the chances of cancers, urinary tract infections, and other illnesses.

MYTH: My Lab's behavior will change after being altered.
FACT: This is true but positive. Female Labs maintain any nurturing or loving personalities they had before the surgery as well.

Fact: I was stating what the vet had told my mother about the incontinence and poor spay job.  I was relaying what she had been told by her vet.  I am not a vet and I have never had a dog with this problem.

Fact: Breeding should be done by breeders.  If you like your dog get another one from the same lines.

There is alot of research about the proper time to spay/neuter a dog.  I have read alot of the different opinions on this subject and witnessed many debates on several forums (gun dog, upland journal, Pointing Dog Journal).  This can be a touchy subject for some.  For me I'll just stick with my unaltered males.

[Rowdy]

P.S.  That is a very sweey looking pup you got there.  I love the yellows with the black noses.

Jake

[markts]

I think more humans should be spayed, thats my opinion.

I am with you on this one. Mark

[AWS]

I had my AWS spayed because of temprement problems that I never wanted passed on, my buddies were sure that she was a springer/chessy/alligator cross.  She was a hunting machine and we hunted ducks, pheasants and grouse together for 14yrs and she won a number of hunting competitions including the one at the AWS National Specialty.  Spaying never changed her at all.  My GWP is nueterred and again a hunting machine, would rather hunt than eat.

AWS

[Ireland Farms]

A Lab typically comes into their first heat cylce at 6 - 12 months of age. In my experience it's closer to 12 months. This allows you plenty of time to think about your decision. You may need to keep her confined if she has an earlier cylce, but that's better than regretting your decision.

Whatever you decide, just remember a great pedigree is a plus, but your dog also should have clearances done to assure she is not passing on any genetic health concerns with her pups. If she has a great pedigree, the likelihood is that she will pass her clearances, but it's never good to assume.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

[rasbo]

I think more humans should be spayed, thats my opinion.

I am with you on this one. Mark

worked for me,I tend to stay in the yard,and butt sniffing is way down

[ecnclan]

Had my Brittany spayed at two years old.  She was never bred.  She did gain some weight and her hair got shaggy and curly but still lived to hunt.  Her disposition never changed, a great dog.

[3dvapor]

two main issues for me are weight and key hormones that are no longer produced for growing bone, strengthening tendons and muscles.
These issues are sometimes overlooked on working dogs.

[KillBilly]

I think more humans should be spayed, thats my opinion.

I am with you on this one. Mark

And more animals should eat their young   

[h2ofowlr]

I have always spayed my females, with no problems.  That way don't have to worry if she gets out by accident. 

[Dadbear]

Thanks, guys.... she's fixed and doing well. (now as a joke we call her "Spaydie" sometimes instead of Sadie... (pretty cruel humor, huh?)

[Bean Counter]

I've heard it can affect temperment and handling as the dog ages.

I'm neither a vet nor a dog owner but this statement perks my interest. Some day I may like to have a bird hunting dog. Right now I don't like the idea of spaying or neutering a dog. Just seems cruel to me if you're going to keep it as a pet. Seems as though I'm against the majority here. 

[Hangfire]

My previous Springer was out of as good of breeding as there was.. I didn't have her spayed as I thought I would some day have her bred.  At 7 years old she came down with mammary cancer. I then had her spayed and cancer removed.  At age nine cancer back and she had to be put down.

Vet said to reduce mammary cancer either spay before first   heat or let have a liter of pups. I lost a really good dog, great behavior and super hunter.

The current Springer, we had spayed as per vets instructions.  She gets a little heavy, and have had some periodic problems with urine. Personality never changed.

[benbo30]

A Lab typically comes into their first heat cylce at 6 - 12 months of age. In my experience it's closer to 12 months. This allows you plenty of time to think about your decision. You may need to keep her confined if she has an earlier cylce, but that's better than regretting your decision.

Whatever you decide, just remember a great pedigree is a plus, but your dog also should have clearances done to assure she is not passing on any genetic health concerns with her pups. If she has a great pedigree, the likelihood is that she will pass her clearances, but it's never good to assume.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

what type of clearances are you talking about ?? hip and eyes ?? , i have a female lab akc she is 2 and a male yellow  akc he is 1 , i want to go and have them both checked out ,  how much does it usually cost ??