To spay or not?

[SHRED]

We have a little 20 week old Shih Tzu.
We are debating whether or not to spay her.
She won't be used for breeding.

Thoughts?

[Sanity Claws]

1. spay

If not, she will go into heat and want to escape and meet the boys. Hormones are tough to control.

[True Dough]

3. Agreed

Spaying and neutering is worth the while for non-breeding dogs.

[Zoonart]

8. Absolutely spay.

It will protect her from breast cancer risk later in life, which is how my vet advised me.

[Stonepounder]

20. And you will be amazed at how determined she can be to get out and get preggers!

Our little 6 month old Cavalier is at the Vet today getting spayed. Our Vet says that it is best before their 1st heat, but YMMV.

[pansypoo53219]

32. we had a dog next dog. they had a 6 ft fence. lady. a mid size shephard mix mutt got out had puppies

then they locked her in the garage. she got out + had puppies. not sure if there was a 3rd set. she was a good dog. foiled a rape in the alley. cute ass puppies.

[Stonepounder]

33. We had the same situation.

Many, many years ago we lived in Tucson. We had a chain link fence around the back yard. Our dog dug under the fence, got out and delivered a litter of pups. We laid a 4' length of chain link flat under the fence. She got out and delivered a litter of pups. We put her in the garage for the duration. We never did figure out how she escaped but she did. Litter of pups.

I can't remember why we were so resistant, but we finally broke down and had her spayed. This was something like 40 years ago. I chalk it up to being young and foolish.

[Rorey]

2. I think it can prevent other later life maladies

Plus, it's not fun when they go in heat.

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Spay

You won't have to deal with her in heat and that's just one less body part that can have something go wrong.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Spay. Please.

[Bluepinky]

6. I have heard that spaying decreases chances of getting some types of cancer (ovarian is one).

She’s adorable.

[Cousin Dupree]

7. Why is there even a question whether to spay?

[iscooterliberally]

9. Definitely spay her. She'll be better off and your quality of life will be better too.

If you don't and she goes into heat, every male dog in the neighborhood will be trying to break into your house. She's a cutie for sure!

[targetpractice]

10. Spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer significantly...

I took care of my friend's dog while he was away... She was a Jack Russel, and not spayed... She dealt with multiple heats and false pregnancies with lactations sometimes (60 days after a heat). It was annoying to her and us at times.

She died of aggressive breast cancer at 11 years old.

You have an adorable puppy!!

[vlyons]

11. There are several reasons to spay

1. You are not a profesasional breeder and no plans to breedher
2. She will go into estrus at about 8 months, and then every 6 months thereafter. Her estrus will last about a week, and she will drip blood wherever she goes or sits down.
3. If you don't have a 100% secure fence, every stray dog in the neighbor will visit your house. I f that happens, you will have serious dog fights to break up.

Just spay her

[msdogi]

12. Spay!

She'll be much healthier and happier, and no chance of accidental puppies

[irisblue]

13. Spay.....But talk w/ the vet about the best age

Angel Princess, was spayed at a young age, I didn't have her till years later. In ~SOME~female dog breeds, the supportive musculature around the vaginal vault & urinary opening was very weak; Peanut has at least a dozen UTIs, painful for her, the surgical repair was costly to my wallet, but so. worth it.

She's cute, but spay her, dogs in heat do slip out.

[tblue37]

14. Spay. A dog in heat is miserable. nt

[beachbum bob]

15. Why would you not?

You ever had females in heat?

[janterry]

16. I didn't do it to mine

and I have no regrets. I've heard the arguments for spaying and some make good sense (others don't). But in the end, I didn't want to change my dog like that. He's a he - so it would have been neutering -
but in his life (he's about 8 or so now) he has never bred with any other dog - and I knew that wouldn't factor into it.

Castration wasn't something that I'd do to an animal unless there was no choice - I wanted him to be him. (I didn't want to change him).

If he were a female, I'd probably take the same approach.

Good luck with your decision .

[procon]

19. Poor dog. In every way, poor thing. nt

[janterry]

21. He's a lovely dog

and we love him.

I know that people get attached to their opinions.

I'm sure you also have pets and take very good care of them as well.

[procon]

22. Of course, and they will live longer, happier lifespans without the stressors

of needless reproductive organs and the resulting hormonal bombardment. That's not simply an "opinion", the scientific knowledge on spay/neuter is readily available. What does your vet say about the health issues associated with pets left intact?

It seems as if you are projecting your own views on masculinity onto the dog. You even explain that you, "didn't want to change my dog like that", or "He's a he", and "I wanted him to be him. (I didn't want to change him)." It doesn't work like that, you know. Getting neutered will not somehow make your dog a wimp, or gay, or a pussy, and it will not reflect on you or make people question your dangly bits.

Look, it's just a routine veterinary procedure that helps keep our furry darlings happy and healthy. Your dog does not have the mental capacity to miss his testicles or pine for the days of raging hormones. They just don't, dogs live only in the moment they are in -- its the ball, a treat, or a belly rub -- but no anxieties about any lack of dangly parts.

[JayhawkSD]

17. ALWAYS spay/neuter your pets. ALWAYS. nt

[procon]

18. The serious health risks alone should be enough to persuade you.

Then there's the lifelong agony of the poor thing coming into heat and being driven mad with the uncontrollable urge to breed. Why would you let her suffer through cycle after cycle?

Given the amount of verifiable information available, I'm so disappointed that this would still be a question in this day and age.

[Laffy Kat]

28. Unspayed dogs are also prone to false pregnancies and it is so bad for them.

http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-dogs

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Spay. In tact females are prone to breast cancer.

[SHRED]

24. Thanks for the replies!!

Love DU 💙💛💜.

Always informative.

[radical noodle]

25. Spay

Talk to your vet, but I feel sure that's what they will recommend.

[Polly Hennessey]

26. Yes.

Health-wise an absolute must.

[Laffy Kat]

27. She will live so much longer if you spay her. nt

[democratisphere]

29. spay.

[Midnight Writer]

30. Spay. You will both be happier.

[MFM008]

31. Yes please

They live longer and don't suffer through their cycles, unless you like putting a diaper on a dog.....