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to spay or not to spay...

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  • 23-06-2005 1:39pm
    #1
    Lola123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 582 ✭✭✭


    Have a female shih tzu thats about 6 months old. I've been told by a few people that it's best to let her have a litter of pups before getting her spayed/neutered.
    Why is this?
    Plus, how much effort is it to look after a pregnant dog?


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    #2
    RangeR
    Registered Users Posts: 7,265 ✭✭✭RangeR


    I have had many cats in my lifetime, since I was a wee nipper. My parents, and now I, have always let them have one litter before getting them spayed.

    I'm not sure if there is a scientific reason for this but I believe that they should get the chance to experience motherhood at least once in their life. One thing I did learn, is that when they have their litter, ween them off their mother quickish. If you don't, they will just keep going to their mother for food, rather than the food you give them. This begins to irritate the hell out of the mother, who gets no rest and very sore.

    I think that's all I can add at this time.


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    #3
    amerden
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭amerden


    Lola123 wrote:
    Have a female shih tzu thats about 6 months old. I've been told by a few people that it's best to let her have a litter of pups before getting her spayed/neutered.
    Why is this?
    Plus, how much effort is it to look after a pregnant dog?

    I have two West Highland terriers and had both spayed after their first season and before they were due the second, I took advice from my Vet in the UK and a top UK breeder of West Highland terriers who both told me that this was an old wife's tale. There would also have been the risk to the mothers and finding a GOOD home for the offspring, our Westies are now 14 years old so I can't see it did any harm.


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    #4
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    This "let them have one litter first"-theory basically stems from a hundred years ago, when vetenary medicine was about as advanced as butchery.

    A pregnancy enlarges the uterus and therefore made it easier to find it in order to remove it.

    This does not apply anymore.

    As for the "experience of motherhood" ...nonsense. A bitch will not know that she "missed out on anything".

    As for letting her have that litter: even bigger nonsense, there are enough unwanted dogs as is, no need to produce any more, just to satisfy any projected "motherly" instincts that the dog doesn't have.

    Spaying / neutering also signifacantly reduces the risk of cancer.


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    #5
    Shabadu
    Registered Users Posts: 7,659 ✭✭✭Shabadu


    I was told you should let a dog have it's first heat before spaying, is that a myth too?


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    #6
    amerden
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭amerden


    Shabadu wrote:
    I was told you should let a dog have it's first heat before spaying, is that a myth too?

    This is what I was advised to do with my two dogs, (see above) could be to do with the fact that they are so so young when they have their first season.??


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    #7
    Shabadu
    Registered Users Posts: 7,659 ✭✭✭Shabadu


    Ah sorry, I took that as meaning they had had litters.


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    #8
    Lola123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 582 ✭✭✭Lola123


    Thanks. I was trying to figure out how I would actually be able to sell the puppies. I'd wanna kepp 'em all !!!


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    #9
    amerden
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭amerden


    Lola123 wrote:
    Thanks. I was trying to figure out how I would actually be able to sell the puppies. I'd wanna kepp 'em all !!!


    You could end up with a LOT of "ShiH Tzu's" around the house, in more ways than one.


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    #10
    Baffled
    Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭Baffled


    I'd advise you to do it after she first comes in to heat. Letting them have one litter is a load of bull. Getting them spayed helps prevent disease or tumors of the sexual organs, mammary cancer, and also she is less likely to roam looking for a mate.


    Allowing her to have a litter is a huge responsibility. I have a german shephard who had a litter last year and she rejected them at 2.5 weeks, which meant that I had to give up a lot of time and energy to look after and raise them. Constant feeding (cos they dont all feed at the same time), checking the temperature of there pen, changing the bedding, and socialising them as they got older. Not only is it hard work but its costly too. I have to admit i nearly ended up in the nut house after it.

    Some bitches are brilliant mothers and some not. You have to be prepared for the complications too.


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    #11
    Arcadian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 498 ✭✭Arcadian


    SPAY SPAY SPAY !!! Check out petsireland for further information and advice.

    http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/index.php?act=idx


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    #12
    Sigma Force
    Registered Users Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    SPAY and spay early!

    Letting them go into their first heat and letting them have a litter is an big old wives tale and totally untrue. It has led to countless unwanted puppies.

    Vets will spay a dog or cat at 6months of age, some vets will spay pups and kittens earlier which is no problem and much research has been done on the effects of early spay with no problems it's perfectly safe to do. Especially when many kittens and some pups will come into heat early.

    Take the responsible route and spay.


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