Even though there are some potential health risks associated with early spaying or neutering, the scientific evidence against early spaying is not solid so you should discuss these risks with your veterinarian.
Overall the benefits of spaying and neutering outweigh the risks. Torres de la Riva, G. DOI: The Humane Society of the United States. I had a chi who had one testicle that had not descended. The vet recommended he be neutered because he could develop testicular cancer.
I bred him once to my daughter's chi, and then had him neutered. He lived for 15 years and was a great little guy. I elected not to spay my female I got 10 years ago because my male was neutered and I figured why put her through that surgery. The vet said the tumors could have developed because she had not been spayed. Did I learn? About a year later she developed pyometra and nearly died.
Fortunately, my vet was able to save her. She was a little over 10 years old when she had that surgery, and she has had a heart condition for several years. She came through the surgery like a champ. She is now doing great, and I am praying she stays healthy for a long time!
I will not make that mistake again. Sorry she and you had to go through all of that June. I definitely think it's best to get them fixed, as long as it isn't done too early.
I am totally FOR neutering and spaying!!!! Just as many vets agree than those that disagree. It is generally accepted that growth plates may close a bit later 12 to 18 months later , though this equals a difference of just millimeters seen on x-rays. Myths about Spaying and Neutering 1 Neutering a dog will automatically make him depressed, lose strength or decrease his activity level. This is a myth.
Studies have shown that male dogs do not act out any mating behavior unless they are moved by their own hormones in reaction to a female dog that is in heat. When neutered, it does not trouble a dog that he cannot mate as the urge is gone. A male dog will behave normally in all regards of activity and in having endurance to exercise. When given the appropriate amount of food and exercised properly, dogs will not have any noticeable changes in weight or activity.
How Much it Costs to Have a Chihuahua Spayed or Neutered The prices will vary; however spaying is more expensive than neutering because it is a much more complicated surgery. There are many clinics that will offer payment plans or low cost plans since reputable veterinarians understand the important health reasons to have this done.
My veterinarian suggested waiting to spay her until she is a year old. He said she might go into heat, but he would rather wait until later. What should I do? Everything I read says she should be spayed before she goes into heat. Owner: Kim, Chihuahua: Mo. Answer: Hi Kim. You are absolutely correct that your dog should be spayed before her first heat cycle unless she has health issues or is underweight.
The veterinary medical field advances at a rapid pace and the newest advice from all top veterinary experts is to spay before the first heat. Your dog's veterinarian may be "old school" in his thinking that he should wait until the 1 year mark. As you most likely already know, spaying a female dog greatly reduces the chances of mammary cancer and eliminates chances of developing ovarian and uterine cancer. Spaying before the 1st heat reduces those odds even more.
Privacy Policy. In the past, we thought pyometra was simply a uterine infection, but today, we know that it is a hormonal abnormality, and a secondary bacterial infection may or may not be present. Pyometra follows a heat cycle in which fertilization did not occur. Typically, within two to four months after the cycle, the female starts showing signs of the disease.
The two main hormones produced by the ovaries are estrogen and progesterone. An excessive quantity of progesterone, or the uterus becoming oversensitive to it, causes pyometra. In either case, cysts form in the lining of the uterus. These cysts contain numerous secretory cells, and large quantities of fluids are produced and released into the interior of the uterus. Female Reproductive TractThis fluid, along with a thickening of the walls of the uterus, brings about a dramatic increase in the overall size of this organ.
The uterus is made up of a body with two horns. In the unaffected dog or cat, the horns are smaller than a common pencil. However, in cases of pyometra, they become large, sac-like pouches the circumference of cucumbers and 12 to 18 inches long. Normally, the entire uterus in a pound dog will weigh two to four ounces, but in cases of pyometra, this typically ranges from one to four pounds.
As the disease continues, fluid spills out of the vagina causing the animal to lick this area in an attempt to keep itself clean.
Bacteria commonly colonize the uterus by entering through the cervix. This produces an even greater response by the body, as it showers additional fluid and white blood cells into the affected organ. After a while, the cervix closes. This effectively traps all of the fluid within the uterus. Still, the body continues to transfer more fluid and white blood cells into the organ, causing even further dilatation and growth.
The uterus can rupture, spilling its contents into the abdominal cavity. If this occurs, the dog or cat usually dies in less than 48 hours. In most cases, this does not happen. The body will attempt to eliminate the problem by carrying the wastes and excess fluid through the bloodstream to the kidneys. However, the amount of material in a dog with pyometra is too great to be eliminated in this fashion, overloading the kidney system. The normal toxins that should be excreted from the body build up, and the animal goes into uremic poisoning.
Untreated, she will die from kidney failure. As the body attempts to flush out the build-up of waste products through the kidneys, the animal will drink excessive quantities of water polydipsia and urinate large amounts frequently polyuria. She will lick at her vaginal area while the cervix is still open and the uterus is discharging a white fluid. She may run a low-grade fever and if blood work is done, she will show an elevated white blood cell count. As the uterus increases in size and weight, the dog shows weakness in the rear legs, often to the point where she cannot rise without help.
As the dog enters kidney failure, she stops eating and becomes very lethargic. Since toxicity may develop very quickly in dogs with pyometra, it needs to be treated promptly. Dogs will receive intravenous fluids, usually for several days, and antibiotics. In most cases, the preferred treatment is a complete ovariohysterectomy spay. This removes the ovaries, oviducts, uterus, and all associated blood vessels. These animals can be a surgical challenge because of their poor overall condition.
In some females valued for breeding, prostaglandin and antibiotic therapy may be tried instead of surgery. The prostaglandin is given for days and causes the uterus to contract and expel the fluid.
In mild cases, when the cervix is still open and the fluid is draining, the success rate is excellent. This therapy should only be used in dogs 6 years of age or younger, who are in stable condition, and have an open cervix.
Prostaglandins can have side effects, especially after the first dose, including restlessness, panting, vomiting, increased heart rate, fever, and defecation.
The best prevention is to have all female animals spayed at or before six months of age. Pyometra is defined as an infection in the uterus. Pyometra is considered a serious and life-threatening condition that must be treated quickly and aggressively. It is a painful and horrific death. Very good information about Pyometra, however there is one statement I must correct. Of course I told him to go ahead and do whatever he had to do, I wanted her healthy!!
They most certainly do! Now I have a year old male chihuahua who is not neutered, as well as a 5 year old chihuahua mix who is spayed. I have a 3 year old chihuahua X jack Russell she was a rescue dog. She is in season and she goes crazy at times. She has ripped her blanket and the smell was outrageous. I had to throw it away. She is now doing it to her cushion. Also she is very snappy, just missed my 2 year old face, and her nippels hang very low.
I was told by the vets she thinks she had a phantom pregnancy recently. Could it all be linked.. All I really know about her is that she was locked in the house daily with one 20minute walk a day. She now has at least a 2 hour walk throughout the day and trips to the toilet.. Could it just be her lifestyle change or do I need to be concerned about her behaviour. I have 4 female chihuahua mixes and a aussie male. All spayed and neutered.
Is this normal. Hi, Thank you for this extremely helpful site. I am a little stressed because I had to leave town for a job and left my pups with my mom.
She tied with her brother for about ten minutes. She was on her 10th day of heat, and now I am looking to spay her to avoid having to breed her and put her through all that stress. The tying took place on the 4th.
She is 7 pounds and very healthy, but I am still concerned. I have set her operation day for the 18th of this month which would make it a total of 2weeks after the bleeding from her cycle.
Do you have any recommendations? The benefits are much more pronounced in larger dogs, but there is not a lot of difference for lap dogs. Studies have shown that large dogs spayed before 6 months of age experience some higher risk of orthopedic problems and certain cancers and that risk is statistically reduced at 12 months.
What happens statistically at each age in between still needs more study. We do know that with each heat cycle there is an increased risk of mammary adenocarcinoma breast cancer and risk of pyometra a life-threatening uterine infection requiring emergency surgery and intensive care.
If we are able to allow female dogs to get as old as possible, but manage to spay them just before their first heat, this would seem like the ideal situation, but it is tricky to predict when that first heat will be. Knowing the family history can be helpful, but is still not an exact way to know when the first heat will occur. Facebook Instagram. For male dogs: The signs of sexual maturity in male dogs include lifting their leg to urine mark even in the house , humping, and overprotectiveness.
When should I neuter my male dog?
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