spaying

[evileye]

is it better for your dog to let it have it's first litter before spaying?

[Frogmad]

professionally speak it doesn't matter (i'm a qualified VN)!! there will be people who say let her have a litter/first season etc but it really makes no difference to her.....plus if you have a litter have you got homes lined up for loads of pups- are you prepared to hand rear them if she's not interested
there are loads of dogs out there who need homes without more puppies being brought into the world cos someone has listened to an old wives tale

[Shell195]

No, No, No. Allowing bitches to have a first litter is in no way beneficial to the dog and just adds to the ever growing population of unwanted dogs.

[KathyM]

The younger you spay, the less chance a bitch has of developing mammary cancer too, which is very common in bitches spayed too late or not at all. If you spay before the first season, the risk is nearly nothing. The longer you leave it, the greater the risk becomes.

[KathyM]

Originally Posted by evileye

is it better for your dog to let it have it's first litter before spaying?

Although I've just realised the wording - they can't have their "first" litter after spaying lol.

[feorag]

I agree - no no no!

They can't miss what they've never had and the attitude that it's good for them to experience bringing a litter into the world and we shouldn't deprive them of that is purely human thinking, not animal. Remove the desire and they won't know what they've missed.

And it's a much safer scenario for them.

[midori]

I actually thought there was a mistake, and the OP meant to ask if a dog should have it's first season before spaying? That would make more sense to me, anyway...

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by evileye

is it better for your dog to let it have it's first litter before spaying?

absolutely not. Whoever told you that?
Or are you getitng confused with first litter and first season? Most vets say let her have a season first. Quite a few people get all confused, so let her have a litter first
why risk a ceasarian, producing a litter of puppies you may not be able to find homes for etc?

[evileye]

i meant first season

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by Shell195

No, No, No. Allowing bitches to have a first litter is in no way beneficial to the dog and just adds to the ever growing population of unwanted dogs.

Originally Posted by KathyM

The younger you spay, the less chance a bitch has of developing mammary cancer too, which is very common in bitches spayed too late or not at all. If you spay before the first season, the risk is nearly nothing. The longer you leave it, the greater the risk becomes.

totally agree with this

one of my females was done at 6 months old before her season

the other one is due to be done in 2 months granted she is nearly 2 but i had to wait for medical reasons

my male was done when he hit 5 months old