??? about spaying a 5 month old female pup - Page 2

And then there are the vets and dog trainers to deal with who instill great fear with their tales of how not spaying will lead to cancer and who knows what all else.  I have owned mutts for 30 years and never spayed one.  Never had one get pregnant.  When I told my vet I felt the hormones are there for a reason, and I want my pup to get all the benefits she can from them, he looked at me like I was a bit on the slow side and told me my reasons are not founded in fact.  The reasons I were given were based on preventing health problems down the road.  Unwanted pregnancies didn't come up.  I left there confused. 

Please don't spay and don't worry about the heat.  My bitch went thru a split heat which kept us going for 8 weeks.  I didn't think it would ever end.  Yes, it's a little messy.  Get the diapers and use them.  Do not let her out unsupervised and carry a big stick if you take her for a walk.  We never had any stray males come around but I did hear a dog howl several blocks away during that time.  You must be vigilant, never let your guard down.  If you don't have a male in your house then you don't have to worry about shuttling dogs.  I think you are worrying alot about a little.  Keep her off the furniture and keep some damp paper towels handy.  It's really not that big a deal.  And she will grow up, it's amazing how they change after that first heat.    

Mix a bottle of vinegar and water for dabbing her rear while in heat....you have several months to go before but it is no different then dealing with a teenager you  have to teach how listen to you......Vinegar tones down the whiffing smell that drifts outside to the neighbors...lol.

Vets only see  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$signs  , they are like our government...what you do not know  will make you dumb....  Like Kevin Trudeaus books    say     What they do not want you to Know....!!!!!!!!

Unspayed dogs are healthy ...leave it at that....take my word and DebiSue's word...

My youngest was a week shy of 11 months when she came in heat for the first time.  It lasted 6 weeks. (Hopefully that is not how it will be every time.)  She is now 16 months and hasn't been back in, though I expect it any time.

I have had females come in heat the first time as young as 6 months.

If you feel you must spay, it is best to wait until she is 18 months to 2 years old and fully developed. I did spay my female at 3 years of age and she is much happier for it. Her heat cycles made her miserable- she became extremely itchy, blew her coat, acted very distressed and her personality totally changed for the worst and these side effects lasted for up to 8 weeks.  She came into heat every 5 months. She is a rescue and I knew I would never breed (they thought she was already spayed when I adopted her), so all things considered, I decided to have her spayed. She has NOT gotten any heavier, her energy level is actually better, her hormones no longer wreak havoc on her and she seems so much happier overall.  I am not disagreeing with the above posts, but this is just my experience.
Char  

I'm curious about something...

What about an outdoor female dog?  Would you recommend leaving her intact, if you don't plan to breed her?

I was just wondering about that, since it wasn't mentioned above.

My little Oakley was spayed at nine weeks, courtesy of her rescue group, so messiness inside or out is not an issue, but I would have preferred to wait, myself.  But rescues are always spayed, and pups always early, so there's not much that can be done for that.

Crys