workinghprs.myfastforum.org

josie

I am thinking of getting Slate spayed. She's 3.5 yrs old now and isn't going to be bred from. She is v obedient and an excellent retriever of almost labrador proportions, but I don't think she shows enough hunting drive, or a good enough nose, she is not keen on water and she has a lot of conformation shortcomings, (although, to be fair, her relatives are doing well in the ring). She can also be a bit narky with other dogs on shoots, coming up to sniff her etc - although her and Grey (1 yr) get on well.

However, how do you think spaying her could affect things with Grey and should I wait till Grey has her 1st season before spaying Slate? Slate is boss in all ways and Grey respects that at the moment. Should I leave Slate with all her bits until Grey has her 1st season (in case Grey getting her season is somehow a challenge to Slate)?

This would be at least another year because Slate only has seasons every 6 mnths and the next time to spay her would be right at Xmas, and I wouldn't want to deal with her recovering from a spay at Xmas when we go to visit my family in Jersey. So, the question is - do I wait another full year just so that Grey can have had her first season or am I worrying about nothing and should just spay her now? Would appreciate thoughts, especially from others with multi-bitch households.

Thx

_________________
Slate and Grey

Hairy or not, it's got to be grey!

Linda W · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

I've had bitches for over 20 years and never had a problem due to one being spayed. The only real problem I've had was with 2 half sisters, but they never got on, so spaying didn't change things Confused

If they get on fine now then I would go for it. I don't see a problem happening just because you spay Slate. Just my experience though. Wink

weima · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject:

I would spay her now. I see no reason to wait. I have had bitches in 1 house and had one spayed and the pecking order still remained the same.
_________________
Claire Smile

Minstergate Dual Purpose Weimaraners

Claire · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

Nell is spayed, she is also only 23 inches but by gawd she is boss over Harris and Whistle Laughing

If the only thing you are worried about is pecking order then I too would get her spayed now but remember to change nothing else in your household. Don't make a big deal out of it and don't try to enforce Slate continuing to be boss, just let the dogs get on with things just as you would do now whilst Slate is entire. Also, they do tend to recover very quickly from spaying and the most common problem is stopping your wei running and jumping around and bursting open her stitches Rolling Eyes

_________________
Hunting is natural, even foxes do it !

Whenever life hands you lemons, grab the salt and add the tequila

josie · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

Oh gawd, I really wanted you all to tell me not to, so I had an excuse to delay it Shocked

I am so worried about her having an op and I keep imagining her shut up in a cage at the vets and feeling abandoned Sad

_________________
Slate and Grey

Hairy or not, it's got to be grey!

guy · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject:

Why can't she just stay entire?
_________________
Guy; Ellie Topaz Catja. http://www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

BritAnnie · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

I usually put up with the inconvenience of seasons until my bitches are about 6 or 7. Then they are usually young and fit enough to withstand the op, it doesn't matter too much if their coats 'blow', and it puts paid to bad stuff like pyometra and mammary tumours, as well as unwanted and/or unregisterable litters.

Unless she has bad seasons/false pregnancies, or they cause you a lot of hassle (like if you have a stud dog that howls Rolling Eyes

) or the timings are wrong for tests/trials etc I shouldn't bother till then.
JMHO
and remember spaying a bitch is nothing like the op for hysterectomy in humans. They moan a lot more. Wink

(apologies to anyone who's had it done)
BA
_________________
Aberdon HPR's. Good-looking AND Intelligent.

www.aberdon.org.uk
Join the Brittany Club and make more of your HPR
www.brittanyclub.co.uk

josie · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject:

I don't know, it's a dilemma - a guy who works his GSP on a shoot Slate was picking up on this year had a 7/8 yo bitch and she had just had to have an emergency spay due to pyo and it was all a big rush and more dangerous because it was an emergency spay than if it had been planned and between seasons etc. So, I just would feel so awful if she got pyo because I hadn't spayed her.
_________________
Slate and Grey

Hairy or not, it's got to be grey!

lagopuslagopus · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:45 am Post subject:

If you are not going to breed from her I can't see any point in putting it off. With my first bitch I stayed with her until the knife was going in on the table and then was right there as she was coming round again. Grouse was speyed at 2 as she wasn't going to be bred from. The dogs will sort themselves out whether they are speyed or not.

josie · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

Wow, I think you must have a really understanding vet - I wish mine would let me stay there that late and be there when she came round!
_________________
Slate and Grey

Hairy or not, it's got to be grey!