Spayed
- Thread starter Rcfslp
- Start date
2newfs4now
New member
18 - 24 months.
Tricia2
New member
Most people try to wait until after the second heat at the earliest but 2 years gets you into the safe zone for spay related issues, mostly orthopedic but also some girls never fully develop their vulva which can result in chronic urinary tract issues and infection. Expect to get pushback from your vet about mammary cancer risk, it's small compared to increased risk of osteosarcoma (a deadly disease) and cranial cruciate rupture. You can handle this two ways: print out material that supports waiting until your girl is sexually mature or the easy way (if their eyes glaze over at your offer to educate them about the risks of too early spay and neuter) is to tell them your breeder wants you to show your dog (end of discussion.)
Injury Factors: Early neutering (any time before 14 months of age).
1. Growth plates are 'told' to stop developing new bone by hormones which are contained in and released by the reproductive organs. Remove the organs - remove the hormones!
What does this mean for your puppy?
2. Without the hormonal signal to stop... development (puppy has been neutered), the growth plates which have NOT closed at the time of surgery will continue to lay down new bone until they have no material left to work with! A study done at Colorado State University revealed that the growth plates (of the long bones) in pups left intact and experienced normal growth, closed at approx. 42 wks. (10 1/2mos of age). Puppies neutered at 7 mos. experienced continued growth for approx. 11 MORE WEEKS...and pups neutered at 7 weeks did not stop growing until a whopping 18 WEEKS LATER THAN THE INTACT PUPS!!! This is 4 1/2 months of additional growth that nature did not plan on!!! How does this affect your puppy's body?
3. a/ Bones on one side of the joint are longer than on the other = altered bio-mechanics.
b/ This will affect the stress points on bones and joints.
c/ Dogs will be taller from the ground up to mid-line and have narrow bodies.
d/ Short upper arm and high in the rear = increase incidence of ligament and tendon injuries...tendons, ligaments and muscles do NOT experience the same altered growth as the bones they are connected to, move and support!!! = increased incidence of Dysplasia (hip/shoulder & elbow).
Injury Factors: Early neutering (any time before 14 months of age).
1. Growth plates are 'told' to stop developing new bone by hormones which are contained in and released by the reproductive organs. Remove the organs - remove the hormones!
What does this mean for your puppy?
2. Without the hormonal signal to stop... development (puppy has been neutered), the growth plates which have NOT closed at the time of surgery will continue to lay down new bone until they have no material left to work with! A study done at Colorado State University revealed that the growth plates (of the long bones) in pups left intact and experienced normal growth, closed at approx. 42 wks. (10 1/2mos of age). Puppies neutered at 7 mos. experienced continued growth for approx. 11 MORE WEEKS...and pups neutered at 7 weeks did not stop growing until a whopping 18 WEEKS LATER THAN THE INTACT PUPS!!! This is 4 1/2 months of additional growth that nature did not plan on!!! How does this affect your puppy's body?
3. a/ Bones on one side of the joint are longer than on the other = altered bio-mechanics.
b/ This will affect the stress points on bones and joints.
c/ Dogs will be taller from the ground up to mid-line and have narrow bodies.
d/ Short upper arm and high in the rear = increase incidence of ligament and tendon injuries...tendons, ligaments and muscles do NOT experience the same altered growth as the bones they are connected to, move and support!!! = increased incidence of Dysplasia (hip/shoulder & elbow).
Cutiemus Maximus
New member
There's a thread stickied under Maladies/Diseases with a great article on exactly this! I got pressured into an early spay and am dealing with the consequences. Definitely wait.
Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
Wait until after at least the first heat cycle.
Rcfslp
New member
Holy crap....I had no idea it was thus complex. As with everything to do with this wonderful breed I shouldn't be surprised! Ok...more questions:
1) She only eats twice a day...a very good and high rated food (plus the occasional healthy snack) but she is already weighing 46 lbs at 17 1/2 weeks. Is this normal?
2) I'm trying to avoid stairs with her, but anywhere out of the house has at least two steps. Is this an issue?
3) What is the general consensus on pinch collars while walking?
1) She only eats twice a day...a very good and high rated food (plus the occasional healthy snack) but she is already weighing 46 lbs at 17 1/2 weeks. Is this normal?
2) I'm trying to avoid stairs with her, but anywhere out of the house has at least two steps. Is this an issue?
3) What is the general consensus on pinch collars while walking?
Cutiemus Maximus
New member
Admiral was 50 pounds-even at 16 weeks, so 46 would seem to me within a healthy range. Different litters and individual puppies grow at different rates, so there's no real one-size-fits all growth pattern. Just make sure you're keeping her lean, almost scary lean, to prevent any extra wear on her bones and joints while they develop. If you can, try to spread out her food to three meals a day until she finishes growing.
I'm not too sure about the stairs, hopefully someone with more experience can chime in. I would think that two stairs isn't that bad if she takes it slow.
As far as pinch collars, I never used one. Train now on loose-leash walking and recall (while you can still overpower her!) and you should be fine.
What's her name? I hope you can post pictures soon!
I'm not too sure about the stairs, hopefully someone with more experience can chime in. I would think that two stairs isn't that bad if she takes it slow.
As far as pinch collars, I never used one. Train now on loose-leash walking and recall (while you can still overpower her!) and you should be fine.
What's her name? I hope you can post pictures soon!
Cutiemus Maximus
New member
BTW, I don't know where you live, but try and search out a vet with a TON of experience with the breed. Because I didn't see the right vet I ran into a lot of issues with Admiral. Luckily my friends in my regional club recommended a great vet for her, seriously he sees dozens if not hundreds of Newfies--it's great! We drive an hour to see him, but it's so worth it.
lacey9875
New member
When my girl went into heat, she sported a cute pair of men's boxers. Their tail can go through the opening in the front. She'll clean herself excessively so you may not notice, but there was the ick factor for me so the boxers came into play.
She should NOT go anywhere alone while she's in heat, which includes before and after you actually see evidence. Male dogs can smell her from miles away and will stop at nothing to get to her. Leash her and go with her.
She should NOT go anywhere alone while she's in heat, which includes before and after you actually see evidence. Male dogs can smell her from miles away and will stop at nothing to get to her. Leash her and go with her.
charlieinnj
New member
My female went through two heats before her spay. She was meticulous in keeping herself clean and it was a non-issue, for me.
Effisia
New member
We're waiting until she's two (it's actually in our breeder contract). Even if it wasn't in the contract, though, everything that I've been reading on early spaying scares me to death. And honestly, if you think about it, it just makes sense to wait. Think of all the hormonal and growth issues we go through during puberty.
I feel really lucky that we haven't gotten any pushback for waiting to spay. Our regular vet is totally on board, and even our daycare place thinks it's the best idea (though they're really sad that she won't be able to go to daycare after she's seven months).
From what I've read and learned, though, dealing with a bitch in heat isn't too troublesome from the mess standpoint. You just need to be super careful about never leaving her alone where male dogs can get to her, but with a little vigilance it shouldn't be that bad. I hope. :lol:
I feel really lucky that we haven't gotten any pushback for waiting to spay. Our regular vet is totally on board, and even our daycare place thinks it's the best idea (though they're really sad that she won't be able to go to daycare after she's seven months).
From what I've read and learned, though, dealing with a bitch in heat isn't too troublesome from the mess standpoint. You just need to be super careful about never leaving her alone where male dogs can get to her, but with a little vigilance it shouldn't be that bad. I hope. :lol:
DAWNMERIE
Active member
You've got wonderful responses in regards to spay here, so no comment there. But I'll just make a quick comment that the two steps are not a big deal cause that's my house and I've had no problem but what I will for warn is to let them learn the steps at a young age and not be fearful of them. My Zeke does not do steps because I'm a bad momma.
Also about the pinch collar, IMO at such a young age, I would work more with commands. It's a tool and to be used accordingly. I used it for a certain period of time (usually the teenage years, when they tend to be a bit ramboney & pigheaded
)
Also about the pinch collar, IMO at such a young age, I would work more with commands. It's a tool and to be used accordingly. I used it for a certain period of time (usually the teenage years, when they tend to be a bit ramboney & pigheaded
NinaA
New member
Great info on everything. Two steps should not be an issue, but don't be jumping down them. Pinch collar was introduced to Moonlight but only during training class until she was much, much older. Now, I put it on her occasionally just to remind her to be good. I never need to giver her a snap more than once and the good girl kicks in. Then I can unhook it and just use the strap collar. Sometimes now, in fact, I put it on her but don't hook it to the leash. It's just a reminder.
dreamchaser456
New member
Great info on spay here. I wouldn't use a pinch collar on a pup. Mine are all trained on a slip lead. If you have trouble with her pulling you, make sure your correction is to the side ( it gets them out of balance) and she will focus back on you. I teach my dogs as pups how to safely do stairs. Until about 8 months they only do stairs with me and on a leash. No running, jumping or playing on steps. They are also not allowed to push past people or other pets while on the steps. Once I'm sure they know stair safety rules, they are allowed to do them on their own. I've never had a dog dump me down the stairs with this training, even when excited or wanting to run to answer the door knocker.