I have a year old Shih-Tzu. She has had her second season and we are due to take her in to be spayed next month.
I have been told that it can change their personality, is this true?
I don't mean will it calm her down, I have been told that it can make them more feisty.
2007-04-10 21:21:56 · 19 answers · asked by sassym 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Change her personalty? Oh yeah for the good yes. She may live a little longer and she wont get uterine cancer which is higher rick factor in unspayed dogs. Now some vet will swear that dogs don't gain weight after being spayed. I have never had one that didn't gain a little weight and need to be exercised a little more. Also many people have their on thoughts as to spay or not so I am just stating my own opinion and what I felt was best for my own dogs.
2007-04-10 22:24:49 · answer #1 · answered by braveheart 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, it won't make them more feisty. I have had SEVERAL cats and dogs and all of them have been spayed or neutered. In almost all cases, your animal will become calmer and less active but as a downside, they will have a tendancy to put on the weight quicker so they'll have to get exercise and possibly be put on a light food. The only time I've seen an animal get "fiestier" after being spayed is a female cat but she became more of a basket case more than fiestier. It can also make female cats more skiddish. Now I've never seen this in dogs or male cats but like I said, I've had a few female cats react this way. Good luck and you're doing the right thing.
2007-04-11 04:28:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main reason to spay is actually for the health of the dog. Unspayed bitches invariably end up with mammary tumours and/or pyometra - both horrible, both potentially fatal. In fact I saw two unspayed bitches just yesterday morning - one with the beginning of a pyometra, and one with a mammary tumour the size of a melon. Just in case you're in any doubt about how common these conditions are. Spaying removes the risk of both.
Neutering animals tends to calm them down a little, as it removes their intention to find a mate. The difference is rarely that noticeable tho - more so in male dogs and cats really, as they're the ones that roam to find a mate. I've never known it to make the animal feisty, I don't know where that idea would've come from.
Chalice
2007-04-11 04:42:19 · answer #3 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never known a dog to become more feisty after spaying. I have known many dogs to calm down, though. With all the unwanted animals that have to be euthanized every year in the US, I say definitely spay her. Spaying will also make life easier for her and you, because she'll never go into heat after the spaying.
2007-04-11 04:31:32 · answer #4 · answered by notlost012001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spay her. Save a lot of would-be homeless dogs. There are already enough abandoned, ill-treated dogs in this world that have no chance of getting adopted because everyone always wants new puppies all the time from a pet shop or something. Either that or the new puppies (take no chances) won't be able to find homes either. Then they would have to be put to sleep or something. Or stuck in a animal shelter cage for the majority of their lives.
I babysit dogs sometimes and one of them is recently spayed. She still acts the same though. So no worries.
2007-04-11 05:20:58 · answer #5 · answered by Silverfang 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spaying or neutering always calms animals down and makes them a bit more easy going because they don't have that instinctual urge to mate anymore. People should always spay or neuter their animals as soon as they are old enough unless they are a breeder. No other reason to bring more dogs into the world that are potentially unwanted. If you want to see the miracle of life, rent a video. Also, spayed females are less likely to have mammary tumors.
2007-04-11 04:31:00 · answer #6 · answered by WENDY S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It shouldn't change her personality. It will be helpful in the long run too. Not only does it prevent unwanted puppies and you don't have to deal with her being in heat and cleaning up after that, but it is also better for her health.
I know she's already been in heat a couple times, but here are a couple facts. Spaying before the first reduces mammary cancer risk by 200 times, spaying after the first heat but before the second reduces mammary cancer risk by 13 times. (I'm not sure the percent risk reductions after that, but I know that it does reduce the risk even in dogs that are older.)
2007-04-11 07:54:42 · answer #7 · answered by abbyful 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spay.
No it does not make them more feisty. It can actually do the reverse. Just make sure you keep up normal activities after the healing period.
I agree we don't need anymore homeless or unwanted puppies. The shelters and rescues are at full capacities. Responsible pet owners spay/neuter their pets.
2007-04-11 04:28:25 · answer #8 · answered by BhitchyPrincess 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My little dog was spayed last summer, and I can see no difference. She still acts like a puppy at 7 years old.
Candidates for the Guide dogs for the blind are spayed at 6 monthsold... It certainly doesn't make them feisty, but helps them focus better on lessons.(less distracted by nature's urges)
2007-04-11 04:31:57 · answer #9 · answered by Chetco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is in the pets best interest to spey them. It prevents any new unwanted arrivals. I worked at a veterinary for a week and in that time watched several spey surgeries. I do not think that speying your dog will change her personality, it just means she wont feel anything around other male dogs.
Good luck!! But definately go through with the spey!
2007-04-11 06:54:51 · answer #10 · answered by Haleigh B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋