Should I spade my dog?

Question

I recently got a puppy, very cute girl. She’s two and a half months. I want to spade her because I just don’t want to deal with the possibility of her getting pregnant. But I've been hearing a lot of bad things about the procedure. I hear that they lose a lot of there energy or they tend to gain weight and are unable to lose weight. Is this true? Are there any other negative side effects? It’s making me have second thoughts. What should I do?? PLEASE HELP! Thank you!

Answer 1

Their energy level is usually reduced and they gain weight because they are becomng adults, and some folks blame it on the spaying. It's all folklore. Many, many spayed dogs do agility, and flyball, and frisbee, and herding, and hunting, so they are still perfectly cabable of being energetic and active.

These are also the health benefits of spaying, 1. No death because of whelping problems, like stuck pups. 2. No pyometra, a deadly uterine infection. 3. No ovarian cancer. 4. No uterine cancer. 5. Decreased chance of mammary cancer.

And, though not particularly a 'health' benefit, 5. No periodic moodiness that gives the word '*****; such a bad name.

Answer 2

First off, it's spay. It is best to spay the dog because they go into heat and let out a musky smell for about 3 weeks, two to three times a year- and at this time can not be around male dogs at all or they can and most likely will get pregnant. The procedure is very routine and there is nothing to worry about. They say in male dogs, it can make their energy level go down, but it isn't always true and it's not much at all. Also, the gaining weight isn't always true. None of my dogs have ever gained weight after being spayed. Spay them.

Answer 3

Everything you've heard is completely false. Sure the first couple of days after surgery they're not their typical self (but who wouldn't after major abdominal surgery?!). But after that they're back to normal. Spaying does so much good for the dog, when done before her first heat she has nearly 0 chance of getting certain types of cancers. Talk to your vet about spaying (she's a little too young now, but it's never too early to ask!). Depending on the vet pups are usually spayed between 4 and 6 months. When my dog went in for her last set of puppy shots at 4 months they said to bring her back anytime for her spay. She was 4 and a half months old, and she's been fine ever since, no weight gain that is unexpected and her temperament/playfulness is the same as it's ever been.

Answer 4

I only find that they loose energy for about 2-3 days after surgery but that's to be expected.
They often won't eat for a day or so but then when they do eat teh owner feels sorry for them and overfeeds them. I know better and I have had 6 dogs spayed aond not one gained anyweight, if you do find the dog gaining weight just simply cut back on teh feeding.
I have never had any problems and when I worked in ves offices i never heard of any problems.
As I said tehy will often want to stay around home more being spayed since there is no reason to go looking for males, You won't have the mess of a heat, you won't have teh problem of unwanted pups and additional food and medical bills.
Much less chance of cancer are good reasons to get her spayed.

Answer 5

I have a ten month old puppy and reason i spayed her so young was because the people with the house behind us have a dog that is not spayed that would easily get to her if he wanted to mate with her and we did not want puppies. It is very important to spay your dogs. My dog was not any less energetic (unfortunatly) after we got her spayed and she had not had any serious or unhealthy weight gain. It really depends on what you want to do with the dog. there is too many dogs as it is and to not spay your dog would just be cruel. Think about how much energy she'll lose after having a litter of puppies.. or what if she gets pregnant with a much larger breed.. the puppies could be too big and kill her. i think your best option would be to spay her.

Answer 6

I don't know where you've heard all those negative things about spaying. I have a female dog that's 4 yrs old. We got her at the pound when she was 6 mo. old. They did the procedure before we adopted her. She is lively, very healthy and slim. And amazingly good-natured (but that may just be her personality)!
And, you know, even if the dog gains a couple of pounds that she can't shed off (and who doesn't deal with that even among humans nowadays!!), that's better than for her to go through pregnancy after pregnancy and having to find a good home for all her puppies.
Good luck with your girl.

Answer 7

The surgery is going to carry far less risk than her having puppies of her own that are not wanted. They do tend to gain weight but that is really minor compared to the "side effects" of an unspade dog. Like males hanging around when she is in heat. The blood all over when she IS in heat. The whining she will do while in heat. Spaying is always the better option.

Answer 8

Yes, you must spay your dog !
But not until she's 6 months old.
That's the best time to have it done.
This will probably be before she has a heat cycle or atleast she will only have to go through it one time.
Spaying will actually save your dogs life.
There are so many things that can go wrong with her if she's not spayed, like cancer.
The only time I have ever known there to be side effects from being spayed is when they are older dogs.
I have 3 dogs and 3 cats...and I have had every one of them neutered.
Not to mention her going through that heat cycle.
Oh my goodness, that is so miserable for them.
It's just as bad for them as it is for as women going through our periods.
She will get really miserable when she's in heat.
Not only will there be the bleeding, but she'll feel sick, and she'll walk with her belly very low to the ground because of the pain.
Don't second guess yourself, you are doing the right thing by having her spayed....you are extending her life :)

Answer 9

I have spayed all my dogs and all my fosters with absolutely no bad side effects. I have never had a dog with a weight problem either. Just keep the dog excercised and control her food intake and weight will not be an issue.
Get her spayed, it's a wonderful thing to do.

Answer 10

My females are happier and healthier since they were spayed. They have more energy. It is true they gain some weight a result from lack of hormones but if you keep her exercised and fed a quality food it shouldn't be a problem.....trust me the downsides of spaying are so much less than the downsides of not spaying.....puppies, birthing problems, bleeding when in heat, not to mention tons of health problems and behavioural problems.Spay her you will be happy you did.