De Sexing What Age?

[bethany]

Just have a question that i hope i can get some answers on. What age is the general time to de sex a bitch if you are not planning on breeding?

You hear things about infections and things like that and i want to minimize any chance of that sort of thing happening and if i did decide to breed my bitch (although i dont think my poor nerves will cope with that, would be worried all the time!! :blink: :wacko: :wacko: ) at what age is best to mate her for a first litter?

thanks for your help

Bethany

 

[Seraphina]

If you do not want to breed i would recommend spaying between about 9 months and 18 months.

If you are going to ask a vet when is the best time to mate your bitch he would most likely look at it from veterinary point of view and say early, about 2 years or less. As bitches mature and their pelvis calcifies it becomes less flexible and the labour will be more difficult. That is NOT saying that every 3 years old bitch will have more difficult labour than every 18 months old one - there are many reasons for for labour being difficult or not.

If you ask geneticist, he would say wait till at least 4 years of age as by that time many late onset inherited diseases, not noticeable early, would become more likely diagnosed.

So you just have to consider the pros and cons, and decide which is the right time for you and your bitch.

I personally do not think it is a good idea to mate Whippet, or other slowly maturing breed bitch before about 18 months, and I would prefer to have the first litter by about 3. Once the bitch had a litter, the pelvis is stretched, and there is no problem breeding 2nd or 3rd litter from bitches who are 4-6years old, or even bit older.

I am sure there will be other people having bit different opinion along soon, but in the end it is up to you to consider all the info and decide for yourself.

 

[JAX]

I feel sure there is a post that answers all your questions in the FAQ section , which is at the beginning of the forum :cheers:

Jackie

 

[bethany]

If you do not want to breed i would recommend spaying between about 9 months and 18 months.
If you are going to ask a vet when is the best time to mate your bitch he would most likely look at it from veterinary point of view and say early, about 2 years or less.  As bitches mature and their pelvis  calcifies it becomes less flexible and the labour will be more difficult.  That is NOT saying that every 3 years old bitch will have more difficult labour than every 18 months old one - there are many reasons for for labour being difficult or not.

If you ask geneticist, he would say wait till at least 4 years of age as by that time many late onset inherited diseases, not noticeable early, would become more likely diagnosed.

So you just have to consider the pros and cons, and decide which is the right time for you and your bitch. 

I personally do not think it is a good idea to mate Whippet, or other slowly maturing breed bitch before about 18 months, and I would prefer to have the first litter by about 3.  Once the bitch had a litter, the pelvis is stretched, and there is no problem breeding 2nd or 3rd litter from bitches who are 4-6years old, or even bit older.

I am sure there will be other people having bit different opinion along soon, but in the end it is up to you to consider all the info and decide for yourself.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

It is not a decision i would take lightly it is a huge responsibility and i realy need to research it very thorougly. her blood lines are wonderful and it would be nice for my next show dog to be a pup i have bred myself but i must make sure it is the right thing for my bitch, she is more important to me than anything else and her health will always come first.

thanks again and it has given me food for thought.

merry xmas

bethany

 

[bertha]

My rule of thumb would be two years for fist litter and neuter at two as well. It is not advisable to neuter until your bitch is fully mature, which is anywhere from one and a half to two years old.

Good luck. :cheers:

 

[05whippet]

I'm kinda with Seraphina on this one regarding the breeding aspect....I personally do not like to mate a maiden bitch much after 3yrs of age if at all possible,for the reasons that Seraphina stated above as I have had problems (in the past & not with Whippets) with whelping issues and "fused" pelvises in older maidens.

As for the speying...my personal take on this is not before 18mths..again as stated above (by Bertha) to let the bitch mature both mentally as well as physically. :thumbsup:

 

[marier05]

Hi Bethany im kinda in the same boat as you so i can relate to those answers too.

My bitch is 18 months and i would love my next show dog to be one of her puppies but im not in the position to have another at the moment.

I was going to get round to asking this question myself eventually but its not too much of an issue at the moment. So you guys are saying 3 for a first litter, so hopefully in a year and a half im in a better position to have another. :luck:

Marie. :huggles:

 

[bethany]

Hi Bethany im kinda in the same boat as you so i can relate to those answers too.
My bitch is 18 months and i would love my next show dog to be one of her puppies but im not in the position to have another at the moment.   

I was going to get round to asking this question myself eventually but its not too much of an issue at the moment.  So you guys are saying 3 for a first litter, so hopefully in a year and a half im in a better position to have another.  :luck:

Marie.  :huggles:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Yes its a difficult decision to make. I guess the other way at looking at it is if iam not sure about breeding i just should not do it. I think the thought of it is lovely but you realy have to take a step back and think about it nice and hard.

charlotte is 2 now so i have to start thinking about her future health and whats realy best for her.

Thanks everyone its wonderful to get all these opinions and to be able to discuss this topic. wishing you all a wonderful xmas and safe and happy new year. :cheers:

 

[JAX]

Hi Bethany im kinda in the same boat as you so i can relate to those answers too.
My bitch is 18 months and i would love my next show dog to be one of her puppies but im not in the position to have another at the moment.   

I was going to get round to asking this question myself eventually but its not too much of an issue at the moment.  So you guys are saying 3 for a first litter, so hopefully in a year and a half im in a better position to have another.  :luck:

Marie.  :huggles:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Yes its a difficult decision to make. I guess the other way at looking at it is if iam not sure about breeding i just should not do it. I think the thought of it is lovely but you realy have to take a step back and think about it nice and hard.

charlotte is 2 now so i have to start thinking about her future health and whats realy best for her.

Thanks everyone its wonderful to get all these opinions and to be able to discuss this topic. wishing you all a wonderful xmas and safe and happy new year. :cheers:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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If she is your only dog . why have her spayed ?

Millions of bitchs stay entire and dont have any problems , some bitches who are spayed get urinary problems after spaying.

JMO :cheers: