saw this article posted somewhere else and thought it was very interesting. Would love to know what other people think
It's a no brainer. Ovaries and hormones are not like the appendix - they are there for a purpose. Vets don't tell you that there is an increased risk of disease because it is a win win situation for them - first they get the cash for the op, then they get a patient for life with ensuing not so good health. One example - statistically, spayed bitches are 50% more likely to become hypothyroid in middle age than entire ones and the condition is frequently undiagnosed, partly because even if it is suspected,it won't show up on a blood test until the thyroid is 2/3rds destroyed. Vet takes blood, sends to lab and if the diagnostic range is, say 10 - 40 and the sample is 11, lab reports "within range" and the condition is untreated, although someone with previous experience of this scenario would know that it was unhealthily low and be saying, hey - my bitch needs soloxine but not every vet will prescribe while it is "within range". Meanwhile, the thyroid affects every part of the body and an underactive, unmedicated one will allow auto-immune problems to set in. The vet will probably have no idea that this is due to a) the bitch being spayed and b) having an underactive thyroid so instead of getting cheap and beneficial soloxine, she is prescribed steroids long term and other drugs along the way and does not reach the 15year mark she probably would have done had she been entire (steroids impact on the liver and if they are used as immuno-suppressive, that leaves the bitch vulnerable to other things).saw this article posted somewhere else and thought it was very interesting. Would love to know what other people think
Ive havent yet read the article but have had bitches spayed at all ages and only ever had one problem when a little mongrel I rescued, was spayed and she bled heavily. We later found out that it was due to her being so near the season and sometimes they do that according to the vet. For just that one experience I am not so keen now on spaying until they have had one season,if they are unknown as to when they are due to have one, and dont want to run the risk of that happenng again, but I think in all honesty you have to take each situation as you find it.
