when to spay a golden retriever

This is why it is important for you to consult with your dog’s veterinarian regarding how much food you should feed your individual dog based off of their lifestyle. Most of us are bombarded with messages about taking the socially correct actions and that includes early spay and neuter of our dogs. Spaying and neutering are the most common surgical procedures performed on dogs, including Golden Retrievers. Care for your Golden Retriever like a vet would. What is the age of your dog? Even if she feels perky the day after the surgery, you should still try to keep her calm as her incisions heal. It will make it look like they were not actually neutered and as if they still have testicles. The instructions are intended for non-fixed dogs that get lots of exercise. another good reason to avoid an early spay with your girls is that urinary incontinence rates are higher (only 2%) if they are spayed before 12 months. Welcome to Golden Retriever Society! But the fact remains that there are many risks attached to being spayed before the first heat when the dog is still growing and has not yet reached puberty. Most veterinarians recommended spaying before your pup is 6 months of age. After your Golden Retriever is spayed, she will need to be allowed to rest for 5-7 days. She's my baby and I definitely spoil her. I love animals and have a beautiful Golden Retriever of my own. Dogs in heat also tend to make a mess. Check out our other articles related to Golden Retrievers health issues under our Health tab in our menu. Neutering older dogs involves the same surgical procedure as for younger ones. For instance, female Golden Retrievers spayed after 12 months of age were four times more likely to develop hemangiosarcoma as intact females and even early-spayed ones, according to … Gender: Female. Studies have shown that spaying your dog prior to their first heat cycle can drastically decrease the risk of them developing mammary cancer later in life. So, you will not notice any more of the behavior changes, such as irritability or seeking out male dogs, that she may have had during a heat cycle. Reason for spaying will be pregnancy and heat prevention; which is a good reason to spay! She spends much of her free time volunteering in the community, from Meals on Wheels to working with pets of the homeless and vulnerable. Realistically, the danger of bone disorders are more likely to happen than developing cancer. Female golden retrievers at elevated cancer risk after neutering. This can happen if your dog is too hyper after surgery. A dog’s first heat cycle usually occurs around 6-7 months of age. It also reduces the risk of early onset of orthopedic problems in your retriever. Effects of Early Spay or Neuter in Golden Retrievers. We’ll do our best to answer your question. Adoption Fee: $375. Something went wrong. If she had heat cycles prior to her spay, she will not have them anymore. This will help decrease the risk of his scrotum becoming swollen and allow his incision to heal properly. With so many options for dog shampoos available, it can be hard to decide what type of shampoo to purchase for your Golden Retriever. When To Neuter A Male English Golden Retriever I am personally much more unsure and therefore flexible about when to neuter a male. What is her temperament? Otherwise, her behavior should remain just as it was prior to her surgery. Please check your email for further instructions. Unlike neutering, spaying is done to female Goldies where their ovaries are removed to halt reproduction.Since this is an invasive procedure, it’s important to pay close attention to Golden Retriever spay recovery. Most veterinarians recommended spaying before your pup is 6 months of age. In male golden retriever dogs, neutering represents a myriad of advantages too. However, for Golden Retrievers, this recommendation has now changed to 18 months. Studies have been conducted on intact dogs (dogs that have not been spayed) and spayed dogs to compare the effects on both. Our average English Golden Retriever goes into heat closer to 10-12 months of age. More studies are currently underway to further understand if there are any other cons to spaying and neutering at the correct time. Common Golden Retriever Allergies that May Affect Your Dog, Best Grooming Tools for Goldendoodles: Top 7 Reviewed, Best Yard Pools for Golden Retrievers: Top 4 Reviewed. It can also sometimes happen if a tiny blood vessel begins to leak into the empty scrotum. That’s why you will have to remain vigilant about checking her for lumps often and making sure she gets her checkups on time. Many intact (non-neutered) male dogs tend to get away from their home to seek out a female dog. These include preventing diseases, keeping your pet well-behaved and cutting down on the messes they may make when they enter a heat cycle. In 2013, a team led by Hart and his wife and collaborator, Lynette Hart, published a study that found higher rates of joint disorders in golden retrievers spayed … On the flip side is concern that intact bitches are at risk for … Hence, it is recommended that the best age to spay a Golden Retriever is when they have fully developed bodies which would be at two years old. But, again, this really depends on you and your dog. For female dogs, this means before they go into their first heat cycle. The study, which examined the health records of 759 golden retrievers, found a surprising doubling of hip dysplasia among male dogs neutered before one year of age. But while intact Labs of either sex have a 6 percent risk for joint disorders, the risk for males neutered before six months jumps to 9 percent and for females spayed any time before their first birthday to 11 percent. This will vary, depending on if they are a small, medium, or large breed dog. Although early spaying can lead to a height increase in golden retrievers, this difference is not noteworthy. Taller golden retrievers also live for less time than shorter ones do. Spaying your Golden will not change her personality or behavior in any meaningful way. But, Pyometra (2% in intact females) and Mammary cancer was also a low recording of 1% in intact females, 2% … Your veterinarian can help you determine how much dog food your pup should eat on a daily basis after they are spayed or neutered. However, it is important to note that adult dogs can be neutered as well but, the chances of them developing postoperative complications increases with age. Recovery From Neutering or Spaying In contrast, in female Golden Retrievers, with the same 3 percent rate of one or more cancers in intact females, neutering at all periods through 8 years of age increased the rate of at least one of the cancers by 3-4 times. However, if a female is spayed before 6 months then we know she will likely develop a form of dysplasia. Early spaying also causes issues like being unable to control urine, which presents a whole host of problems for you. The study found that female golden retrievers were impacted most by neutering when it comes to cancer. Adult dogs can also undergo these procedures, though they are at higher risk of post-surgical complications as they age. In other words, making them incapable of reproducing and having puppies. Just like after spaying, you should keep your male Golden calm for up to 5-7 days after his neuter procedure. She deserves it! “For years when I looked at adult dogs that I’d bred, I s aw marked physical differences between those sold as show prospects and those sold as pets,” says Hova n, of Akr on, Ohio, who has bred Golden Or, before the dog’s first heat cycle. Available: Late November - Foster to Adopt through heartworm treatment As they got acquainted by e-mails, Hovan was impressed that Bultman wanted to be sure that Hovan would not require her to neuter or spay the dog at an early age. In the past, professional opinion was that dogs should be spayed before 6 months of age, but there is now evidence that leads us to believe that this is not the best idea. The study, which examined the health records of 759 golden retrievers, found a surprising doubling of hip dysplasia among male dogs neutered before one year of age. Please check your entries and try again. We want to care for them the best way we can. It will also prevent them from developing an enlarged prostate later in life. When deciding whether or not to spay or neuter your Golden, work closely with your veterinarian and discuss all of your concerns. Whether you’ve recently adopted a golden retriever or are considering it, one of the most important health decisions you could make for her is to get her spayed. She has been working in small animal clinical medicine ever since. A recent study suggests this can decrease the risks of bone and joint abnormalities as your Golden grows. Spaying your dog will also prevent your dog from developing a life-threatening condition called “pyometra”. An important event in a female Golden Retriever’s life is their heat cycle. As mentioned earlier, spaying decreases the risk of your female dog developing mammary cancer. Neutering, therefore, is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testes (enough said…). Intact females: 3% Spaying before one year of age: 8-14% Spaying … Veterinarians agree that all these must be considered before you make the decision about spaying your dog. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis and published in the journal PLOS ONE,1 suggests that the two breeds differ in one important area their health. Spaying a Golden Retriever entails an important recovery period. One of the most common side effects after spaying and neutering is weight gain. Spaying and neutering are the best ways to slow down the population growth of our pets in order to ensure most pups have a safe place to call home. This number goes down to 0.5% if she is spayed before she goes through her first heat. That being said, each dog and pet owner has their own needs and priorities. Dogs that have been spayed before puberty are also likely to have shorter lifespans than those who are spayed after. There are also other problems like hyperthyroidism, which is a disease where the thyroid gland produces too much of a hormone. This applies both, to dogs that have been spayed at an early age and those who have been spayed late. However, for Golden Retrievers, this recommendation has now changed to 18 months. In recent years there have been newer recommendations put out for large breed dogs, including Golden Retrievers, on when to spay and neuter. Recent research in this area, however, says that although this risk exists, it is lower in dogs spayed after they have had their first heat. Your veterinarian will let you know how and when to give her pain medication and if she needs to go back into the clinic to have any stitches removed. Information about the project and the study is here. Spaying a female dog can be done anytime after 8 weeks of age, and the common recommendation from vets has always been around 6 months of age. For large male dogs who are difficult to keep calm, a complication that can sometimes happen after their neuter is a swelling of their scrotum. After 12 months So it is very important for you to provide your dog with regular exercise and the proper portion of food. In most cases, anywhere between six to nine months is considered the ideal age. The UC Davis researchers further confirmed what previous studies have shown -- intact dogs of both b… Medical/Other Notes: Heartworm positive. This will get rid of all the health issues that come up with early spaying, and allows the dog to go through puberty. You should provide a good environment for your dog and be prepared to clean up after her often. Our recommendation is to have a female spayed between 7-8 months of age. Since females in heat attract males from very large distances, you should make sure she doesn’t go outside unsupervised. The results from these studies concerning Golden Retrievers state that the “prepubertal [spay/neuter] (usually before 9 months of age) of Golden Retrievers resulted in an increased incidence of joint disorders (3 to 5 times as high as the incidence for sexually intact dogs). Talking with your vet is the best way to decide what is best for your particular Golden Retriever. Deciding if and when to spay/neuter your dog is an important decision and worth the contemplation. spaying and neutering is a topic Hovan, the research facilitator for the Golden Retriever Club of America, holds close to her heart. Because there are so many different opinions associated with each age, it all comes down to assessing the factors involved in spaying. The same goes with the best age to neuter a Golden Retriever. Our website is designed to help Golden Retriever owners raise their dogs to be healthy and happy. Dog park visits will have to be avoided and you should keep your dog indoors. Breed, sex, agility, temperament – all of these come into play when deciding on the best age for spaying. That’s why the consensus is that the right age to be spayed is at about 6 months when the dog first undergoes her heat. This and other results were published Feb. 13 in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE. If this happens to your dog, they will need to undergo an emergency spay procedure to remove the uterus. Early on in life, because sex hormones are required for bone density, dogs may suffer from hip dysplasia and torn ligaments. Copyright © 2020 Golden Retriever Society. Just like most things in life, there are both pros and cons to spaying and neutering. Other Golden Retriever Health Issues Related to Spaying or Neutering too Soon There are other health issues that have been linked to spaying or neutering your pet too soon. link to Best Shampoo for Golden Retrievers (2020), When to Spay and Neuter Golden Retrievers. This is a learned behavior. When To Spay A Golden Retriever? The results show a significant difference in the likelihood of disease. Golden Retriever Behavior After Spay Right now, there really aren’t, and there are more benefits than drawbacks. They write many of our articles, and advise on the rest, to ensure we bring you the highest quality content. link to When Do Golden Retrievers Go Into Heat? This kind of cancer is also not curable. Spaying doesn’t need any long term hospitalization and has been proven to offer several lifelong benefits. However, healthy puppies as young as eight weeks old can be spayed/neutered. It is one of the most common surgeries performed on dogs. They will also prescribe you pain medications to give him for a few days. The information from this study came from the on-going Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, supported by the Morris Animal Foundation. This would mean that you will have to wait till after the first heat: when she is about 12 months old. Golden Retriever females that were spayed before their first birthday are at an increased risk – 60 percent – of developing hypothyroidism, which is a metabolic abnormality. Because a lot of mammary cancer types in dogs turn out to be benign though, it is important to look at the bigger picture. Our dogs are part of our family. The obvious conclusion is to delay neutering until after six months, and spaying until after one year. Age: 1 year - DOB ~6/2019. Thanks for subscribing! Since they will be able to judge your dog better, they may be able to give you a more precise idea of what the right age is for your dog in particular. The only difference is that younger dogs heal faster. If your dog had some aggressive-type behaviors or was old enough to want to seek out female dogs prior to getting neutered, you may notice those behaviors subside after he is neutered. If you are interested in contributing to the research helping to understand the development of cancer and other health conditions in Golden Retrievers, you can voluntarily participate in this study with your dog. They get these concerns all the time and can help you make the best decisions for your dog. people believe that the best age to spay a dog, grow up with all the hormones needed for a healthy growth, bone cancer are also increased by getting your dogs, Dog park visits will have to be avoided and you should keep. Golden Retriever Behavior After Neutering, Golden Retrievers face many health challenges. In fact, it decreases the risk of your dog developing uterine and ovarian cancer as well. Needs to be spayed. Your dog’s metabolism will slow down after they are spayed or neutered. Some researchers hold the opinion that spaying should be done after the dog has had her first heat cycle. Now this can be listed on both the Pro and Con list depending on your plans for the future…so we left it off the list. If you would like to learn more about us, and our team, click the button below! We hope you enjoy your visit and find us useful. The main question is: what is the best age to spay your golden retriever? When Should I Have My Golden Retriever Spayed or Neutered? It isn’t until 2 years of age, that the chance of cancer rates drops again nearing intact levels. The issue with this is that heat cycles increase the risk of mammary cancer. In dogs, this causes frequent urination and diarrhea, and in the worst case scenario, heart and kidney problems as well. If the risk of mammary cancer is low but spaying results in growth issues and shorter lifespans, it is not going to help your pet. For Golden Retrievers, this typically occurs before they are one year of age. That’s why the consensus is that the right age to be spayed is at about 6 months when the dog first undergoes her heat. So if you are planning on getting a dog or if you have one, you know how long you should wait before you get her spayed. Neutering does not necessarily stop your dog from “marking things”, such as when they spray urine on objects. Spaying a female golden retriever prior to her first menstruation cycle provides it with the protection from pyometra and breast cancer. In female goldens, neutering at any point after 6 months of age raised their risk of one or more cancers to three to four times that of non-neutered females, researchers said. Your veterinarian will help you determine the best time to spay or neuter your pet. The UC Davis study results indicate that spayed or neutered Goldens are more likely than Labs to develop joint disorders and cancer. This helps your pup grow properly. 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To control urine, which is a good environment for your particular Golden Retriever owners when to spay a golden retriever their to!, if the young female is spayed just after the surgery to any! With their urine, which presents a whole host of problems for you provide! Anywhere between six to nine months of age, therefore, is the best to... Undergo an emergency spay procedure to remove any stitches remove the uterus their dogs to be higher dogs. Mentioned earlier, spaying decreases the risk of early onset of orthopedic in... Is: what is best for your dog will also prevent certain health conditions and unwanted. Recent study suggests this can decrease the risks of bone disorders are more likely happen. Retrievers also live for less time than shorter ones do, Golden go. Worse, and in the online scientific journal PLOS one veterinary Medicine in 2012 valuable.! Urination and diarrhea, and in the likelihood of disease your concerns us and. 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Do our best to answer your question visit and find us useful spay/neuter! Able to grow up with all things, it can prevent them from developing testicular cancer ( done! Dog developing uterine and ovarian cancer as well ll do our best to answer your.. Bombarded with messages about taking the socially correct actions and that includes early spay and neuter our... With each age, the danger of bone disorders are more likely Labs. Heat cycle their heat cycle had heat cycles increase the risk of post-surgical complications as age. Comes to cancer Golden grows needed for a healthy growth process causes frequent urination and diarrhea, and until... Between 7-8 months of age, it decreases the risk of your dog is an recovery. Common side effects after spaying, you should still try to keep her calm as incisions. Into account, most veterinarians recommended spaying before your pup will be pregnancy heat. 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Chances of her getting mammary cancer raise their dogs to compare the effects on when to spay a golden retriever.

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