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AGE TO SPAY?

chloejane Jan 16, 2006 11:26 PM

MY COUSIN HAS A 4 MONTH OLD BOXER SHE IS PLANNING ON HAVING HER SPAYED. SHE IS WONDERING IF SPAYING HER AT THE AGE OF 4 MONTHS MIGHT POSSIBLY STUNT HER GROWTH, IF SO, SHE WANTS TO WAIT. DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF SPAYING CAN STUNT A PUPPY'S GROWTH?

Replies (4)

PHReign Jan 17, 2006 08:26 AM

I'm not a vet and there are conflicting reports regarding this issue. I don't know of any specific or reliable studies that have been able to address that exact concern about spaying a dog at that age.

Personally, my guess is it would have a small effect on the overall size of a dog, but I don't think it would be very noticable.
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PHReign
Email me: HReign@pethobbyist.com" target="_blank">PHReign@pethobbyist.com
Dear dog,
I can not buy anything larger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to your fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straigt out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing more than doggy sarcasm.

JaimeMarie Jan 17, 2006 04:31 PM

I would have her spayed before she goes into heat. So I would spay sometime between now 4 months and 6 months old.

KDiamondDavis Jan 17, 2006 05:49 PM

>>MY COUSIN HAS A 4 MONTH OLD BOXER SHE IS PLANNING ON HAVING HER SPAYED. SHE IS WONDERING IF SPAYING HER AT THE AGE OF 4 MONTHS MIGHT POSSIBLY STUNT HER GROWTH, IF SO, SHE WANTS TO WAIT. DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF SPAYING CAN STUNT A PUPPY'S GROWTH?

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Spaying early makes a puppy grow taller because the growth plates on the long bones stay open longer. I'd wait until 6 months of age at least, because you can also get spay incontinence from early spay, and that is a much bigger problem than a difference in size.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Trafalgar Mar 01, 2006 01:05 PM

1- female dogs have a significantly lower risk of developing mammary tumors if spayed b4 1st or 2nd season

2- Early spaying quadruples the risk of developing cardiac hemangiosarcomas (vascular tumors)

3- Spaying before 1 year significanlty increases the risk of developing osteosarcoma (bone tumors)

Personally, with a Boxer (a breed prone to cancers, especially tumors) - I'd wait until the dog was over a year before spaying.

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