BYC Café

[DobieLover]

Again?
Have you checked dog mouths?

Yes. Her adult molars are in. She hasn't dropped her upper canines yet and the adult canines have erupted.

She and Bella have an appointment 4/3 with a new vet I'm hoping to use for future services. If her baby canines haven't fallen out by then, I'll have to schedule getting them removed. It is not completely unheard of for toy breeds to have persistent deciduous teeth.
I hope they do fall out by then because I don't want her needing a surgery before her spay and I'm not spaying her until after her first heat.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

So. I figured out part of the perfect barnyard mix.
They cannot look like a poorly bred XYZ.

 

[Offshoreorca]

I hope they do fall out by then because I don't want her needing a surgery before her spay and I'm not spaying her until after her first heat.

Hopefully they fall out properly before then - dental complications aren't fun. I'm also likely not spaying Salt until after her first heat as well... would like her to mostly finish growing before the surgery as it's quite invasive. It seems most of the science now point towards 6-12 months of age as being the ideal time, with some pros and cons to both spaying before the first heat and after.

 

[DobieLover]

Hopefully they fall out properly before then - dental complications aren't fun. I'm also likely not spaying Salt until after her first heat as well... would like her to mostly finish growing before the surgery as it's quite invasive. It seems most of the science now point towards 6-12 months of age as being the ideal time, with some pros and cons to both spaying before the first heat and after.

For smaller breeds, spaying after the first heat or around 9 months is recommended. For breeds between 30 and 50 lb waiting at least a year is recommended. And for breeds over 50 lbs waiting closer to 18 to 24 months is recommended. I don't think that all of the adoption organizations really understand the importance of sex hormones on the proper development of a dog. And it is not just related to the bone growth plates.
The same goes for the recommendations to regularly vaccinate your dog when they do not require it! In my opinion Piper was improperly and over vaccinated. The only thing she's had since I got her is that rabies vaccine. One of the reasons she's going into the vet on April 3rd is to get a tighter test done to make sure that she's immune to distemper and parvo.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm not spaying her until after her first heat.

The two puppies we bought (Dobes, yay!) were spayed around 4 months. I remember asking the vet abut doing it as soon as he thought it was a "good age," and that's what he recommended. This was 15 and 29 years ago. We surely did NOT want puppies, and knew there were intact males roaming the area.

The two rescues we've adopted were spayed when we got them. Mara was 8, don't know when she was spayed. (Her people dropped her off at a doggie day care and moved to Alabama. The mad emoji isn't enough for what I think of people like that. But we got a wonderful dog.)

Freya was also spayed, not too long before we got her at "somewhere under 2 years," according to the vet.

So, what I'm understanding is that the sex hormones and cycle of going into heat helps them grow stronger bones/better health? Interesting.

 

[DobieLover]

We surely did NOT want puppies, and knew there were intact males roaming the area.

Yes but this one of the many reasons why humans invented the leash... and doggy diapers. And keeping her in the house other than taking her out only on leash for walks and elimination during her cycle.

So, what I'm understanding is that the sex hormones and cycle of going into heat helps them grow stronger bones/better health?

Not just stronger bones but "finished" bones, properly formed ligaments & mental development. Early spaying also increases the risk of bone cancer, hypothyroidism, CCL injuries, phobia development, etc. There is a study that suggests that early sterilization can also cause an increase in contraction of infectious diseases.

I am very pro sterilize if you are not (or shouldn't be) a breeder. But at the right time.

 

[Sally PB]

I am very pro sterilize if you are not (or shouldn't be) a breeder. But at the right time.

Oh, definitely.

When we got Shadow, our first Dobe, friends were shocked we paid $500 for her (29 years ago). "Well, you can make that back with pure bred puppies, since you have a pure bred dog, right?"

No. Just... no.

Yes but this one of the many reasons why humans invented the leash... and doggy diapers. And keeping her in the house other than taking her out only on leash for walks and elimination during her cycle.

Yes, absolutely. Question about the diapers. How often would they need to be changed?

We never let our dogs "roam." Our current and last dog don't go off leash except to play frisbee.

 

[DobieLover]

Yes, absolutely. Question about the diapers. How often would they need to be changed?

Depends on the design. When the dog is in estrus they most likely should be wearing them at all times to keep from getting blood everywhere. With most of them, you can put a panty liner (either full size or cut in half) in them and just change that when it get's soiled. The diaper will obviously have to be removed so she can pee.

 

[Sally PB]

I might never need the info, but

Thanks.

 

[sourland]

Late to the party, but I bring coffee. Nor'Easter here - lots of wind and a little bit of snow.