A blue line tattooed on a dog’s belly is the operating veterinarian’s way of signaling that the dog has been spayed or neutered. This tattoo is done during the animal’s sterilization surgery, usually with a tattoo gun owned by the veterinary hospital. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs has also recommended the use of a simple green linear tattoo to indicate that the dog has been spayed or neutered.
One of the main reasons why dogs are tattooed when they are spayed is to prevent accidental breeding. By tattooing a spayed female dog, it serves as a visual indicator to others that she has been spayed or neutered. Tattooing dogs when they are neutered is to indicate that the dog has had their reproductive organs removed.
Not all veterinarians mark spayed dogs with a tattoo; practices vary. Some may use tattoos routinely, while others might use alternative-e-archive methods or no tattoo at all. Veterinarians use small, straight-line tattoos when pets are spayed or neutered to let future caregivers know that this particular pet no longer has internal organs. Some vets use a tattoo gun, others use a technique involving a needle and syringe.
All dogs spayed by a vet get a tattoo, mainly for future reference. Most veterinarians will tattoo the stomach or an ear on a female dog so that she doesn’t have to go through such open surgery again if she is spayed. Blue neuter/spay tattoos are becoming more popular, and nearly all shelters tattoo sterilized pets.
The tattoo (the green line by her belly button) is her physical proof that she’s been spayed. If she’s ever lost or rehomed, her veterinarian will be able to identify her. Tattoos are applied to all surgically sterilized patients and aid in the identification of altered animals.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Do all vets tattoo the animals they spay/neuter? | No. It is a common practice overall, but it is more common in pocket areas. Some of the US states and many countries outside the US. | quora.com |
| I was told they tattoo a dog’s ear after their spayed or … | Most veterinarians will tattoo the stomach or an ear on a female dog so that she doesn’t have to go through such open surgery again if she … | reddit.com |
| Why Does My Dog Have a Tattoo? | Dogs who have been spayed or neutered may have a small tattoo on their abdomen, or “tummy.” Called a “sterilization indicator tattoo,” this … | whole-dog-journal.com |
📹 Spay/Neuter Surgery Basics: Application of Spay/Neuter Tattoos
Watch and learn how to apply a spay/neuter tattoo indicating an animal has been altered. We’ll provide you with information on …
What Does A Spay Tattoo Look Like?
Dogs that have been spayed or neutered often have a sterilization indicator tattoo, a small mark typically in blue or green ink, placed on their abdomen to denote that the animal has undergone surgery to remove its reproductive organs. This tattoo serves as a vital tool for veterinarians and pet owners alike, indicating that the pet has been sterilized and preventing unnecessary repeat surgeries.
A spay tattoo is generally a short, straight line measuring between ½ to 1 inch long and is usually located near the surgical incision site. It is applied discreetly while the pet is under anesthesia during the spaying or neutering process, minimizing discomfort. Various forms of spay tattoos exist—some can be simple lines, while others may take the shape of "X-es" or numbers, contingent on the veterinary technique used.
Photographs from Dr. Mielo's records illustrate typical placements, showcasing the tattoo on a female cat’s belly after spaying. The probable fading of the tattoo post-healing does not diminish its significance. It becomes a quick reference point for pet caretakers to ascertain a pet's spay or neuter status.
Merely observing the tattoo can save pet owners from misunderstanding a pet's surgical status, especially when adopting or securing a new pet. Although not all veterinarians adopt this tattooing practice, those who do utilize uniform colors like black, blue, or green ink to ensure visibility.
This practice's primary aim is to streamline pet care and management, reducing the likelihood of unnecessary medical procedures while promoting awareness among pet owners. Overall, spay tattoos, though small and simple, play a pivotal role in animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, aiding in the prevention of overpopulation and facilitating easier identification of altered pets.
Is It Normal To Get A Tattoo Of Your Dog?
Tattoos, often seen as extreme to some, are rooted in a long tradition of memorialization, serving as permanent reminders of what matters to us. With pets becoming central to our lives, many find it natural to commemorate them through ink. In fact, a recent survey by Figo revealed that over 75% of Gen Z participants are open to getting tattoos of their pets. While dogs typically wear collars and tags when outside for safety, some owners choose to get tattoos as a tribute, particularly after the loss of a beloved pet.
These tattoos can symbolize the bond shared with our furry friends, offering a lasting way to honor them. Interestingly, both male and female dogs receive small tattoos indicating they’ve been neutered or spayed, typically signaled by a small green line on their tummy. However, it’s essential to remember that while memorial tattoos may celebrate pets, attempting to tattoo dogs can be harmful and lead to serious consequences.
Unlike temporary tattoos, which are safe for dogs, real tattoos can cause pain or infection, prompting legal issues for the owner. Overall, pet tattoos reflect the deep affection pet owners feel, transforming grief into a permanent tribute.
Should You Tattoo A Spayed Or Neutered Dog?
The practice of tattooing spayed or neutered animals often involves a blue or green mark that serves important functions. Primarily, these tattoos help inform animal shelter staff that a dog has already been sterilized, preventing unnecessary surgeries if the animal ends up in a shelter. Veterinarians tattoo dogs during the spaying or neutering process to clearly indicate their status, aiding both pet owners and veterinary staff in recognizing that the animal has been sterilized.
The visible tattoo, typically located on the belly or inner thigh, acts as a quick reference for anyone encountering the dog. The presence of such a mark signifies that the dog cannot breed, which is particularly beneficial for spayed females. Known as a "sterilization indicator tattoo," this simple, straight line provides essential information regarding the dog's reproductive status.
This article discusses the reasons behind spay or neuter tattoos, highlights the advantages for pet owners, and addresses potential risks. These tattoos are a straightforward and effective measure to ensure proper identification, thus assisting in minimizing unnecessary veterinary procedures and preventing the misidentification of intact animals in shelters.
While the practice is largely beneficial, it is crucial to ensure that tattoos are administered safely and discreetly, typically while the pet is under anesthesia during surgery. The common colors used for these tattoos are blue or green, providing a high-contrast option that remains visible. The tattoo serves a practical purpose, as it enables new veterinarians or shelter staff to quickly assess the animal's history regarding spaying or neutering.
Veterinarians frequently recommend such identification markings, especially for shelter and rescue dogs, to clearly indicate whether they have been altered. This method significantly reduces the chances of unnecessary surgeries and the risk of unintentional breeding, thereby enhancing responsible pet ownership. Spay/neuter identification tattoos can be especially crucial for stray or previously unaltered animals, helping to streamline their care and future procedures.
Overall, spay/neuter tattoos represent a simple yet effective tool in animal care, promoting better management of pet health and welfare. Pet owners are encouraged to consider this option during sterilization procedures to facilitate future identification and care.
Do All Spayed Dogs Get Tattoos?
All spayed female dogs receive a small tattoo, primarily for future identification. This tattoo is typically a straight line that fades over time, serving as a visual indicator that the dog can no longer reproduce, thus helping to prevent accidental breeding. With an increasing number of dogs being tattooed, the practice has gained more visibility. For context, after neutering their dog Teddy, the owners discuss the implications of tattooing pets. Veterinarians often utilize tattoos when spaying or neutering pets, indicating to future caretakers that the pet has undergone reproductive surgery.
The sterilization indicator tattoo, characterized by its short, straight line, is commonly placed on the abdomen or near the surgical scar. The color of the ink typically used is either black, blue, or green, ensuring it stands out against the animal’s skin. Despite this practice being widespread in shelters and high-volume spay/neuter clinics, not all veterinarians tattoo spayed pets; only a small percentage of private practices do. This results in a disparity, where tattooing is more common in shelter facilities compared to private veterinary practices.
Many veterinarians employ various methods to apply the tattoo, which includes using a tattoo gun or a needle and syringe. Additionally, the tattoo may sometimes be located in the right ear flap of the animal while they are anesthetized for surgery. The tattoo may include a code indicating the year of the procedure, further assisting in tracking the pet's surgical history.
It’s important to note that while tattoos are commonly associated with spaying and neutering, some pet owners consider tattooing for identification purposes unrelated to sterilization. This identification practice led to success in reconnecting a stray dog with its owner, showcasing the practical benefits of this method. Overall, the act of tattooing pets after sterilization serves multiple purposes, chiefly providing assurance for responsible pet ownership and management.
Do Shelters Tattoo Dogs When Neutered?
Many veterinarians are now using tattoos on shelter, rescue, and even pet dogs and cats to indicate whether they have been spayed or neutered. This practice is prevalent, with around 80% of shelters and 72% of spay/neuter clinics tattooing animals they sterilize. A survey conducted across 33 veterinary schools in the United States and Canada sought to determine the extent to which students are educated about these tattoos in various formats, including didactic courses and surgical laboratories. Additionally, a second survey targeted private veterinary practices and animal shelters.
Most animals adopted from shelters are required to undergo sterilization, and the tattooing is especially common among rescue dogs and those sterilized at low-cost clinics. When people see a blue or green tattoo on a dog, it typically signifies that the dog has been spayed or neutered. Tattoos are usually placed on the dog's belly or inner thigh for quick visual reference. They serve as a straightforward indication for both pet owners and veterinary staff.
These tattoos, referred to as "sterilization indicator tattoos," are short, straight lines marking that a dog has undergone the procedure. Some shelters or rescue organizations also employ scannable tattoos to facilitate access to an animal’s medical history and spay/neuter status, improving efficiency in care.
The symbol of the tattoo likely originated from veterinary practice to ensure other veterinarians are aware of an animal's sterilization status, thereby preventing unnecessary surgeries. Shelter animals, along with those in trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, typically receive tattoos or ear notches as indicators of sterilization. In contrast, pet owners do not usually have their dogs tattooed.
Veterinarians have emphasized that shelter practices, particularly since 2010 when the Association of Shelter Veterinarians issued guidelines for spay-neuter programs, frequently endorse tattooing animals. With estimates that 6 to 7 million unwanted pets enter shelters annually, these tattoos play a crucial role in ensuring animals are identified as spayed or neutered, especially important for female animals. Overall, the practice aids in the safe return of lost pets to their owners.
What Is The Green Tattoo On A Spayed Dog?
The green tattoo on a pet's belly serves as a clear indication that spay or neuter surgery has been performed. This marking helps to prevent unnecessary exploratory surgeries in the future. A small, blue line tattooed during the procedure functions similarly, signaling to veterinarians that the dog has been sterilized. According to Cherice Roth, DVM, chief veterinary officer at PRCKC, the tattoos are done using a tattoo gun when the animal is under anesthesia, and the green line is typically about 1. 5 centimeters long, becoming nearly invisible when the pet's hair grows back.
The tattoos, also known as "sterilization indicator tattoos," are usually placed on the abdomen or inner thigh of dogs and cats that have undergone sterilization. For dogs, this permanent green mark indicates the removal of reproductive organs and minimizes confusion for future veterinarians. It is a small, discreet representation of the pet being "fixed." Both disadvantaged and privately owned pets receive this mark, as many shelters and veterinary offices practice this method to signal spaying or neutering procedures.
These tattoos are applied without causing pain to the animal since they are done while the pet is anesthetized. The tattoos provide a quick visual reference for anyone who may come across the animal, signaling that the pet has undergone the procedure. Vet clinics and organizations, including the Humane Society, frequently adopt the use of these markings, often presenting either green or blue lines near the surgical scar.
It’s commonplace to see this small green or blue line on pets that have been spayed or neutered, particularly those that were sterilized prior to adoption. The tattoo serves not only as an identifier of the pet’s sterilization status but also serves as a symbol of the pet's liberation from potential health issues associated with unspayed or unneutered animals. Importantly, pet owners should note that these markings require no special cleaning or care, as they are not incisions but rather simple tattoos.
In summary, if you notice a small green line on your pet's belly, it is an indication that they have been sterilized, essentially communicating their status to any future caretakers or veterinarians.
Do Vets Tattoo Dogs If They Are Spayed?
Les tatouages de stérilisation chez les chiens, souvent réalisés en encre bleue, peuvent aussi être réalisés en vert ou en noir. Bien que l'encre puisse s'estomper avec le temps, elle sert d'indicateur visuel du statut de stérilisation de l'animal. Les vétérinaires tatouent les chiens lors des stérilisations pour éviter les reproductions accidentelles, signalant ainsi aux autres que la chienne est stérilisée et ne peut plus avoir de portée.
Ces tatouages, appelés « tatouages indicateurs de stérilisation », sont généralement de petites lignes droites situées sur l'abdomen du chien, permettant ainsi aux propriétaires et au personnel vétérinaire de reconnaître qu'un animal a subi une stérilisation.
Les animaux stérilisés, notamment les chiens et les chats, se voient souvent attribuer ces tatouages pour prévenir des chirurgies inutiles à l'avenir. De nombreux vétérinaires, en particulier ceux des refuges et centres de stérilisation, pratiquent cette méthode simple et économique. Il a été rapporté que 72 % des centres de stérilisation tatouent les animaux qu'ils stérilisent, tandis que seulement un petit pourcentage de cliniques privées le fait. Un des objectifs est de s'assurer que les animaux n’aient pas à subir une nouvelle anesthésie ou chirurgie si des soins futurs sont nécessaires.
Les tatouages peuvent être réalisés avec différentes méthodes : certains vétérinaires utilisent une machine à tatouer, tandis que d'autres préfèrent une aiguille et une seringue. Les couleurs les plus couramment utilisées pour ces tatouages sont le noir, le bleu et le vert, tant que l'encre reste visible sur la peau de l'animal.
Il est important de noter que tous les vétérinaires ne tatouent pas systématiquement les chiens stérilisés. Cependant, la tendance est croissante, car beaucoup de refuges choisissent de tatouer les animaux stérilisés. Ces tatouages ne sont pas conçus pour faire de la publicité pour les cliniques, mais plutôt pour avoir une fonction pratique qui aide à identifier rapidement l'animal stérilisé, évitant ainsi des procédures chirurgicales inutiles. En conclusion, les tatouages de stérilisation jouent un rôle essentiel dans la gestion de la reproduction canine et contribuent à réduire le nombre d'animaux non contrôlés.
Why Do Vets Tattoo Dogs When They Are Neutered?
In this article, we delve into the practice of veterinarians tattooing dogs during neutering, discussing key reasons, trends, common concerns, and answers associated with this topic. One primary purpose for tattooing is to indicate that a dog has undergone spaying or neutering procedures. These markings, known as "sterilization indicator tattoos," typically appear as a small straight line on the dog's abdomen, signifying the absence of reproductive organs.
Visual representation of these tattoos can be found in Dr. Mielo's records, showcasing their placement and appearance on both dogs and cats. The trend of tattooing pets originated as a means for shelters and veterinarians to provide a permanent identification method to signify that animals are "fixed," thereby preventing potential repeat surgeries and unnecessary anesthesia. A blue or green tattoo is a common sight on altered dogs, usually located on the belly or inner thigh, serving as a clear indicator to future caregivers.
Pets at organizations like Pets In Stitches receive tattoos post-surgery, a process backed by guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). These protocol instructions advocate for the tattooing of spayed or neutered animals to help confirm surgeries and prevent needless operations. Moreover, the practice has extended to ear-tipping in community animals for identification purposes.
Having a permanent marker on pets that indicates their sterilized status contributes to responsible pet ownership and assists with the overall management of animal populations in shelters and rescues. While these tattoos may lack the intricacy of human designs, their simplicity suffices in conveying crucial information about a pet's health and surgical history, ultimately aiding in their welfare.
Do They Tattoo Male Dogs After Neutering?
When your pet receives a small green tattoo, it indicates that they have been sterilized, specifically neutered or spayed. This sterilization indicator tattoo is typically found on the dog’s belly or inner thigh and is a simple visual signal for others to recognize their status. It is important to note that the tattoo is not an incision and requires no cleaning. The tattoo is generally a short, straight line in either blue or green ink, positioned near the surgical scar, and helps prevent unnecessary surgeries since it is not always apparent if a dog has been sterilized.
Veterinarians frequently tattoo both male and female dogs post-surgery. In some cases, male dogs may not display visible signs of having been neutered, such as dropped testicles, which underscores the need for tattoos. Standard care guidelines advocate for visible identification for sterilized animals, but the practice of tattooing is not universally adopted; only about 5% of private veterinary practices engage in this, while over 70% of shelters and high-volume spay/neuter facilities do.
The tattoo, often referred to as a sterilization indicator tattoo, serves to inform future veterinarians, animal caregivers, and potential adopters of the pet's reproductive status. In addition to the tattoo, neutering male dogs can result in behavioral changes, such as a reduction in unwanted male behaviors.
This article also provides examples of spay and neuter tattoos on both cats and dogs, illustrating where the tattoos are commonly placed. Ultimately, tattooing spayed or neutered pets serves a practical purpose, ensuring that their sterilized status is clearly communicated, leading to better care and fewer unnecessary medical procedures.
Why Do Europeans Not Neuter Dogs?
Surgical neutering is generally viewed as a responsible practice for pet ownership in the UK, akin to vaccinations, and is routinely performed across the country. In contrast, countries like Germany and Scandinavia regard neutering as "mutilation" and legally prohibit it. For instance, in Norway, pet owners typically do not spay or neuter their dogs, and this practice does not result in a stray dog problem. This difference in perception can be traced to cultural norms, as many dogs remain intact. Some Scandinavian nations have laws against neutering unless there is a medical rationale.
While spaying and neutering provide health benefits—reducing risks of certain cancers and conditions—the practice of neutering is less common in Europe. Research has indicated an increase in urinary incontinence, obesity, and joint issues such as hip dysplasia among neutered dogs, as well as heightened risks for immune disorders like hypothyroidism. The cultural and legislative landscape significantly shapes the prevalence of dog neutering; for example, the United States often practices early neutering, typically at eight weeks, while northern European countries view this procedure unfavorably.
Alexandra Horowitz, a dog cognition researcher, notes in her book that the less frequent neutering in Europe might contribute to different behavioral traits observed in dogs. Contrary to the situation in the US, where virtually all pets seen in clinics are neutered, the cultural stance in Europe prioritizes natural reproduction and discourages surgical procedures.
The concept of dog neutering remains a contentious topic, with ongoing debates about health implications, side effects, and benefits. Evidence suggests neutering can lead to increased excitement, making neutered dogs appear more active compared to their intact counterparts. Overall, the different societal viewpoints and legal frameworks shape the conversation around the necessity and consequences of neutering pets across various regions.
📹 Vet’s Spay/Neuter Warning ⚠️ Watch Before Acting!
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I just lost my large breed 12 yr old female a few months ago. I chose not to spay her after much research and agonizing over whether it was the right decision. I will say that she went her life without cancer, without thyroid issues, without pyometra or mammary tumours and she was never incontinent, not had a single accident during her senior years. She was the best girl.
I saw your article with this vet about vaccinations and right afterward I called the vet clinic about rabies shots and other core vaccinations. This clinic insisted upon yearly shots and wouldn’t listen to any other option even after I mentioned AVMA recommendations. I canceled our dogs appointment the next day (the girl I talked to became very angry) and immediately started searching for another vet. I found one who recommends rabies shots every 3 years so we’re going there. They don’t seem to realize all those shots could be detrimental to your dogs health.
I live in the States but am from France and we did not spay or neuter our dogs and they lived a long life on some raw and sometimes cooked food. We just separated the females from the boys when in heat! Period! Here in the States, I show and breed occasionally, our dogs are intact! Let’s hav more talk about raw feeding, I have followed the recommendations of Dr Karen Becker for years. Her recipe book is great. My oldest dog died last November after having a stroke, she lived to be 20!
Can we talk about how we as pet owners are completely shamed by EVERYONE for not getting our pet spayed/neutered?! I am a responsible dog mom of an 11 year old Boston. She is never left unattended with any male dogs and is never roaming around town on her own. The amount of harassment I have received over not having her fixed is insane. When ppl find out, they immediately look at me as “neglectful” for just leaving my dog intact as God intended her to be
I have 3 male dogs – 2 are intact and healthy and happy. The 3rd dog vets convinced me to neuter due to a lipoma…he is now overweight and has health issues. spaying or neutering is lucrative and a huge moneymaker. The majority of people are asleep and will believe the masses. Nobody thinks independently. Sad Thanks for having the guts to share this
I have a 1 year old GSD who’s not neutered. He’s perfectly healthy, has no unwanted aggression issues, and has very nice body conformation and muscling. Neuter is well known to drastically increase the risk of hip dysplasia in Shepherds, so he will never be neutered at all. They are already prone to it as a breed, but fixing them at any point in their life pretty much guarantees they’ll get it. One of my friend’s Shepherds comes from a GSD show breeder, and she has a life time health guarantee for all the puppies she sells. Except if you fix them, then the health guarantee is null and void, because it will cause issues they wouldn’t get if left unaltered.
I love his show and thisjust summarizes and lays out all of the basic methods he uses on the show. What i love about this guide youtube.com/post/UgkxKkYeOoCV_w2vPX0CSyVWkhew2c4FYk0d is that you don’ need to read the whole book cover to cover … You can skip to the chapter (lesson) you want to read about. The book is arranged almost as a problem-solving guide … Here is the problem and here is what you need to know/do to correct it. This man knows his stuff … But more importantly knows how to teach people how they can work with their pups themselves!
The sad reality that I’m encountering is so many services are being denied to my pup because I don’t have him neutered. I picked him up from daycare yesterday & was told he can’t come back until he’s neutered because he’ll be 7 months old next week. The same with a trainer & even some sitters. I feel like my hand is being forced because the lifestyle I have really benefits from these services.
Thank you so much, I was on the fence, but now I have made my decision, my boy is staying intact, he was a daddy for babies that went to people that lost there senior dogs, and he is going to be done, and that subject came up, there is really no reason to fix him, he is always with me, and is never around other dogs unattended, so I really didn’t want to do that to him, and now I have no doubts… Thank you!!!🐩
I am from the UK I had a Golden female, intact, did not have any litter, she had an infection of her uterus when she was 7 and yes after we had to remove it (life-threatening) – yes her personality changed after that. We moved to the US when she was 10, she passed away at age 14. I now have an Irish Setter male and he is intact, my house is not …but that is fine 🙂 On the raw feed or feed actual food – the Vet jumped all over me for that one, I suggested he start eating kibbles daily and let me know how he feels, I do not drink the pharmaceutical industry cool-aid for my pets or for my kids🙂
I have a One Year old Bichon-Frise Puppy and after perusal Your articles for a few Years, I am not spaying Her .. Nor giving Her all. the Shots that ” they ” recommend. I feed Her a Raw Diet … and No Flea Treatment .. We live in an area that have little to no fleas … I am glad You Educated me and that I am a much Better Pet. Mom by not giving Her Toxins/ Shots and Surgeries that She doesn’t need . Thank You .. 🙏🏼
HOLY CRAP!! This explained Alot Rachel, with Neuter/Spay situation that Blew my mind, literally…..Just got a New 5 month old boy Pomeranian. My last Pom passed away unexpectingly, 😢😢😢 at 11 yrs old, still trying to deal with it……his name was Timba & he did get neutered & became extremely overweight (even with exercise), walking. Guess what?? NOT getting “Janko” fixed……Point, Blank, Period. There was a reason Why I watched this article & Now Im Subscribed. Thank You, Sooooooooo Much, Rachel!!
I am so grateful for this info ! A few years ago I had a beautiful yorkie and at first I didn’t wanted to spay her but I had to ..when I did that she was 5 years old.. after that procedure in a few months length she start getting sick, licking herself non stop and even had a seizure, her eating habits start changing, her hair grayed and thinning, almost everything was wrong ! this baby was very healthy prior to this procedure, how this can happen ? .. So the vet diagnosed her with cushion and diabetes.! I had to give her insulin every day and her condition was improving but not able to control it though, and this vet said she needs a teeth cleaning and removal because this might be the cause why .? I was afraid but I was desperate to save my baby, after we did all blood work and checkup and I took her to have her procedure … an hour later I got a call that she died under anesthesia! I was devastated, is still hard to think of ! I regret trusting this vet, I thought I was doing good to take care of her, I listened to his advises since she was a puppy, but everything he did it was wrong, from food advices to vaccines and care . After listening to you podcast It confirmed my belief that spaying her started all ! God bless for informing us and guide us to keep our fur babies healthier ! 🙏🥰❤️
Wow, I just came across this article & information on spaying your rescue dogs & I got my dog from a rescue at 10 weeks old, and she’s a lab/ pit she just turned 7 years old at the beginning of February and she now has her two hind legs blown ACL & meniscus, and hip dysplasia in her right hip and also osteoarthritis in her right hip. She’s suffering bad. I’m so sick from it it’s so crazy. She has had a very comfortable life, I given her a bed in almost every room. I always felt bad for dogs that lay on hard title floors, it breaks my heart. I covered my beds, sofa & she was aloud on all the time. She was spayed before I even got her in Naples, Fl. and came with more medical than any of my other rescues. Hearing this makes so much sense. I had a dog that was given to my family when I was five years old, he was never neutered and lived till 16 years old. The healthiest dog I ever had never had a thing wrong with him. Died of old age . RIP Shots weren’t so pushed like today. It just seems like what ever,” I’ll call they” have their hand in is sure enough to change things! My grandmother was 97 years old when she died, born in 1911. Again she never had to much wrong with her, she had arthritis in her hands, and her legs, dementia set in in her late 80s think it was 89 or 90, which again no surgeries or anything. When they start to put themselves into our bodies things seem to go downhill! I just wanted to thank you, I know it’s to late for my girl that I love more than life itself. It’s just a heads up to new pet parents.
Yes, open to all the topics, including raw food. Confirming what I have thought all along. My female was spayed and the problems started from there. Constant UTIs for years, thyroid and incontinence issues and thousands of dollars in vet bills. If I only knew then. Felt so guilty I could not help my dog. Until I started making her food, all UTI gone! Unfortunately still on meds for thyroid and incontinence. On and do not get me started on reactions to the needle. Thank you for your website and valuable information. Things need to change for the better for our family pets!
I wish I had waited to spay my baby maltipoo 😡 the vet never shared this info with me. And I didn’t have the education to know better back then. I also don’t understand why vets in the USA remove everything; this is not how it’s done in other parts of the world. Vets here just seem to do more harm than good. Thank goodness for holistic vets! 🙏😊
My husband got me a great dane mix puppy, for my 20th birthday, almost 30 years ago, and she was our “precious baby girl,” for just over 12 yrs. We chose NOT to get her “fixed,” because we were afraid of changing her personality. Some of our friends thought we were crazy…I am glad to see that science is catching up with the way we just simply felt! It’s nice to know we were right. 🥴
Thank U both for talking about this – I instinctively wanted to keep our beautiful staffy-girl dog ‘natural’ – no ops or jabs (homeopathy & nosodes instead) & did my best to raw feed. Please continue to educate as many as possible – including wonderful sanctuaries such as Lee Asher, The Asher House. I’ve thought about contacting him about the injections, but so many followers i don’t know how to get a message actually to him, & with enough credibility to get him to look more into it.. thank You 🙏💗✨️
I had a question:I received a dog that had a previous femur injury and to get a surgery the previous owner did a spaying .at 8 months .i was told the vet pressure to spay to have the the femur surgery..so whats done is done .is there a life supplement or anyway to help prevent and have dog be in healthy shape..food an remedies
My German Shepherd is 6 years old and still intact but now has a tumor on the skin of his scrotal sac and has mammary gland infection. He is scheduled to have surgery to remove just the tumor since it is only on the skin right now. The tumor will be sent in for testing. I hate putting him through 2 surgeries if it turns out to be cancer. He also has severe bilateral hip dysplasia, penile infection, where pus comes out. I regret that I never neutered my dog when he was younger.
I was going to get my dog spayed when she was older because she is a large breed. Around four years old I went to talk to the vet about it and she said Magnolia would need three different shots just to stay in their back room after the surgery (just for about 6 hours or so) and then gave me the fee on everything. Now, I’d pay the fee but that just felt SO wrong. She is five and I won’t get her spayed now. She has always had this weird allergy with her paws and it’s my belief it’s from past vaccinations, but I need to do more research on that first.
I have a question. I have a tiny chihuahua with one retained testicle. He is will be 5 in dec 2023 The vets say theres a higher chance of him getting cancer in the retained testicle. I have tried to do research about it but Im not sure if its all biased or not. I have known about dogs living longer healthier lives when unspayed/neutered for a few years now. I have asked a few vets if they would simply remove the retained testicle and they refuse. Perhaps I will just keep searching for one that will.
I put off having my cavapoo neutered because I didn’t want to leave him at the vets for a few hours. I’m glad I never got around to it now. He’s not aggressive at all, he’s very sweet. He’s a bit anxious, and a lady I speak to while walking him said he might end up being more anxious if I was to neuter him.
We waited to neuter our Toy Poodle. He was 2 years when we did it. I always felt uncomfortable about doing it for other reasons, as well as so much conflicting information. I wish I had not. He was such a different dog while he was intact. It makes me sad just how much his personality, energy levels, and health have changed. I know to trust myself and the evidence now.
Thank you for making this article. I just got back home from my pups appointment to be neutered. My vet shared this same information with me and I left with my sweet boy intact. I decided not to neuter because there is no going back. I felt the research that she shared with me made me question why I would want to neuter, did I really want to or was expected to. Is it because of old information and was not aware of this new research. Happy with my decision and I know he is too. ❤️
We have Great Pyrenees dogs. We routinely wait until the age of two for spay and neuter. Our youngest male we rescued at 9 months of age. He was posturing his previous owner (who was short statured) as well as her three year old child. Then he was also doing that to my husband and myself. As well as our female older Pyr. So we discussed the subject in detail with our vet and chose to neuter him at one year of age. He has stopped all posturing and gets along well now with our female Pyr. He has never been aggressive, only overactive during play. He is huge, standing 33″ at the withers. He is very well behaved, never growling or nipping. The neuter immediately calmed him down, as he was very hard to control when we first got him. It was our only option as we would not rehome him again. He is living his best life here with us.
We got our last dog from a shelter event at 10 weeks old, and she had already been spayed. I didn’t even know that was a thing, and I certainly didn’t know the potential repercussions. I can’t prove it, of course, but after learning more from logical, nature-based professionals like these, I realize her lifelong urinary incontinence and extremely timid and fearful personality were likely directly related to the ridiculously early spay. In addition, she died from cancer that was probably caused by the crumby food we gave her without knowing any better and possibly the spay as well. We recently got a puppy, and I have learned so much and will continue to do so. Thank you Rachel and Dr. Morgan for all of the valuable information.
I am not a vet. I have, however, lost 2 Frenchies to mammary cancer and I do believe that not being spayed is the root of the cancer. My Frenchie now was spayed early and there are no cysts or lumps in her mammaries. One girl went from small lump to dead in 6 weeks. In addition to the heartbreak, you have to consider the cost of these treatments. I am a huge proponent of early spayed in bulldogs. I can’t speak to other breeds.
I pray one day we have many more vets like Dr. Judy. You are right. The only way it changes if we demand it…find another vet. Well over a decade ago I started feeding a raw diet. My vet of at least 20yrs, although polite, told me I was going to kill our dogs. I found another vet. And the thing is, although the vets did not feed raw, ALL of the front desk help did. If our dogs could have talked, I swear they would have cheered.😅 Of course, we were holding our breath, but within days, seeing the difference in the dogs…their attitudes, their coats, their smaller poops that just dissolved from the sun and rain…I never looked back. Thank you for this very interesting discussion about spaying/neutering. It actually makes perfect sense. Keep these great talks coming! We are on the cusp of big changes in our world…all for the better.
I spayed my male dog at 8 years old because my daughter’s pug-who turned one year- started to get aggressive with my dog. This caused my dog to get aggressive back. Now the two dogs that were best friends hated each other and were going for the kill. After spaying them both- in a month- they no longer wanted to kill each other. It also stopped my dog from taking off looking for a female. I agree with waiting some years before spaying.
I had a beautiful American Bulldog that I had spayed when I got her as a puppy. I wish I had known this before. Everyone always said I was over feeding her. I wasn’t, and I thought she may have a thyroid problem. My poor baby had arthritis too before she passed. I am subscribing and going to do more research. We have all of our animals spayed and neutered (going off of vets recommendations) but have a little male kitten that we were going to have neutered in a couple of months. I had no idea. Thank you for sharing this information.
And YES, please come back and talk about all of these topics! I really hated having to give my girl certain boosters as a pup because she wasn’t around any other dogs then at all. (Pandemic pup) I’m not a fan of having to give her the rabies shot, but it’s the law here. (She gets a drippy nose and pretty lethargic from it and pretty warm) Also the one required to put your dog anywhere if you have to leave and can’t bring them with you but don’t have a trusted family member to help. There are so many other things put into one booster! As for raw feeding, I was looking into doing it (Franken prey) for my ferrets before my last one got extremely ill and had to be put down from a fast growing tumor. I’ve been thinking of doing it for my dog, but definitely have run into the same issues and resistance you have. Maybe a few articles on how to start the transition, several reliable sources to buy from, the rules and guidelines of such a diet etc too?
When I was a teenager at home we had a male and female intact dogs. They never got together to make babies. He wasted to so bad but he knew enough to not try. I felt sorry for him but he survived it and loved to be I’d say between 15 and 20 years old. Never had health issues either. I can’t remember them ever going to one.
I had a GSD pup with a retained testicle and took him to be neutered at my vet’s insistence, the clinic gave him a rabies shot at the same time that I had unknowingly authorized when checking him in. It took him a lot longer to heal from that than any dog we’ve had and he started with grand mal seizures within 5 weeks of this procedure, because of how he’d come out of the seizure (acting like he had rabies,out of his mind, violent and attacking everything) the er vet told us the only option was to put him down. We had so many misteps with that puppy in trying to do the right thing by him, we took him to a trainer who came highly recommended but put him in a submission hold within 5 mins of being there, to the shots, to his food..he would have been 9 this year. In looking back he was probably having small focal seizures all along but we didn’t realize it but in hindsight. He should have never had shots like he was given or been neutered early and definitely not with the added rabies shot. I loved that dog with everything and my heart was broken. Certainly a massive learning experience that changed much of how I view how vets work and what is right for my dogs. Neither of my currents pups have had anything other than their puppy shots and with my boy I was able to do all of them after the initial one and i spread them out leaving the rabies shots to be spaced out in between the others, he is a big boy and he wasn’t neutered until he was 2 1/2 and I wish I hadn’t done it, he was not an issue but he’d go a little wonky when my girl was in heat but never an issue.
This is the first time I heard about not fixing the fogs right away. You must be the new breed .of ‘ veterinarian to talk about it. In my day all veterans were willing to fix the dogs right away. I wish the veterinarians were smarter in my day, I lost two beautiful Rottweiler through hip dysplasia and cancer. It was heartbreaking.
Thank you so much for this article! I’m a huge advocate for keeping dogs with responsible pet parents intact for as long as possible! We also feed our dogs raw and I would love to hear more about raw and the “yearly shot”. We are minimalist when it comes to vaccines and rely on titers before vaccination. I wish more states allowed a titer in place of a “yearly or three year shot”
Having recently lost my 16 years old Mini Poodle who had advanced Cushings, I am VERY interested in the delaying or total avoidance of spaying the puppies. Also, information re: healthy and AFFORDABLE feeding is so badly needed. Currently I am feeding a kibble that I top with gently & lightly cooked beef, chicken & liver along w/veggies that they will accept. My 2 new babies, also mini Poodles, are 1 year old, intact, and I’m searching for advice on these & other subjects to provide them the very best life possible. Rachel, you are providing a badly needed voice of reason in a canine world of extremes that do NOT always benefit our pets. Sincere Thanks!
I’m from the Netherlands and we don’t have stray dogs or cats and neutering isn’t advised, but can be done.I have a 1,5 year old Chihuahua male who’s not neutered, he’s super friendly and full of confidence with all dog sizes. He’s vaccinated as a puppy, but after that titered and that showed he’s fully protected for the next 3 years and after that a new titer. My previous chihuahua male was neutered at 5 and changed from the above to insecure, more intolerant to dogs etc. He was vaccinated last at 6 years old, titered at 7 and 10 years old and never needed to be vaccinated again, he died at almost 13, still fully protected.
I spayed my female English bulldog at 6 months old. She ended up with allergies, was so hard for her to lose weight and also skin cancer. She passed almost 2 years ago. My male is intact, he developed some health issues at 10 years old because we made the mistake of vaccinated him because he had to be in a doggy care for 3 hours. He is finally feeling better after one year of vaccine. injuries
My border collie turns one year old on December 23rd, and she just had her first heat. I was told 18 months. But speaking from a woman’s point of view after my 4th child, I had tubes tied, and I never got over it. Physically or mentally, it changes everything. So I believe it’s also the this way with dogs. Female or Male.
Thank you! I am having a very hard time finding a vet who will just do a vasectomy and a tubal ligation for my female golden retriever! They all want to remove ALL their natural hormones. This is a no-brainer to me because I had cancer the first time and had a partial hysterectomy at 23, (felt FABULOUS after) and had cancer again at 35 and had my ovaries removed – I can hardly function. My adrenal glands shut down, and now I have to take some estrogen, testosterone shots, DHEA, progesterone, thyroid, and extra supplement which are all helping. Why would I want to do that to my dogs?!!!! Do any of you know of any vets in Washington state or Idaho who with just do a vasectomy for my male pup, and a partial hysterectomy for my female? Thank you so much for you help.
THANKS Rachel and Dr. Judy as I have already fortunately encountered this info about larger breeds, mine is a G Doodle, but did not get the poodle look. She is petite so far, but her legs are going thru a growth spurt at 7 mos. I was blessed to find out this info before I opted for the conventional approach. Trouble is, as you indicated, the nearest vet that would do otherwise, ovary sparing, or tubel ligation is nearly 5 hours away… I will pray for this to change after her youthful heats. All of the negative changes that are happening in our world are offset by the exposure of incorrect lucrative practices that have cost us money and our pets’ ultimate best lives. Time to make positive changes before it is to late to do so.
I have a male 9 year old German shepard, intact. I was told I should neuter him as Vet said he has a high chance of cancer? Thank God I changed vets, but unfortunately I went to a petco vet next, boy I got a slew of incorrect statements on my dog? Live in Vancouver, WA bad luck with vets so far. Hey ladies, what about rating vets, government requirements for dog foods and hold them responsible. Thank you for your article confirmation on what we’ve done right 😊
This is very interesting! I didn’t know about most of these health problems caused by spaying and neutering. I have a mobile vet who is integrative but the first thing she asked when she saw my new puppy for the first time was whether he was neutered and if I planned to neuter him or if he was part of a breeding program. He was only about 3 months old when I got him and I do know that the breed rescues for his breed don’t recommend it any earlier than 6 months because of the skeletal development, particularly because he’s a large breed dog, so I found the question a bit pushy. I’m glad I told her I hadn’t decided yet and did not rush out to have it done. I believe my previous dog, a female, probably died of abdominal cancer at 14 and this makes me wonder whether she wouldn’t have developed it or her arthritis if she had not been spayed. She also developed dementia in her old age, so I wonder if the lack of female hormones affected her brain as well eventually. I got her from a high kill shelter that was horrible and they had lots of dogs spreading disease which got her sick yet ironically they literally would not let people take a dog home unspayed, so it was done before I could even pick her up from the place. They probably shouldn’t have spayed her while she was sick anyway because it had gotten much worse by the time I picked her up to take her home just 2 days later. Their vet seemed very shady, as he never entered a weight on her in any of his notes throughout the time she was at the shelter.
I’m so glad I found this today. I rescued 3 lab/pit puppies dropped on a highway on Thanksgiving day. They are about 6 mos old-2 boys 1 girl. I don’t think I’ll have an option of not doing something with 2 boys in the house but I can check to see if I can find a vet for an alternative spay possibly. I also just started fresh freezing. I will tune in for more info. Thanks for your program!
Completely blew my mind! My pets are my children my family and having too😔 has been a no choice! I couldn’t understand why vets, owners, public health in General treated ! They are no different than a child so why are they treated like ‘ANIMALS’! I find vets today are about money, I find a few that want to be there for the pet but company policies dictate! I would love to hear more from you both! How does a vet take a oath no different from a doctor turn away a animal for any reason they will let your dog die because of money! I think legally, they should be responsible for that for violating the human rights of are family members! Hope to hear more soon and thank you I will spread this as far as I can people need to know we can speak on there behalf thank you
I have a puppy. She has had shots from the breeder and the vet convinced me to give her more and it made her sick. She’s supposed to go back in 2 weeks but I don’t want to do this to her. Can someone who has not vaccinated comment. I don’t care about anyone who is against what I’m saying. I have a free mind and will ultimate do what I know is best not what someone else who tells me what’s best. I have a big ego as well so this is not the battle of the egos. I’m a nature mom and want my baby healthy not sick!
After lots of research and speaking to our Veterinary Behaviourist we have kept our Labradoodle intact. He is the least aggressive dog I know, a very healthy weight, we monitor his health and he is in peak condition. Our Romania Rescue was 11 weeks old when they castrated him before he was transported to the UK. He has a very, very slow learning rate, he is so fearful and nervous as he has developed, he has extreme touch sensitivity when emotions are running high and he has now developed reactivity to people. I attended one of Amber Batson’s webinars on Paediatric Neutering and everything she discussed is what is happening to our Romanian boy. I just fear for his physical health down the line, as he is now 7 years old. We are doing everything we can to keep him fit abd healthy. I will be looking at alternative solutions when I rescue again in the future.
My dog got pyometra at the age of 9 but then went on to live to the age of 21. We walked her every day fed her well meat and veggies. She was a fussy eater though. But I really appreciate your article I have one dog that I spayed on vet advice that is now over weight. But my other two that are not are still lean and don’t feel the need to constantly eat. After perusal you I know it’s because I took the vets advice when I should not have. I will be perusal your articles in the future.
My girl was spayed at 20 months as it was a requirement of adopting her from the rescue organisation. Also she had severe polycystic ovaries and was randomly bleeding off and on all the time, from four months after her first proper heat. It was done laparoscopally and her recovery was excellent. It will be interesting to observe how she goes in the long term. ❤️ Also my two dogs are fully raw fed – provided and promoted by my vet! 😍 🌿 🙆🏻♀️ I don’t do vaccinations after the first puppy ones for parvo.
Yup I used to have a great vet until he retired and sold his pet hospital. Now they kind of suck. He was quick to tell me not to neuter my dog until they are at least 14 months old. Most vets around here push for it as soon as possible. I recently set an appointment to find out what supplements I should add since I am doing homemade meals for him. They had zero answers. They literally told me to go do research. All the research I saw said, “Check with your vet”. They were useless. His meals consist of: Sweet potatoes Carrots Green beans Brown rice Spinach Ground Turkey and or Beef Parsnips Cauliflower Brussel prouts Broccoli Brown rice Spinach Chicken I give him dried Beef liver tips and Non fat Greek yogurt for treats.
I just did life saving pyometra surgery on an older small dog that would have died if this surgery was not done. The first question the client asked me was “If I spayed her when she was a puppy would that have prevented this” and my answer was without a doubt YES….now they had to pay thousands of dollars to save her life. Luckily we caught it early enough that we were able to save her and she is recovering nicely. There are many risks that come with having an intact female dog, and unless you are a reputable breeder, despite the fact that there are thousands of dogs in shelters that need homes, my professional opinion is that it is not worth the risk, and I will always recommend ovariectomy/ovariohysterectomy to prevent this exact scenario from occurring. Those who have had an intact female dog without complications are very lucky because complications like pyometra, mammary tumors, etc. are absolutely NOT uncommon.
We had a male and female Sheltie. The most amazing dogs. Our male we neutered, but our female we did not until she was 11. She got the uterine infection, and survived, but I still don’t regret it. He died at 12 and she is thriving at 15. I give her Kefir every day. She loves it. She has always had an irreverent personality, even at 15.
I left my last Rough Collie intact because he tested mutant/normal for the MDR1 mutation and I wanted to minimize putting him under anesthesia. He never had any behavioral issues and had a very nice coat that was easy to maintain. I have never neutered any of my dogs before two years of age and now advocate for leaving them intact as long as possible. I have done minimal vaccines for over twenty years and have had no problems except that I cannot board my dogs and many groomers will not accept us as clients. The other issue I have had is that rescues will not adopt to us after they check our vet references. If you don’t do yearly vaccines and have intact dogs in your home, no rescue wants to adopt to you.
Left my goldendoodle intact he passed of prostate cancer at age 6 so my beautiful boy doesn’t fit the statics. It took him down fast once we noticed a problem he only lasted 3weeks the first test said no cancer so we though BPH found a cyst neutered to shrink prostate things got worse he had limp tail could barely walk no feeling in the back end could not pass urin or poo refused food. They finally found the cancer it had mastized to bone. My feelings is maybe if he was neutered he would not have had Prostate issues? Otherwise he lived a normal healthy life I have family with puppy siblings of mine they were spayed and neutered still going strong.
My beautiful little girl, a Yorkie/Maltese mix I never had spayed. She’s 8 years old. Last year I was expecting to travel from the UK to France and had to get her vaxed against rabies. During her annual checkup, I was told that she has cancer, lumps on her teets. In a week, she’s having an operation to spay her and remove the ‘lumps’. I’m devastated. I don’t know what is right now. I don’t know what to do
Our chocolate lab, in her first season, invited a large stray dog who dug underneath our fence, and proceeded to rip two of our screens off of our windows that were on ground level, trying to get to her. We tried to corral him, but he was too skittish. Going through heat with the blood, not keeping on the diapers, and having your property wrecked, wasn’t worth it. When females are in season, it’s such a pain. It’s good to know there are other options, but now find a vet that offers them. We have male dogs now! 😊
Is it also a problem for osteoporosis in dogs and cats? Thank you for standing up for this important topic. I had as a 161 cm women a 63kg not neutered Rottweiler, good lead by recognizing the dogs needs from natural food, to enough activities are all that it needs to become a idol= leader for your dog.
I waited to have my Chocolate Lab neutered until he was just over 2 yrs old. I would have stretched it longer except for the reactions of all the other dogs towards mine. I don’t take him to dog parks, daycare or board him. I was having issues on every day walks on a leash with dogs going after him and others not controlling their own dogs. Once he was neutered my dog was less of a threat to other dogs I’m guessing. My dog has never been aggressive. He’s a sweetie. He’s never spent a night away from me and he’s 4 yrs old soon. Love your website! perusal on replay in Canada. I refuse to give him all those annual shots anymore. After his 4 mos rabies given before I got him at 10 months, he’s only had one 3 yr rabies shot at 2 yrs old. I moved to a rural area so got his parvo, standing water etc last April; but in future I’ll try doing titre testing first. I still need to find a new vet in my new Province of 6 months. No shot for kennel cough either as I won’t board him anyway. I feed him a limited ingredient kibble of salmon and sweet potato (no grains, no chicken) with toppers but would like to get him on full raw diet. He does have one ongoing yeasty ear I have to keep on.
It is amazing how all I get is stock/school answers when I ask vets about OSS for my 2+ year old female ACD. My current practice refuses to the point of being nasty to even discuss OSS. There is only one other practice in a 100 mile range that offers the surgery and they get horrible reviews for multiple issues, so I do not consider them a viable alternative. I just shrug my shoulders and say…. Well, I guess she will remain intact then. They bring out their red flags of pyo and mammary cancer and we just agree to disagree. I never tell what I feed, I just ask if my dog is under/over weight…. they say no and we move on. They are upset/irritated when they can’t find teeth that need cleaning…. it seems to be all about the money these days and I am currently looking for a holistic vet to get away from the contentious attitude I seem to be getting whenever I need them for anything… It is sad.
Interested on the topic of annual shots and are they required and why? My dogs have been given the annual shot and the ones that vets require every 3months however, never took them back. That is all the shots they’ve been given. My chipit (male) will be 2 in June 2023 and my Pitsky (female) turned 1 on January 2023. This topic will help me comprehend what I should do and hopefully I haven’t compromised their health already😢
I got my rescue Gracie at 2 years. She is now 7. The first 2 years I kept taking her to the vet 2-4 times a year it felt because I thought she had a UTI or possibly worse. They treated her for UTI’s, often without bloodwork just be be safe. For several years I kept asking my VET to confirm if she had been spayed because my friend (who has breed poodles) said it was obvious she was in heat. I even told the VET that and they still refused to really listen. Then finally I insisted to talk to management. By then Gracie was over 4, they did bloodwork and it came back she was not spayed. The explanation was that maybe her ovaries grew back. However there is also not a scar on her tummy. They shamed me for not automatically getting her spayed. My gut told me she was too old by then, and was worried it would cause more harm then good. Now she is 7. But I think she might be pregnant at day 43. Because she ran away while in eat for 3 whole hours. 3 terrifying hours. She ran away right in front of my eyes! I know it’s 43 because of looking at history of when I posted she was lost. So now I think I should see the VET, to verify incase if she is and there would be any health concerns.
So glad I found this, we have two male dogs that we have chosen not to desex. Based on our gut feeling only and just loving their personality’s as they are. One is 2 1/2 years and one only 5 months old. We are penalised by Council when it comes to registration costs but now I will talk to our vet about a vasectomy and also call council to confirm they would accept that both boys are ‘desexed’. My 15 year old Dachshund is desexed and has had a life of many health issues. His reaction to his first vaccination was savage. His skin blistered all over his body and the itchiness drove him mad. He has not been vaccinated since then and contracted Kennel Cough last year but an antibiotic dealt with that in no time. Very interesting article. Thank you.
Before deciding the spay issue with my girl, I read all of the arguments both for and against that I could find, so I could make an educated choice. I suppose it goes without saying that I went with being responsible and not allowing her near males when she is in heat and also not bathing her at that time to decrease any risk of infections in her abdominal area. Yes it means more work twice a year, but she is much happier and healthier than my mother’s dog who is only a week older (they’re both 8). As far as food goes, I use kibble (grain free) and dog treats (dream bones…better than rawhide) as snacks and she is fed the same cooked meat (she doesn’t like fruits, veggies or very many grains) that we eat for dinner…mainly because she is still hit or miss about eating anything raw, even meat, but I don’t tell my vet that she eats human food…I shudder to think of the lecture I would get over not forcing her to eat kibble every day.
Our first dog ( 8 year old golden retriever female) died from oral cancer. It happened during the pandemic and was a total shock. We took a risk and operated but it progressed too quickly and chemotherapy didn’t work either. We kept thinking why did that happen… She was royal fed, not spayed and very happy. As a precaution with our second dog ( Yorkshire terrier) we have chosen natural food. Hope it works 🙏🏻
My personal experience with spaying and neutering has been a mixed bag. With the German Shepherds there were definitely chronic health issues which I cannot definitively say one way or the other that there was a connection but this information makes me wonder. In the other hand, our Boston Terrier was constantly getting loose and getting in fights and one time almost died. The same thing with one of our cats. After neutering both settled down and lived a pretty good long life. Also, going through a heat one of my females was no fun.
I also made the choice at age 55 to not spay and neuter my two puppies. One of them is one-year-old and the other one is two years old and they do not seem to have any problems with aggression at all. I’m glad you told me that was just a myth❤ and I feed my dogs half and half. Half Gibble and half steak or pork chops or whatever I choose to cook lol I was make a little extra for them❤
I wish I never spayed my husky now, everything is a money grab for these vets, and trying to sell me a pack of flee and tick pills 300 bucks, which has pesticides and harmful stuff in it, we live in the city and she hasn’t caught a tick or flee yet, all these other vaccinations too, thanks for these articles in helping pet owners into caring and most of all protecting our pets❤
Your article is very informative and I would love to hear more from Dr. Judy about raw feeding What you discussed about spay and neuter is totally new and opposite of what I have been told by the Vets that I’ve talked to. It’s good to know that there are alternatives. I’ve had two female dogs that were diabetic with one having breast cancer Both were spayed, one early and one at two years old. I was hoping to get a rescue for my next dog but, unless it’s a puppy, it will probably be fixed already.
I wish I knew this earlier, i Spayed my dog a year ago when she was 5 years she had a lot of problems when she was in heat so that’s why I did it. They never talked to me that there was different kind of options and I had no clue. They took all out and now she is a little bit overweight. She is a chihuahua shihtzu mix and shoul be around 6,5 and now she is 7,1. Started to Give her Whole Foods and a little dry food. I want what is best for my dog. Live in Sweden
I had a non castrated male dog who developed prostate cancer – and had to be put down at 7 yrs of age, the vet said this cancer was more common in non castrated males. I now have any pet of mine neutered. As I have no intention of breeding my pets and for them it prevents any long term stress, as for unneutered animals, life is driven by the desire for procreation, and with this being restricted these pets are living with undue stresses and frustration that can lead to behavioural issues.
I appreciate learning this information. My dog came from the Netherlands and was a non-papered purebred. Her food was made for her, nearly her entire life. She would not eat any kibble, even the most expensive and highest rated brands. She did get pyometra at age 10, had a complete hysterectomy, and she did develop mammary tumors at age 12. She had her mammary glands removed, but (and I’ll never understand why) doctor did not remove all of them, only those that had growths. I didn’t want to subject her to another surgery so I kept an eye on her. She did develop a really large tumor on her stomach, her cancer came in and she went to doggie heaven last Friday, just days before her 14th birthday. I’ll never spay before 2 years, I am most definitely rethinking flea/tick medicine and limiting vaccinations. But I will spay my females.
Honestly, the reason people push for fixing pets is over population. Its insane how many animals are being put down and more people surendering unwanted litters. I worked at an animal shelter. My dog was neutered at around 3 to 5 years and his brother dog is not. They seem to be acting the same. Although the non neutered male gets sick more often and pees everywhere. They are now 16 years old.
I rescued an old pug female and an elderly Old English Sheepdog female which were from the same household and were neglected severely. It was a bad situation. They both were not spayed and they both developed pyometra literally one week apart from each other, which was odd. I’d never heard of it before and it almost killed them both (my sheepdog had a closed pyometra). My pug had an open pyometra and they both had emergency spays because we were told that was the only option to save them. My twelve year old pug passed from cancer a year after her spay (probably not from the spay, but who knows.) and my sheepdog passed away at 15 from bone cancer three years after her spay. The vet told us that if you don’t spay a female, they have a high risk of pyomtra and it’s life threatening. That changed my mind about spaying but I’m open to hear other ideas because I’m still not thrilled about it.
This talk came right on time! I’ve been wanting to wait to spay my girl. I signed a contract as well because of her breed that I would spay her but was told and given the option to wait given studies on the effects to their bones. What is the best way to handle a girl in heat? I’d love to hear more about raw and vegan diets in dogs as well. Love and appreciate this series. Is it available on any other platforms other than YouTube?
Hey Rachel and Dr Judy, would you be able to provide sources of research on the 97.5% survival of pyometra? I’d very much love to agree with not spaying my dog but how can we(normal pawrents) believe all these contradicting information when most vets disagree? I hope you can understand our confusion.
We found out that my male husky that we adopted from a shelter as a 6 month old puppy, was bicryptorchid and we didn’t find out until he was five years old. The shelter paid to have him neutered. They said he had a higher risk of cancer with undescended testicles. He is calmer, but we have an intact female in the house. He was out of control during her heat cycle. Insane actually. And very aggressive toward other dogs. He’s better now.
What this article did not discuss/brushed over 1) pyometra surgeries are expensive –the average owner cannot afford the emergency surgery once it gets to that point and time is of great importance especially if it’s a closed pyometra. Waiting until the pyometra develops before spaying puts the animal at greater risk – some cases the decision to undergo surgery itself is dicey for ppl it because the patient will likely die under anesthesia (because sepsis) It’s heartbreaking telling the owner yes this was preventable-but now she’s at greater anesthetic risk and if you don’t act she will die of sepsis and her abdomen may be flooded with puss and infection. What you can’t afford the couple thousand for emergency surgery ( because they may be referred to the ER )-im sorry to hear that. Then you’re accused of just being in it for the money without the owner realizing that money is not going to you –your hands are tied you’re a salaried employee your paycheck stays the same regardless of what happens – you’re just telling the truth. And this all could have been prevented at a low cost spay neuter clinic- wait a year or two let the long bones develop then spay and feed your dog the appropriate amount so she doesn’t become overweight if those are your concerns (the amount on the bag is too much) Pretty much every illness has a genetic disposition to some degree so I don’t know that I’d hang my hat on the idea of “she’s not genetically predisposed to pyometras so I’m not going to spay her” – Id like to read the study if you have the citation please- it really does sound like an interesting read 2) you say 50% malignancy odds in mammary cancer as though that’s small There have been too many pyometras working in a shelter where I said well it’s good you ended up on my table today—while we’re at it that mammary mass should probably come off too.
Hi from Norway! We have 5 Maltesers, 2 females and 3 males. 2 of the males are neutered and we are regretting this decision. These two dogs are more nervous than the intact male dog, and other dogs don’t know how to be around our two neutered dogs. We don’t have a problem with obese dogs, since we are feeding them raw meat, liver, heart, lungs kidneys, fish etc. ( we get slaughtered horses and sheep, and we buy meats on sale) the dogs are very lean and healthy. I give my dogs kelp, lions mane mushroom, Chaga mushroom too, not daily but every third day or so. I do a intermittent fast for all of our dogs. I do also give NAC and quercetins but not on a daily basis. After we started intermittent fasting I saw a change in my two neutered dogs, they seem more calm and collected if that makes sense? And the one with heart problem has been on medication for 1.5 years now and still going strong. I think this is very interesting!
Most definitely YES!!!! I live in an area with no “holistic” approach to caring for our fur babies from the Vet. community, so your information, thanks to you Rachel has been very valuable. The main reason is my last 2 fur babies died due cancer and tumors way before their time. Prior to that my fur babies lived to be quite elderly 2 cats pass 20 yrs old and my dogs 18’s +. It was so devastating for me also b/c had just lost my mother, was very overwhelm with heart break. Please Rachel continue with your valuable vids, I’m learning so much…GOD BLESS.
So I have a guide dog. She is fixed, of course. The last thing I need with a guide dog is to have a bunch of male dogs running around us when we are out in public. So besides getting pregnant which of those other options would keep the male dogs away? Or, are they still going to be attracted to the female if she is not spayed?
Thanks for this. We did not spay our female english cream after seeing the data from a study done by UC Davis in 2013. The data has been available for 10 years. More people need to be informed on this subject and veterinarians need to stop pushing spaying and neutering to make money for themselves and the practice. The data has been there but most vets don’t care to be better informed when it means it will hurt their revenue stream. They would rather push their client to spend the money and act in the worse interest of the dog. How F’d up is that?
I’ve had 2 canines. My first make, I never neutered, and I suffered the ire of people. My second dog, a female, I literally rescued her at 6 years old. I was not going to spay her, but she developed pyometra. I tried to treat it with antibiotics, but It got extremely bad. I just had her spayed at 9 years old. I hope I haven’t sentenced her to more bad health issues.
Great article. I’m thinking through this now for a new female puppy I just got 2 weeks ago. I have an 8 year old intact male. I do not want to breed them. Leaning towards an ovary sparing spay but my vet recommended a ovariohysterectomy after 18-24 months bc my male dog would be sexually frustrated. I want what’s best for my dogs long term health not inconveniences. Still pondering this. I’d like to hear what others have done here.
Thank you for putting this information out there. More pet owners need to know what’s really true & more Vets as well. We have a 16 mo. Berner & have not had her fixed yet. I’m leaning toward dong the ovary sparing spay in the near future. I would wait longer, but day care places won’t take dogs who aren’t fixed. I live in CLE OH & after much searching only found 1 place that will take intact dogs but it’s downtown near the Flats which is far from us. Our girl needs a lot of exercise & play & my job is so busy since April, it’s hard to give her the play she needs. It’s a shame the vet & medical professions are not being totally honest with the public.
I just want to thank you both for your wisdom! I have a female, 7 mo. old GSD. I have always had dogs and thought spaying and neutering was the responsible thing to do but most were adopted/fostered and already done. I’m rambling but I am not spaying my GSD! My vet was so condescending, I’m not going back to them. It blows my mind how “authority” isn’t questioned more! Ripping out her healthy lil organ seems barbaric 🥹. Thank you for posting one of the few articles on this topic 💜
When I got my puppy I was very adamant about not wanting him neutered. I held all the beliefs about neutering that you mentioned. We tried to keep him intact but at 3 years old we made the tough decision to neuter for several reasons. He was urine marking all over the house. No matter what enzymatic sprays, barriers, training, behavioural modifications etc. we tried nothing was working. Secondly he would obsessively try to hump me especially at certain times of my female cycle to the point where I would have to lock him away if I wanted to sit on the couch. Again training did nothing. He also had a strange issue with overheating especially in the evenings regardless of the ambient temperature. After neutering the differences we noticed were astounding. Not a single time did he ever urine mark in the house again. The humping completely stopped. The overheating disappeared. He became extremely affectionate and snuggly. He is also calmer. He is literally a different dog. I am now convinced that training cannot always override the effect of hormones, which greatly impact their behaviour. I honestly don’t know how we could have got the positive benefits we finally achieved without eventually neutering.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than losing a pet to cancer, of any kind, and being left to wonder if it’s because of vaccines, heart worm meds, poor diet and now because they were neutered or spayed to early. Please continue to have these enlightening conversations so we can make the best informed decisions for our pets. Years ago before there were all of the laws that require vaccines and adoption centers that require spaying or neutering, I don’t remember ever hearing about as many illnesses. Thank you.❤🐾❤️
For my dog after we had him neutered, he was a year and a half and he had finished growing and vasectomies aren’t offered in our area, but he stopped unnecessarily holding his pee in to copiously mark his whole walking route, so he let it go in one spot or a few spots near the start of the walking route and if he wanted to mark something he sniffed later in the walk he just put a small amount of pee on those places sometimes just a few drops so at least he wasn’t stoping to mark overtop of every other spot another dog had ever peed on and he wasn’t holding it all in for long periods of time anymore in the off chance that he went into the neighbourhood for his afternoon pee instead of in the backyard like was usual, we do morning and evening long walks usually and he has access to the backyard as he rings the doorbell for the afternoon so he can sniff and play and lay in the sun if he wants to.