Hi all! I just got my toy poodle several months and she recently turned 7 months. I have her signed up for a spay procedure at the local humane society clinic in 1 months time and I believe she is nearing heat, as a lady at the park pointed out her dog was showing high interest in her which meant she would be in heat very soon. At first I was unquestioned about spaying her since this seems to be the consensus in the USA that this is best for the dog in terms of long term health and happiness. However, when I read about the procedure I started to get concerned about the possible side effects of removing the source of important hormones entirely. I've read some articles online about vets claiming spaying can have irreversible health damage, and others that claim that your pet has a high risk of getting cancer if not spayed. I just want whats best for my dog - I don't mind dealing with the heat a couple times a year if she's happier and healthier that way, but she's also very small so even if I did want to have puppies it would be unlikely I'd even find a mate that is small enough for her and I'm not sure if its a good idea to leave her intact if the prospect of mating is unlikely.
Does anyone have a perspective on the best effects given genetic dispositions and constitutions of toy poodles? Is it more beneficial to leave them intact or spay them? Should I try to find a vet that will leave her ovaries intact if I do sterilize her? Should I wait a while longer or do it next month to get the full cancer prevention benefits?
Does anyone have a perspective on the best effects given genetic dispositions and constitutions of toy poodles? Is it more beneficial to leave them intact or spay them? Should I try to find a vet that will leave her ovaries intact if I do sterilize her? Should I wait a while longer or do it next month to get the full cancer prevention benefits?