[selzer]

The only dog that I ever had with cancer was a spayed shepherd mix. It was stomach cancer, very aggressive, did surgery, she recovered, and the vet said 12-18 months. She was 1 1/2 at the time of the surgery. She did live to 14.

Since I spayed arwen nearly two years ago (at almost seven years) she has developed some low thyroid numbers. This was manifest in a dull coat, and foul smell as though she were incontinent. I put her on thyroxine, but when I changed foods, I took her off the thyroxine with the blessing of my vet and we are waiting to take a new blood test to see if the new food provides what she needs. Thyroid was only 1 point lower than acceptable range.

I have not dealt with pyometra, but have known people who have. I will take my chances, and spay if there is an issue. I know that I could lose a bitch that way, but frankly, you can lose a bitch to a spay as well.

Arwen hemmoraged badly after her spay, needed to be hospitalized again.

This is why I do not spay a healthy bitch:

1. My dogs are kept in covered, kennels with a concrete base, fenced around, and sorry Chance's Mom, but they CANNOT get pregnant without my blessing.

2. I believe that the hormones generated in the ovaries, are for more than reproduction or growth. I think that like women, those hormones are missed later on, but unlike women, bitches are not generally given hormone therapy.

3. The uterine horns are attached to the bladder, and a sloppy spay can cause incontinance for the rest of your bitch's life. There is medicine to counteract this, but I do not know whether that is safe or desireable.

4. Any time a critter is put under ansesthetic, complications can happen. I have a friend who spayed an older bitch, and right after the spay, her ten year old bitch suddenly started to have siezures. People can develop siezure disorders due to anesthetic issues. I cannot see why dogs cannot. And dogs can die while under the knife. I know as many people personally that have lost their dogs to spay/neuter surgeries, as people who have lost their dogs to pyometra.

5. There was a study that said that spayed females can become more aggressive. I do not have a marker to the study. But the female hormone created has a calming agent in it. It is not like getting rid of testosterone, it actually can work in the reverse.

Lastly, I do not mind heat cycles, it is just part of owning bitches, and is not onerous to me. So I really do not have any good reason to spay. Beyond a certain age, if my dog is under for another reason unrelated to their reproductive system, then I might consider a spay at the same time.