To Spay or Not?

[Spice]

I recently acquired a bitch about 7 years old in excellent health. She has excellent bloodlines and I am debating on whether or not to spay her, since she is the last of a very valuable line. I do not know much about how long I can safely breed her, and I cannot breed her now because of the time factor and my living situation. If possible, I would love to have one of her puppies in the future. I have no plans to show her, but I would like to do some more Schutzhund work with her.
I have had advice from numerous vets to spay her, but they have always followed their advice with the statement that there are already too many dogs in the pound needing adoption.
What I would like to know is how long can I safely breed her first of all? I also would like to know why some vets have told me it is healthier to spay a bitch, than not. If it is not good for humans to be "fixed" just because they pass childbearing years, then why would it be healthier for a dog? Since the lack of hormones causes osteoporosis and other ailments in humans, I would think it would do the same for dogs.

[Liz]

Spaying removes the risk of ovarian or uterine cancer and reduces the risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer.

At seven, it is entirely possible that she could have at least one more litter safely. However, you run the risk of health problems in the puppies due to the age of the bitch, and at her age she may have reproductive problems. Puppies born to older dams are at higher risk for immune system problems, and older bitches are at higher risk for problems like pyometria, low milk production, friable uterine lining, etc.

If she has not been bred before, you will also be dealing with the possible behavioral problems of a maiden bith in an older bitch - makes things much harder.

May I ask what is her bloodline? Is she titled? Also, has she passed OFA for hips and elbows, a heart check and CERF for eyes? At her age, you might want to do a thyroid panel as well, but remember that thyroid can be very variable, so you would need to do three tests over a period of 7-10 days to establish a true baseline.

You also need to consider all the other aspects of breeding:

- finding a suitable stud dog: an older bitch may have conception problems, you need a stud dog owner whose dog is compatible and who is willing to allow you to pay the stud fee *if* puppies are produced because there probably won't be a return visit in the time frame you have.

- wording your contracts: are you willing to guarantee your puppies against genetic defects, take back puppies should the home be unable or unwilling to keep them?

- making sure you have suitable homes prior to breeding: there's nothing guaranteed to make an old bitch cranky than having puppies growing up around her

etc. etc.

Just FYI, my bitch Janni's last litter was born when she was eight years old, we did have immune system problems, and lost five puppies out of ten. Janni was spayed as soon as the puppies were ten weeks old.

Liz

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www.inxpress.net/~harkon/
harkon@inxpress.net

[frontierrots]

I agree with all of Liz's statements.
But would like to add that my PERSONAL (no jab at you, Liz, intended) belief is that no bitch over 6 years should be bred.
Then again I do not allow any of my bitches to have more than 3 litters in a lifetime , maximum. Some never have more than 1.

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Diane
Frontier Rottweilers & Shiba Inu
***spam***

[Nancy Estes]

I agree w/ the two previous posts on this. My only experience with breeding an older bitch was a 6-year-old Basset bitch. The puppies all died from immune reaction to the dam's milk (similar to RH factor type reaction), believed to be caused by the bitch's ages. (She had previously had at least one successful litter w/ no problems.) Unlike males, a bitch is born with *X* number of eggs which age as the bitch ages. A dog, on the other hand, continually produces new & viable sperm and his ability to do so is not as influenced by age. Assuming there are no infections, mechanical problems, etc., a dog can remain fertile longer than most bitches.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo@hotbot.com

[Spice]

Thanks for the info. I don't have the papers with me at this time, so couldn't tell you the kennel names of all the dogs in her line. I do know her father was an American and Mexican Champion with various titles, and her mother had various titles too, but without referring to the paperwork, I can't get more specific than that. I knew them by their regular names.
I personally have seen 3 of her litters and they were all awesome puppies, but she may have had more litters than that, I don't remember. I do know she is an excellent mother.
My main concern is for the health of my dog, and if there is too much of a risk involved, I will spay her. At this time it looks like my best option judging from the replies posted. I don't want to risk her health and breed her, and still possibly not get healthy puppies.

[belgium]

if the dog is seven and had litters before i think you can safely breed her again.(watch out always something can go wrong)
if she was not bred before seven is too old to start


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Rottweilers "Von Jungbrunnenwald"