Spay Neuter

Angie brought up a good question. If an owner does not plan on breeding their Lab, when should they be spayed or neutered?

Any other "health tidbits to share?

Should all Lab's have an OFA and eyes checked, or only if going to breed?

If you don't plan to breed your females then spaying supposedly drastically lowers their chances of cancer in their mammary glands. I've not subscribed to that and don't but at the same time a female in heat around males is a pain and can stain your truck seats so there are other benefits.

I stand behind waiting to spay/neuter until the growth plates are closed in their bones. One or 2 heats is a small inconvenience for skeletal health.

Plus early neutering makes a dog look so generic.

http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10498

Angie

Interesting article

+1 on the stains, I've owned two labs and had to use the sanitary belt with one of my ex wife's TPons cause the pet store pads didn't get it done. Still managed to drip here and there

Too much info???

If you have a buyers/sellers contract on the pup, and don't get its hips checked at the appropriate age. You could be sorry for it later, and throwing the guarantee out the window.
I don't know about labs, but some breeders of a different hunting breed, void the hip guarantee if you spay/neuter the dog earlier than 18 months.

The vets recommend that you spay before the first heat. I generally go with a vet over a dog trainer. I've never had a problem doing it that way.

Even veterinary medicine makes advances. The vets that are in the know and not just doing things because they've always done them that way recommend what Angie was saying and some even later than that. Current research in top vet schools shows an increased risk of development and skeletal issues as well as certain types of cancer with early nuetering. The studies have shown that bitches spayed by three years old gain the same benefit in reduction of certain types of cancers as those that were spayed early. incidentally near 100% of dogs that were spayed early developed severe incontinence issues later in life. If you're worried about a little leaking in heat you're going to love it when your 7 year old is pissing all over the house.

Early neutering is propaganda from the antis. Wait until after the second heat. Most of the time the first one is silent anyway so dealing with bleeding one time is preferable to dealing with lifelong health issues.

I changed vets due to the obnoxious insistence of the staff about getting our beagle spayed. It's really none of their business and kind of reminded me of the Jehovah's witnesses that you can't get off the front porch.

I also wouldn't have my wife get a double mastectomy to lesson her chance of getting breast cancer.

Early spaying and breast cancer:
http://www.caninecancer.com/mammary.html

Cancer in Goldens versus cancer in Labs (from the same UC-Davis study) :
http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10977

The jury is still out regarding early neutering and joint issues. Personally, I see no harm in waiting until the epiphyseal plates close, especially on a big performance dog. But PLEASE, lets stop wearing out this cancer connection!

Just answer the door with a beer in your hand and a rosary around your neck.

I do agree there needs to be more breed studies.
Cornell University has a DNA data bank, a goal is to genetically map cancer in dogs. Maybe one day breeders can use the information when deciding which dogs to use in their breeding program. While environment plays apart in cancer, you can't overlook genetics.

While I half expect my 10-12 year old dog to get some lumps, and bumps, that will probably be malignant. I hate to see it in young dogs.

Last time they came by I tried to be polite but tired of it after a few minutes. When I tried to close the door the guy stuck his foot in the door and stopped me from closing it. At that point my friends Smith&Wesson let him know he had worn out his welcome and escorted him off the property. Now they cross the street just to pass by.

Been a lot of talk about females, what about males? I have a 4 month old male that I will be getting cut. What are the opinions on timing for that?

Females should never be spayed before their 2nd heat IMO but what do I know. I've never had a male cut.

I know nothing, as the infamous Sgt. Schultz would say, but to me, I think I would (and will) wait till I see what the pooch turns into. I may want a pup out of my machine of a dog or may not want another mongrel related to this mutt. just my $0.02