tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post2417151145890054712..comments2023-06-21T01:08:51.044-05:00Comments on Gone to the Danes: Thoughts on spaying my dogBarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13378199204420558607noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post-23819518411051966132009-12-20T21:07:22.769-06:002009-12-20T21:07:22.769-06:00Jan and Kathie, you're welcome! I think this ...Jan and Kathie, you're welcome! I think this is an important topic.<br /><br />Jen, thanks as always for your thoughtful remarks! I am currently trying to decide whether or not to get Teddy neutered. I know Dr. Zink's recommendations on that, and he's not a problem as far as living with him. However, occasionally at trials that are in the same location with conformation shows he's been really "doggy" - not aggressive at all or marking excessively, but you can tell that he smells girls in season nearby and that is all he can think about. At our National in October, we had Agility on Wed. So we'd been there for 3 days... and in the ring he acted like he'd never done Agility before, all he did was sniff.<br />I'll post more on this later.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378199204420558607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post-27550854790691750202009-12-20T21:00:14.432-06:002009-12-20T21:00:14.432-06:00Zink actually didn't think you should neuther ...Zink actually didn't think you should neuther males at all. She does not think there is a difference in behavior.... I don't think I agree with her on that one. But she said estrogen and testosterone were the hormones that told the growth plates to close.... so I think waiting for 15 months is probably ideal for both sexes. I think you will like the seminar. I came away with some nuggets.<br /><br />JenNever Say Never Greyhoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00001070229800933763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post-48557878999098391172009-12-20T16:56:55.842-06:002009-12-20T16:56:55.842-06:00Barb, thanks for posting. I think the spay/neuter ...Barb, thanks for posting. I think the spay/neuter question is really heating up with all the mandatory spay/neuter legislation that is popping up across the country. I'm seeing a lot more references to research on the negatives of early spay/neuter. I am hoping this controversy does result in a lot more good research on the topic. At this time, I, personally, plan to keep my bitches intact unless they have a medical condition that requires spaying for health reasons. I just don't see what is to be gained by spaying them. Of course that's a personal choice, but one I think every dog owner should have.Kathie Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14276125662981781081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post-78487576393355260362009-12-20T16:37:36.785-06:002009-12-20T16:37:36.785-06:00Thanks for the information. the decision is defini...Thanks for the information. the decision is definitely not a "one size fits all" decision.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07145008534811435024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post-4500005405846024402009-12-20T13:21:17.559-06:002009-12-20T13:21:17.559-06:00I've heard that the same thing is true for mal...I've heard that the same thing is true for males. I'm signed up for a Chris Zink seminar in February, and I'm really looking forward to it!Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378199204420558607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983244.post-47387710574629863242009-12-20T08:35:42.429-06:002009-12-20T08:35:42.429-06:00I went to a Chris Zink seminar recently and the sp...I went to a Chris Zink seminar recently and the spay talk was very interesting. She said that the hormones are needed to tell the dog to stop growing and to close growth plates by the time they are 15 months. She said that is why early spay dogs often keep growing so they are taller and angled differently. She has x-rayed early spay dogs at 22 months and still found open growth plates. The continued growth of some joints and not others changed angles and can make them more prone to ACL tears and hip displaysia. It was all very interesting. Her recommendation was to wait until the female is 15 months. But of course.... what to do with rescue dogs? Luckily in greyhound rescue we rarely see them before 15 months so we are rarely faced with spaying before that.... and we hardly ever see ACL tears or hip displasia.Never Say Never Greyhoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00001070229800933763noreply@blogger.com