Age to Spay--How is growth affected?

[pixiemaxiris]

I frequently read another message board (for GSDs only) and came across the topic of spaying. Many on the board advocate waiting to spay until after 1 year of age. They say that the dog needs the hormones in order to develop properly.

I know my vet will suggest spaying around 4-6 months old if we do not plan to show/breed our GSD (which we will not--I had entertained the idea of showing her but have decided against it).

My question is: will she develop differently than if she was spayed at a later age? I know it is a common belief with horses that if you geld a colt early, it will grow taller (growth plates close later) and not be as masculine. I don't know if the same holds true for females, however, since mares are not commonly spayed.

Does anyone know if spaying before *beep* maturity affects growth in females? I am also concerned about hip dysplasia and the possible effect that spaying may have on the development of her hips, due to the growth plates possibly closing later?

Thanks!

[davet]

personall opinion but i liked to spay as soon as the pups were big enough to safely take the anesthesia, usually by weight but at around 2 to 3 months....lots of breeders and peopl say wait till the first year, wait till the first heat etc etc and they give all sortts of reasons but none otf them pan out...I used to aske breeders if they could tell by appearance if a dog had been spayed early or late and with a lot of fudging they would pick one or other appearnce item and say that was it....which is all a crock...dogs will develope, assuming nutrition is proper, all the characteristics that they are geneitically prone to have...i have a big long artilce on a survey on late and early spays but it is too lone to post here.....going back to 50 vet school reunion tomorrow for a week but if your interewsted send me an e-mail then and i will send it to you...

[davet]

here is one but not the one that is more comprehensive



http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/ ... fm?id=1010

[davet]

here is one more but still not the one i am after,,, the one i want does not have a URL



http://www.exoticbengals.com/spay.htm