Spaying and Neutering

by Lisa Konieczke
(Waterford, MI United States)

Bonnie is sitting on Clyde

Bonnie is sitting on Clyde

I have 2 Great Pyrs, female 13 months and male will be 2 years next month. I have been hearing conflicting stories about when the best time to spay and neuter them. I do not want to breed.

I hear to wait until about 2 to 3 years for them to fully mature to prevent bone cancers and other risks. I also hear to spay and neuter around 7 months.

I have not done so as of yet because of the threat of bone cancer, I know they have a short life span as it is and want to keep them as long as possible.

Can you let me know the facts of spaying and neutering Pyrs and at what age is best for them?

I am a responsible owner, I separate them when needed. Thank you for any advice you can give.

Comments for Spaying and Neutering

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 18, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
No set age
by: Ed A from NJ

I don't believe you can set one age, The correct answer should be when they are physcally mature. Both male and female need to be intact until then finish growing. I would think your male is about ready but your female may need a little more time. You won't be sorry you waited my boy has a beautiful full head and recall nice proportion. Now eight year old he is healthy as can be. Also my female is 13 and still playing like a puppy. Think of it like this if you wait til grown you are safe but too early neutering can cause many problems. Why take a chance. If you are a responsible owner there is no down side to holding off a bit.

Apr 18, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Spay/Neuter
by: Donna

You'll get all sorts of answers, I know.

Your dogs are old enough, now. Now is the time to spay/neuter. Females should be done at 6 months (before their first heat). The male can be done at a year.

Thank you so much for being responsible.

Apr 25, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Hot topic!
by: Tressie

At what age to spay/neuter, or even whether to do it is a really hot topic nowadays, even in veterinary circles. There is no question - the evidence is strong that spaying/neutering before puberty predisposes dogs to a host of health issues later in life.

With the giant breeds, like the Pyr, it impacts the growing skeleton. My sister has a male Akbash, that she adopted at 5 years of age. We were able to trace his history back to the breeder who had him neutered at 8 weeks (not months) of age. He underwent ACL repair and has extensive osteoarthritis. In short, his joints and skeleton are a mess that the veterinary orthopedic surgeon attributes directly to his early neutering.

In Europe there are less invasive alternatives, such as tubal ligation, hysterectomy, and vasectomy. But these procedures are almost unheard of in North America, and our veterinarians are not taught them during their training. We certainly do not need irresponsible breeding, and kudos to you for acting responsibly.

May 21, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
loaded question
by: Marianne

Well, there are all sorts of answers to that question. If you are sure you can contain your dogs during heat cycle, that's great. If not, do it now.
There are all sorts of scare stories out there of the sort ‘My dog... this. 'Her dg... that'
There are few well documented studies of when to do it. There are many texts used as evidence for one side or the other as propaganda. As well, no general rule can be established from one dog's experience. Much of this is also scare tactics and people have a tendency to become very voluble about one event which becomes multiplied. It’s the old the man who’s neighbour’s brother’s uncle saw a bear situation.

You must use your good sense. Most females have a first season around 6 or 7 months and then every 6 months (+/-) after that. At 12 or 13 months, she would be finishing her second cycle. I would suggest a month after that would be safe enough. Males can be done about that time as well. Since males often stay puppyish all their lives, more so than females, that can certainly not be construed as caused by neutering.

I usually tell my new puppy families to spay month before or a month after the 20 day season. this was not always respected. I ask that they be altered around one year of age. My breedline is not greatly affected because they have a tendency to mature faster.

While it is true that some breedlines are affected by early (8 week up to 8 or 9 months)spay/neuter. these are breedlines where the maturation process is slower. There are others that are less so.

Some breeders do it early because new families so often agree and are certainly very willing at the time being very happy to bring a puppy home. However, they also forget, neglect, get caught up in life and might even have the female escape and come home some hours or days later , with a bunch of puppies appearing 60 days later.
Don't forget that a determined Pyr can get out, over or under anywhere if they put their mind to it. the 6 foot fence will deter fugues if the dog doesn't find it worth the effort. I have had them go over an 8 foot fence just for fun. They would then go and sit at the gate to be let in so they could do it again!

Good luck

May 29, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Treating an enlarged scrotum following neutering
by: Brad

Post-op Neuter question for those who may know.
My 2 year old Pyrenees just got neutered a week ago. We have been checking his incision everyday and have not seen the cut opening which is good.
However, today I saw his walking and noticed the sack has increased in size to 1.5 times it's original size. Is that normal?
To the touch, one side is more firm then the other but not to a level that it feels like it will burst.
I'm seeing a lot of posts on different sites saying its most likely fluid that will resolve itself and some options are cold compress and massaging the fluid to the top of the sack.
On the other hand, there are some posts saying it is bleeding that needs to be corrected. I want to believe in the first option especially as we noticed it on Memorial Day when our vet is closed.
I can upload pics if that would help.
Thank you in advance.

May 30, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Spay/Neuter
by: Donna

Please take your boy to the vet and have it checked. It could be infected.

Jul 31, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Help
by: Anonymous

I'm so confused on when to spay/neuter my GP. I have a male and female (siblings). They are 7 months old.

Aug 01, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Spay/Neuter
by: Donna

Wait as long as you can but 1-2 years old is fine. Make sure your female is not impregnated and especially not by her sibling. Make sure your male does not get loose and impregnate other females in the neighbourhood.

Talk to your vet and do your research about options for spaying and neutering. There are less invasive procedures.

Here is some information on it:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/23/modified-spay-procedure.aspx

Apr 26, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Great Pyr brothers
by: Anonymous

I have 7 month old Great PYR brothers and they are literally ripping each other to shreds. We got one of them at 7 weeks, then an owner surrendered his brother back to the parents at 5.5 months old so we took him. It's a nightmare! One minute they're playing, the next they're fighting. I don't want to fix them, but afraid there's no other choice if I want both.

Apr 27, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Two Males
by: Donna

There is no guarantee that even neutered that they will get along.

That said, still get them neutered so there are no unwanted pregnancies should they get loose. Intact males or females will wander far and wide to find a suitable mate.

Best of luck.

Feb 05, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
How do address this situation?
by: Anonymous

My dogs, sleep together normally unattended at night.

We have a 6 month old female Great Pyr, and a 4 year old male, neutered Great Pyr.

He doesn't normally hump anything and is well behaved.

Our vet said to wait to spay her till 1 year,this allows for the large breed dog hips to develop correctly.

That being said her first heat cycle is close as she is showing signs, we are expecting this.

He has no way to make a litter.

He is roughly 110 lbs, and she only 50. I worry if he was to mount her while we were sleeping, she could get hurt. I am not aware of breeding sizes. Anywhere I could find more information on this?
Google failed me.

Feb 05, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Heat
by: Donna

Normally your dogs sleep at night. If you are worried, crate one of your dogs. I would think you crate the pup for her safety in any case.

Never leave her unattended when she is in heat and outside. Dogs will come from far and wide. If they can't get over the fence, they will do it through the fence.

This is from Dr. Karen Becker:

"...would be to wait until your dog has reached full musculoskeletal maturity, and if you have a female, I’d also wait until she’s completed her first estrus cycle before scheduling the surgery..."

"...sterilize without desexing. This means performing a procedure that will prevent pregnancy while sparing the testes or ovaries so they can continue to produce hormones essential for the dog's health and well-being.

This typically involves a vasectomy for male dogs, and either a tubal ligation or modified spay for females. The modified spay removes the uterus while preserving the hormone-producing ovaries..."

Your vet is right in a year old but I would wait until two. It's up to you, of course.

Mar 09, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Death after spayingwe
by: Anonymous

We spayed our 9 mth pup and she developed acute kidney failure,lost her 21 days later. Thought it was bad luck untill I met a woman who had the same thing happen to her female pup. We want another pyr but are afraid to get another female. Has anyone heard anything about this. Thanks

Sep 20, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Neutering
by: Christina

I went to drop my great pyrenees off to the vet at 1PM they called me at 5PM they said I had to come straight there because they couldn't get him out of the kennel to nueter him he was snarling and snapping so I had to go than he was fine they neutered him and brought him straight to me but now it's been 4 days hes a little snappy he growls at me over food randomly then he seems so sorry about it it's really weird do you think it's the pain medication

Sep 22, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Snapping
by: Donna

It's hard for anyone to assess your dog online, Christina. This is an issue better discussed with a certified veterinarian behaviourist.

Nov 18, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Whining
by: Anonymous

Looking for any info I can get, I have a great pyrenees female she is 6 months old. She has been whinnying all night long for the past couple of days, it doesn't matter if she is outside, inside, on the bed or floor. I don't know if it's because she might be ready to go into heat for the first time. She doesn't have any visible injury so I don't know what it could be. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it, thank you.

Nov 18, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Whining
by: Donna

It could be any number of things. It's best to have your girl checked out by a vet. Diagnosing online is not a good idea.

Feb 01, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Stella 2 yr old Great Pyrenees
by: Lorraine

Our Stella 2 yr old Great Pyrenees is being spayed tomorrow. Has anyone used a recovery suit? Will she be able to jump up in suv coming home from surgery?

Jun 07, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Jumping in car
by: Donna

This would rip her stitches open. Training her to a ramp is recommended.

May 17, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
1yr old Femal Great Pyr got fixed and she is not the same 3 days later
by: Anonymous

👋 I got my 1yr old spayed on Mon its Wed and I have to make her eat and give her ice to eat ! She wants to lay on me and be babied but that cant be comfy so I got her dog bed put it near me and got a fan and put it on her ! But when should she be eating and drinking !! Just worried

May 20, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Consult with your vet.
by: Donna

Make sure to consult with your vet. They did the spay so they need to be aware of any issues. They are best to advise you.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Great Pyrenees Questions.







Breaking News

  1. Courtesy Posting - Sarge

    Mar 16, 24 06:29 AM

    Location: Skokie, Illinois, U.S.A. Age: 3 years old Gender: Male, 75 lbs Children: Yes, with proper introduction Cats: Yes, with

    Read More

  2. Buster

    Jan 27, 24 05:35 PM

    DOB: 2016 (7-years-old) Location: Acton, Ontario Good with people, especially children Gets along with dogs Big white fluffy mix. The rescue recommends

    Read More

  3. Nordic and Dolly

    Jan 26, 24 06:13 AM

    Nordic
    A local person found Nordic, Dolly, their siblings and mom running in and out of traffic in -40 C this winter in a remote area on the highway an hour north

    Read More

  4. Courtesy Post - Winter

    Jan 14, 24 06:36 AM

    DOB: Approx. November 2022 (1-year-old) Location: Lower mainland of B.C., Canada – Be prepared to meet Winter in her present home Companion Dog People:

    Read More

  5. Charlie

    Jan 13, 24 08:55 AM

    As a youngster.
    *ON TRIAL* DOB: August 1, 2022 (1-year-old and 4 months) Location: London area Well-behaved children over 12 due to his size Single family dwelling

    Read More

  6. Nanook

    Jan 03, 24 07:55 AM

    *ADOPTED* DOB: Approx. Nov. 15, 2021 This sweetheart Pyr, Nanook, was left at a shelter. The shelter contacted us to bring him in as he wasn’t doing

    Read More

  7. Courtesy Post - Momo

    Dec 11, 23 08:54 AM

    Momo DOB: Nov 19, 2020 (3-years-old) Location: Trenton, Ontario Good in car House-trained Fine on stairs Separation anxiety: No Reactive to dogs.

    Read More

  8. Courtesy - Moose

    Nov 30, 23 05:36 PM

    *ADOPTING PENDING* DOB: August 2018 Moose came to us through animal control wild and frantic. We now know more of his story as his original owners found

    Read More