[dr.jaimie]

i neutered parker b/c i didnt want the male behavior...like marking, agression, etc. i also thought the years of the male behavior was def. worse than the little time he would be puppy making. as for females it is even more important to spay them before they go into heat b/c it dramatically decreases their chances of getting mammary cancer (almost 100%). if you wait til after their first heat then it only decreases their chances by 50%. then if you wait even longer it doesnt help at all. also spaying prevents pyometra (infection of the uterus) which is a deadly situation. i think all dogs should be fixed unless you are a breeder or show your dogs. if it is just for the ocassional puppies, i dont think it is worth all the consequences. some people say your dog gets fat, but i would rather a fat dog then a dog with cancer.

 

[dr.jaimie]

oh and about the baby teeth..if they dont fall out on their own you should get them pulled. if you dont then they will cause problems in the adult teeth here is something from online: decidious=baby teeth

Normally the deciduous tooth's root is reabsorbed making room for an adult tooth. Should this fail, the adult tooth may deviate from its normal position, producing malocclusion. The resulting double set of teeth overcrowds the dental arch, causing food to become trapped between the teeth, leading to early periodontal disease. A double set of roots may also prevent normal development of the socket and erode periodontal support around the adult tooth, resulting in early tooth loss. A retained deciduous tooth should be extracted as soon as an adult tooth is noted in the same area as the baby tooth. If extraction is performed early, the abnormally positioned adult tooth usually moves to its normal location.

 

[dr.jaimie]

Just in casse some people don't know...neutering is for boys, spaying is for girls. [/B]

actually neuter refers to both male and female...spay is just for females

 

[dr.jaimie]

well the whole cancer issue wasnt always known about, but now there have been many studies and i guess now that is why vets mention it. i didnt know about the percentages until i got to vet school. prob b/c my vet graduated in 86 and they didnt have the figures.

 

[dr.jaimie]

they dont just mark territory outside..they do it inside too..that what makes it a bad thing....glad you made the decision. it isnt that painful, and it will make both of your lives better.

 

[dr.jaimie]

yeah i think it depends on the vet...all of ours went home the same day.