Partial spay?

[u/Jefffahfffah]

We have a 9 month old female who has not yet had her first heat cycle. The vet recommended waiting until after her first heat, and the breeder unfortunately did not give any instructions on this.

I am curious if we could do a partial / ovary-sparing spay before she enters he first heat cycle to avoid the struggles of the heat process while maintaining her hormones for healthy bone development.

The biggest reason I am considering this is that we have 2 (neutered) male dogs and i do not want them harassing her when she enters her cycle. We are prepared to keep them separated but it's gonna be a hassle.

Yes, I am aware that it wasn't a bright idea to get a female when we have two males in the house. She is the first dog we've gotten from a breeder and I also realize we should've chosen a breeder who thought to give us instructions on this.

Thoughts?

[u/Gazelle25]

Its better for her development to get those hormones. Our breeder recommended waiting until 18 mos- 2 years. Ridgebacks only cycle about 9 mos to a year. Get some dog diapers and keep the males separate. It is annoying but the really intense interest in her is only about 5 days to a week. There are studies that show large breed dogs have more health issues if they are spay to young.

[u/blade_torlock]

Ridgebacks are considered large breed, current recommendations based on several studies including one from USC school of veterinary medicine say that spay after one year and first heat.

So if heat at nine months spay at one year, if one year goes by still wait for the first heat to finish, then spay.

This is found to reduce cancer in later years by letting them develop longer. Giant breeds are advised to wait 18 months to two years before spay or neutering.

[u/debburt]

Good advice from others to do what it takes to wait until she is 2 years old for any surgery. Good bone structure requires those hormones. Maybe you’ll be as fortunate, my neutered male showed zero interest in my female RR during her 2 heat cycles, before I spayed her at 2 years. He was 8 and 9 years old. She adjusted to wearing the disposal doggy diapers really well too. She was a heavy bleeder for long periods too.

[u/Ginger_SNAFU]

An ovary sparing spay means she'll still go through heat cycles. She just won't ovulate. So since she still has the hormones your boys may or may not still be interested.

An ovary sparing spay will likely cost just as much as a full spay.

[u/Cupsofcake1318]

We have 2 girls. We waited for the 1st heat. For our boy we waited to 18 months.

[u/Jefffahfffah]

Thank you all for the replies. Seems like a no-brainer to just wait, so thats what we'll do.

[u/Canachites]

Ovary sparing spay only removes the uterus and cervix, it leaves the ovaries (one or both) behind. So she will still cycle and smell exactly the same to the male dogs. The only thing it changes is the fact she won't be able to get pregnant.

[u/aranel_eruraweth]

This should be a conversation with your vet. Most vets (in the states) won't do a ovary sparing spay so it's rarely an option. And they still have all the hormones that smell great so your concern would still be a concern.

But really, you're talking about putting your girl through two major abdominal surgeries within a short period and paying for them. While it can happen if medically needed, it's not ideal.

Most neutered males get over it pretty quick and leave the female alone. If they don't, arrange for her or them to go Grandparents/aunts/etc for a little bit. If that's not an option, rotating crates make management easy. And the first heat cycle in some dogs is missed or silent so you might not even know. But really with neutered boys, it should be too much trouble on that front after everyone gets used to the new smell.