Vet cost question for German Shepherd owners

[mrsbornkuntry]

We adopted a German Shepherd puppy in August. When I took her in to get her second set of shots I asked the vet about when to have her spayed. When we got our first puppy spayed they had me wait until she had her first heat, but I didn't really want to do that with this puppy because they charge by how much they weigh. Right now she's about 30 lbs. and of course growing every day. The vet said I could do it 3 weeks after her shots (to give her immune system time to recover) when she would be about 4 months old, but she recommended waiting until she is 6 months old because that way if she has any baby teeth that haven't fallen out they can pull them while she's asleep.

How common is it for that to happen with their teeth? From a financial standpoint I don't want to wait until she's 6 months old because she's going to be so much bigger, but if I'll end up having to pay more to have her put to sleep again to have her teeth pulled then I guess I should wait. In the end I want to do what's best for her health, but I want to know my options before I make a decision.

I'm dreading taking her in to have it done anyway, she hates going to the vet, she pulls away as soon as I try to take her in the building, I think she thinks it's the shelter It breaks my heart every time I take her, but once she's inside she's fine and always very lovey to the vet.

 

[MichiganKris]

I don't have shepherds, but have had to have baby teeth pulled on several dogs over the years. It is usually the canine teeth that cause the problem. I would think you could get the canine teeth pulled as soon as the adult teeth start coming in. Usually by 6 months if the puppy teeth haven't come out yet, it will mess up the placement of the adult teeth, so I wouldn't wait that long if it were my dog.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

We adopted a German Shepherd puppy in August. When I took her in to get her second set of shots I asked the vet about when to have her spayed. When we got our first puppy spayed they had me wait until she had her first heat, but I didn't really want to do that with this puppy because they charge by how much they weigh. Right now she's about 30 lbs. and of course growing every day. The vet said I could do it 3 weeks after her shots (to give her immune system time to recover) when she would be about 4 months old, but she recommended waiting until she is 6 months old because that way if she has any baby teeth that haven't fallen out they can pull them while she's asleep.

How common is it for that to happen with their teeth? From a financial standpoint I don't want to wait until she's 6 months old because she's going to be so much bigger, but if I'll end up having to pay more to have her put to sleep again to have her teeth pulled then I guess I should wait. In the end I want to do what's best for her health, but I want to know my options before I make a decision.

I'm dreading taking her in to have it done anyway, she hates going to the vet, she pulls away as soon as I try to take her in the building, I think she thinks it's the shelter It breaks my heart every time I take her, but once she's inside she's fine and always very lovey to the vet.

My shepherd was spayed at about 4 months old. To help with the teeth, we gave her toys to chew on.


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[mrsbornkuntry]

She has toys and antlers to chew on, but she's not a big chewer, at least not compared to my other dog. But my other dog has lab in her and I've heard they'll chew anything (I'm fortunate that mine is good about sticking to her toys)

 

[bedogged]

We adopted a German Shepherd puppy in August. When I took her in to get her second set of shots I asked the vet about when to have her spayed. When we got our first puppy spayed they had me wait until she had her first heat, but I didn't really want to do that with this puppy because they charge by how much they weigh. Right now she's about 30 lbs. and of course growing every day. The vet said I could do it 3 weeks after her shots (to give her immune system time to recover) when she would be about 4 months old, but she recommended waiting until she is 6 months old because that way if she has any baby teeth that haven't fallen out they can pull them while she's asleep.

How common is it for that to happen with their teeth? From a financial standpoint I don't want to wait until she's 6 months old because she's going to be so much bigger, but if I'll end up having to pay more to have her put to sleep again to have her teeth pulled then I guess I should wait. In the end I want to do what's best for her health, but I want to know my options before I make a decision.

I'm dreading taking her in to have it done anyway, she hates going to the vet, she pulls away as soon as I try to take her in the building, I think she thinks it's the shelter It breaks my heart every time I take her, but once she's inside she's fine and always very lovey to the vet.

You need to decide if you trust your vet or not. If you do, then take her advice. Many breeds have problems with retained teeth, especially the toy breeds. I have not heard of this with German Shepherds, but it is entirely possible. Please do not wait until your female dog has her first heat to spay her! The reason vets recommend that spaying be done BEFORE their first heat, at six months, is because it reduces their chances of mammary cancer later in life to almost zero. Their chances to get it increases with each subsequent heat. They can do early spay, but there is some evidence that it causes a change in the ultimate size of the dog. I know veterinary care is very expensive, but sometimes if you spend a bit more, it saves you future financial expenditure.

German Shepherds are wonderful dogs. They are very smart, loving, easy to train and eager to please. They are also big babies and can be very sensitive especially to the feelings of their owners. If you are worried about taking her to the vet, she will be too. Congratulations on adopting a shelter dog! They make the best and most loyal of pets.

 

[bedogged]

I had to edit my post since the idiotic sensors didn't like the true word for a female dog.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

You need to decide if you trust your vet or not. If you do, then take her advice. Many breeds have problems with retained teeth, especially the toy breeds. I have not heard of this with German Shepherds, but it is entirely possible. Please do not wait until your female dog has her first heat to spay her! The reason vets recommend that spaying be done BEFORE their first heat, at six months, is because it reduces their chances of mammary cancer later in life to almost zero. Their chances to get it increases with each subsequent heat. They can do early spay, but there is some evidence that it causes a change in the ultimate size of the dog. I know veterinary care is very expensive, but sometimes if you spend a bit more, it saves you future financial expenditure.

German Shepherds are wonderful dogs. They are very smart, loving, easy to train and eager to please. They are also big babies and can be very sensitive especially to the feelings of their owners. If you are worried about taking her to the vet, she will be too. Congratulations on adopting a shelter dog! They make the best and most loyal of pets.

So you're saying I should go ahead and have it done when she's recovered from her shots? She'll be around 4 months then.

She's definitely a big sweetheart and very obedient. I originally thought we weren't going to be able to keep her because our other dog is very playful and she would get grumpy with her and they were scratching each other up, but now that they're used to each other they get along well most of the time. My other dog won't even go on a walk without her anymore, she will go get her whenever she sees us pick up the leash.

 

[Anna114]

I'm not sure if the breed has anything to do with it. I have 2 Aussie b*&^%es Both were spay at 6 months. My vet recommended not before 6 months. Our breeder was pissed she thought I should have waited for a year. My girls only get to about 30lbs. I am sorry the vet pulled Kelly's baby teeth. There are no teeth there now. I thought that was due to the breed but Brigid didn't have teeth pulled and she has no spaces.

 

[jrmasm]

I've never had a GSD but every female I've owned as a puppy was spayed at 6 months.

 

[bedogged]

So you're saying I should go ahead and have it done when she's recovered from her shots? She'll be around 4 months then.

She's definitely a big sweetheart and very obedient. I originally thought we weren't going to be able to keep her because our other dog is very playful and she would get grumpy with her and they were scratching each other up, but now that they're used to each other they get along well most of the time. My other dog won't even go on a walk without her anymore, she will go get her whenever she sees us pick up the leash.

No, I think you should follow the advice of your vet and have her done at six months even though you think it will cost more.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

No, I think you should follow the advice of your vet and have her done at six months even though you think it will cost more.

Oh, okay, now I understand, I was a little confused when I read your post the first time

 

[jaminmd]

I've had two GSD's and never had to have either one have teeth pulled. When I had my female, she was spayed at 6 months. My male was neutered at 5 months.

 

[moobar25]

I have 2 GSD girls and they were both spayed at 6 months, before their first heat. The vet didn't do anything with their teeth - never heard of that being done. I wish we waited till they were older though...because it stunted their growth. Since it was done so early they didn't get to develop into their true size. My previous GSD was a boy, my baby RIP, he wasn't neutered until he was 5 years. And the only reason was because he was getting chronic prostate/urinary infections. The vet said if we don't neuter him he'll keep getting them. Once he had the surgery he didn't have any more infections...but I felt horrible about having it done.
My vet says in general you can spay/neuter anywhere between 6 weeks to whenever. I'd do some research on the teeth pulling. Like I said before, I've never heard of that & my vet, long time Doberman owner, has never mentioned any such thing.

 

[dhuba]

My daughter is a vet tech for the human society and they spay and neuter all day long. They spay at 12 weeks as long as they are 8 pounds. She says less chance of bleeding, infection and later cancer the younger it is done. Also they immunize and spay and neuter, sometimes they same day. She never heard of waiting after immunization.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My daughter is a vet tech for the human society and they spay and neuter all day long. They spay at 12 weeks as long as they are 8 pounds. She says less chance of bleeding, infection and later cancer the younger it is done. Also they immunize and spay and neuter, sometimes they same day. She never heard of waiting after immunization.

These are my first puppies so all I have to go by is what the vet said and that's what she told me. Maybe it was the ones she got? I don't have the paper in front of me, but I know she got Rabies, something for kennel cough, and the second ones in the series that she'd already had. Sorry I'm not more specific, it's been a couple weeks. Actually I couldn't even get her in before the 3 weeks are over anyway at this point.

Moobar25, how late do you think you should have waited so their growth wouldn't have been stunted? I would like Daisy to at least grow into her paws because the poor thing is so uncoordinated with those big feet and sometimes she has trouble on stairs. It's cute to watch her leap and play though.

 

[bedogged]

These are my first puppies so all I have to go by is what the vet said and that's what she told me. Maybe it was the ones she got? I don't have the paper in front of me, but I know she got Rabies, something for kennel cough, and the second ones in the series that she'd already had. Sorry I'm not more specific, it's been a couple weeks. Actually I couldn't even get her in before the 3 weeks are over anyway at this point.

Moobar25, how late do you think you should have waited so their growth wouldn't have been stunted? I would like Daisy to at least grow into her paws because the poor thing is so uncoordinated with those big feet and sometimes she has trouble on stairs. It's cute to watch her leap and play though.

My understanding is that it does not stunt their growth, it makes them BIGGER. Not such a big thing in large mixed breeds, but it is a big deal for toy dogs that are prized for their small size.

 

[RMAMom]

There are new studies that are leaning towards waiting until the pup is at least a year because it closes the growth plates early thereby stunting the growth of the pup. The standard protocol of vets is that it doesn't and to spay earlier.

I personally wouldn't spay before 6 months and if you can wait I would wait until the dog was a year old.

After much research we are waiting until our pup is 18 months to 2 years and will also gastroplexy at the same time as Shepherds are prone to bloat and I want to minimize the anastesia.

There is a wonderful rescource for German Shepherd owners here
http://www.germanshepherds.com/

 

[RMAMom]

mrsbornkuntry I also would like to add with the limited things you have posted about your vet, I would look for a new vet. Just my 2 cents but it seems to me that your vet is a little out of touch.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

mrsbornkuntry I also would like to add with the limited things you have posted about your vet, I would look for a new vet. Just my 2 cents but it seems to me that your vet is a little out of touch.

Hmm, I will consider that. They did come highly recommended, this is a small town and everyone I've talked to have said good things. On the other hand, the vets are older and the office has been there for a really long time. It's definitely something to think about.

Also thank-you for the link, a new addiction, lol. I am glad to have the reference.

 

[Order66]

Actually studies show that pediatric spay/castration delays the closure of the growth plates thereby making the dogs grow much taller than they are genetically programmed to be. So not smaller at all, but bigger. This is thought to increase orthopedic issues in the dog as an adult because their structure has been changed and some of these dogs are thought to have increased risk of injuries like ACL tears and osteosarcomas.

OTOH it is true that spaying before the first heat will reduce her risk of mammary tumors to almost nothing, and still beneficial before the age of 2 to reduce the risk significantly. After 2, there is no benefit to cancer reduction....but other issues such as pyometra can be fatal in an old girl. Neutering males has less to do with age related benefits, but more to do with behavioral development. You can neuter a male at almost any age and receive the health benefits.

As for baby teeth needing to be pulled. It's not a very common issue in large dogs. We tend to see this almost exclusively in toy/small breeds.

Most clinics do wait until at least the full series of vaccinations are administered for the safety of your pet and other patients. Shelters are different. They have no choice but to deal with dogs/cats exposed to infectious disease. But there is no reason to expose an immature animal to something like parvovirus or kennel cough in a hospital when you can wait until the shots are completed. Our clinic also recommends anytime after 2 weeks from the last shots which puts the dogs at 4 1/2 to 5 months for the neutering. Gastropexy at the time of the spay is also a good recommendation for a Shepherd or other dog prone to gastric torsion.

regards