Most female farm working dogs are not spayed until working performance has been proven, to determine if she has good breeding potential.
However, many of the most common health problems with working bitches are associated with their reproductive functions, with Huntaways more susceptible to the below conditions than Heading dogs:
Mis-mating
Dystocia (whelping difficulties)
Mammary gland neoplasia (cancer)
Pyometra (severe uterine infection)
Vaginal fold hyperplasia and vaginal prolapse.
Benefits of spaying:
Health
Reduced risk of cancer. Spaying while young significantly lowers the risk to the bitch of developing mammary tumours later in life, as well as removing the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
Prevention of pyometra.
Treatment and prevention of vaginal hyperplasia and vaginal fold prolapse. The median age for vaginal hyperplasia is two years old. There is also a genetic component to the prevalence of this condition. Once present, the problem will recur in successive heats unless they are spayed as a preventative measure.
Behavioural
No heat cycles and confined time out.
More focused on their work, reduced problems with roaming, team disruptions and fights.
Prevents unplanned matings and pregnancies, with their loss from the dog team at busy times.
Potential health risks of spaying:
If spayed while immature, there may be less than optimal hip and elbow joint development and cruciate ligament strength in some large breed dogs. While this has not been confirmed in NZ working dogs, it would be a factor for consideration in large, still growing, Huntaways.
Weight gain due to increased appetite and decreased metabolic rate. This can be managed by adjusting feeding levels.
Hypothyroidism is a very rare disease in dogs, with spayed large breed dogs being at an increased risk.
Urinary incontinence due to a weakened bladder sphincter can occasionally happen in any breed of dog due to reduced oestrogen levels after being spayed.
Deciding whether or not to spay can be complex, so it is worthwhile discussing the benefits and risks more thoroughly with your vet.
