Speying dogs

[Stocky]

Excuse me if this has already been asked but I have been looking back in the Pets Topic and can't find the question within the last 6 months.

We have a 3 yearold black labradore bitch that suffers regularly from phantom pregnancies.  We have been told that having her speyed will resolve this.

My question is should we have this done in the UK before we move or in France.  Does anyone have comparisons of prices?

Ian

[Will]

Ian, unless you want to breed from the animal, having any pet neutered is better both for you, and for the pet.

You will almost certainly find that the operation will cost less in France. In our area we find we pay in euros about what we would pay in pounds in Britain, or usually a bit less than that - we have a lot of animals. Charges do seem to vary with region though.

However you have to consider first of all the dog's welfare by looking at the vet that will do it. Although there are some excellent small animal vets here, most are primarily concerned with farm animals and may not have a lot of experience in neutering pets (it's not something French pet owners seem to have adopted widely unfortunately).

[Gail Smith]

I have just had my bitch speyed and the cost was 120 euros.  The cost depends on how big and fat your dog is.  It ranges locally from 100 to 140 euros.  I hope this helps.

 

Gail

[Christine Animal]

Where is locally Gail?  That sounds incredibly cheap.  Did they take out the whole lot or just the ovaries with a small opening on each side?

[Deimos]

My dog (actually bitch) cost €126 (plus TVA) and she had a single cut several inches long. She is quite small (14 Kg) and was done before her first season.

Ian

[kate V.N.]

Having been a qualified veterinary nurse for over 10years in England. I whole hearterly agree that unless you intend to breed from your bitch, you will reduce a number of life threatening diseases by having her neutered. e.g Mammary masses and pyometra's.

Normally the best time to spay is half way between seasons e.g 3 months after her last. However you mention she is having phantom pregnancy, is she lactating? ( producing milk) because if so she will need medication from the vet to dry her up before the operation. After she is spayed it can be very difficult to stop.

I'm afraid I cannot comment on whether to have a bitch spayed in france or england I can only say that this is a very large operation, although routine ( sometimes I have to remind people that it is the same as a hysterectomy on a woman, this seems to put it more in context for what the bitch goes through) so it is important that you go to a good vet and not just the cheapest. Obviously the best way of finding a good vet whether in england or france is by personal recommendation.

 

Hope this helps

[Stocky]

Thanks for the advice,  initially we were going to breed but have decided not to.  We have a good vet in both UK and France but have, after these comments, decided to have it done in the UK.  As we will be moving to France permanently before christmas at least she won't have had a bad experiance with the French vet.

Kate,  she isn't lactating just starts building her bed into a nest and has funny moods, rest of the time she is bright and active.

Ian