When is my female Brittany fully mature?
When is my female Brittany fully mature?
To maintain harmony in the home, I need to spay my female Brittany. However, I'm waiting until she reaches full maturity. At what age is this on a Brittany? I've heard talk of 18 to 24 months with various breeds of dogs, but that age includes large labs and GSP's. What about a standard sized Brittany?
I've read this thread, viewtopic.php?t=45065, but never did it address maturity of a Brittany.
I've read this thread, viewtopic.php?t=45065, but never did it address maturity of a Brittany.
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Somewhere around 2 years but she will look mature before that.
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Ezzy is right, but it does depend some on how you measure maturity. She will be sexually mature around 9 months, physically at 18 months, some don't gain mental/emotional until nearly 3. But there is so much variances in lines and breeds I don't worry about it,
Neil
Neil
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
She's 20 months old now and I want to make sure her growth plates are done doing their thing.
I'm on the mend from a bad injury last January and I'm not yet able to help like I used to. My Brittany was last in season in March (first season in Nov 2013 & second in Mar 2014...strange) and my wife DOES NOT want to deal with this a third time.
I'm on the mend from a bad injury last January and I'm not yet able to help like I used to. My Brittany was last in season in March (first season in Nov 2013 & second in Mar 2014...strange) and my wife DOES NOT want to deal with this a third time.
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Do it now, the chance of mammary cancer increases with the number of heat periods. No need to wait especially. with inconsistent periods....Cjroyta wrote:She's 20 months old now and I want to make sure her growth plates are done doing their thing.
I'm on the mend from a bad injury last January and I'm not yet able to help like I used to. My Brittany was last in season in March (first season in Nov 2013 & second in Mar 2014...strange) and my wife DOES NOT want to deal with this a third time.
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Do it now, the chance of mammary cancer increases with the number of heat periods. No need to wait especially. with inconsistent periods....Cjroyta wrote:She's 20 months old now and I want to make sure her growth plates are done doing their thing.
I'm on the mend from a bad injury last January and I'm not yet able to help like I used to. My Brittany was last in season in March (first season in Nov 2013 & second in Mar 2014...strange) and my wife DOES NOT want to deal with this a third time.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
You are probably fine with a spay at this point, but just remember, there will be a 2 wk. recovery period from the spay procedure, give or take. I f the dog pulls out staples or stitches, there may be a couple extra trips to the vet.royta wrote:She's 20 months old now and I want to make sure her growth plates are done doing their thing.
I'm on the mend from a bad injury last January and I'm not yet able to help like I used to. My Brittany was last in season in March (first season in Nov 2013 & second in Mar 2014...strange) and my wife DOES NOT want to deal with this a third time.
I love Elizabethan collars on dogs... they are such fun to deal with.
RayG
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
I did a lot of research on this recently and found no drawbacks to spaying a female after 6 months and before the first heat cycle. In fact, it reduces the chance of breast cancer to less then 1%.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
At the time of her spay, request the Vet to "invert" the stitches. It might make things a bit easier.
CB
CB
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
if shes already been in heat twice, then those growth plates are closed. shes "mature", physiologically anyway.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
It doesn't matter how many times they come in season. Wait until she has fully developed which is usually after 2 yrs and possibly closer to 3.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
What's the advantage to waiting? It seems like all the research points the other direction.Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:It doesn't matter how many times they come in season. Wait until she has fully developed which is usually after 2 yrs and possibly closer to 3.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
You need to do some more research manaj
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Vonzeppelin, I have done the research. If you have a source that I could read, I would gladly do it. But your comment was otherwise pointless.
Brazosvalley I sincerely want to hear your answer
Brazosvalley I sincerely want to hear your answer
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Oh I forgot you yrs of experience & endless knowledge!!
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
They need their hormones to be considered "mature". That doesn't happen until atleast 2yrs old.
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Listen to the Dog Doctor. Two heat sessions and she is basically mature physically though she still may have some mental growing yet. And her body is producing all the hormones by that time. I just think it is easier to just say 2 years old and let it go.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
With all due respect, I have females that didn't go into heat until after 18 months of age. We don't consider hips mature until 2.ezzy333 wrote:Listen to the Dog Doctor. Two heat sessions and she is basically mature physically though she still may have some mental growing yet. And her body is producing all the hormones by that time. I just think it is easier to just say 2 years old and let it go.
Its not just mental, they haven't matured before at least 2.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Ok. Now I wonder what you mean by mature since it was in quotations haha. Physically? Mentally?Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:They need their hormones to be considered "mature". That doesn't happen until atleast 2yrs old.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Yep, both.Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:BOTH!!
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Thanks Brazo
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
I agree with the 2 year age. They used it for the hips because it can be verified while heat periods can not. And your statement shows exactly what we are saying. A dog that doesn't have a heat period till 18 months is usually a slow mature. However, there are other reasons that effect that timing also.Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:With all due respect, I have females that didn't go into heat until after 18 months of age. We don't consider hips mature until 2.ezzy333 wrote:Listen to the Dog Doctor. Two heat sessions and she is basically mature physically though she still may have some mental growing yet. And her body is producing all the hormones by that time. I just think it is easier to just say 2 years old and let it go.
Its not just mental, they haven't matured before at least 2.
Ezzy
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
If the dog has had 2 heat cycles, trust me, the hormones are present in full force. Hormones are what causes a heat cycle. Chronological age has no bearing on physiologic maturity; its all based on hormone production and how those hormones affect the body. Yes, some start later than others, some start earlier, but you would be hard pressed to find any difference between a dog that has been in heat twice and one that has been in heat 10 times, beyond the normal degrading changes due to aging.Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:They need their hormones to be considered "mature". That doesn't happen until atleast 2yrs old.
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Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
Thanks Bro. When do Males mature since they don't have "heat" cycles.dog dr wrote:If the dog has had 2 heat cycles, trust me, the hormones are present in full force. Hormones are what causes a heat cycle. Chronological age has no bearing on physiologic maturity; its all based on hormone production and how those hormones affect the body. Yes, some start later than others, some start earlier, but you would be hard pressed to find any difference between a dog that has been in heat twice and one that has been in heat 10 times, beyond the normal degrading changes due to aging.Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:They need their hormones to be considered "mature". That doesn't happen until atleast 2yrs old.
Re: When is my female Brittany fully mature?
good question. I cant give you a definitive answer. like i said, they are all different as far as when they reach puberty, (for lack of a better word) just like humans. and your right, males dont exhibit many obvious external signs of sexual and physiologic maturity the way females do with their heats. All im saying in regards to the OP's original question is that a bitch that has had 2 heat cycles is physiologically mature. I guess if he really wanted to be sure he could have her x-rayed and see if the growth plates have closed yet. I would bet they have, because the sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) are what trigger that process.Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:Thanks Bro. When do Males mature since they don't have "heat" cycles.dog dr wrote:If the dog has had 2 heat cycles, trust me, the hormones are present in full force. Hormones are what causes a heat cycle. Chronological age has no bearing on physiologic maturity; its all based on hormone production and how those hormones affect the body. Yes, some start later than others, some start earlier, but you would be hard pressed to find any difference between a dog that has been in heat twice and one that has been in heat 10 times, beyond the normal degrading changes due to aging.Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:They need their hormones to be considered "mature". That doesn't happen until atleast 2yrs old.