AGE SURVEY- Please respond if you have a large breed dog over 13 or lived beyond 13!!

So far all the letters from this survey: asking for letters from all dogs who lived past 13 and when they were spayed or neutered. Anyone if you have had a large breed dog (over 80 lbs who has lived beyond the 13^th year please contact me and let me know if when the dog was spayed or neutered. I have heard from 20 + people so far but thought I had better start keeping the letters as of March 2010. I will post your letters on this link. Or if you have information to share about your dog.. my email : royalairshepherds@gmail.com

Our female dog was never spayed. She never had pups. I guess she was just out in the country and never was around situations. She had passed away just before her 15^th year. Black and Tan, best dog you could ever ask for. When we picked her out she was the last of the litter of 7 pups. I do not know a lot of background because we did not need a show dog we needed a family dog. We had seen both the parents, both nice Sheperds. She never had any illness. She was always wormed, shots and flee/ticked for protection She was outside during the day and inside at night. We fed her what-ever table scraps and Iams dog food. She passed away a year ago and we have looked at several pups for our home, it just has to be the right one. The cost of your pups are out of price range at this time. Thank You for the information.

Sincerely,
Pat S,

On Mar 29, 2010, at 7:05 PM, Gino C. wrote:

Hello,

I read through most of your site and kudos to doing what's best for the dogs over money. I have grown up with them my entire life. My best friend, my German Shepherd passed in June of last year and only now am I able to look at pups.

My German Shepherd lived and long and fulfilling 15+ years. He was the inspiration of so many things including my photography.

I live in Anchorage, Alaska if that helps.

I asked when was he nueterd

He was neutered around 11yrs. He was actually able to hike around 10 miles a day up to 14 then his back legs started going. I bought him one of those dog wheelchairs(http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/dog-wheelchair-carts.html) which work great, but he became 100% incontinent and had had enough. He let me know it was time.

What is the largest male you've ever had? After buying one of your dogs, at what age do we get one?

Any idea on cost to ship to Anchorage, Alaska?

Thanks

This vet wanted to make sure he did not buy a dog with an early neuter contract:

P.S.  I am interested in a male and my veterinarian also said I should ask about neutering

contracts after the first year ... he believes it is better for the heart because it

like the testes are strengthened by the production of testosterone. 

N.B.  I am an academic in higher education; not a breeder.

Thomas J. (Tom) Wilhelm

This is very interesting.  I had Brutta spayed before six months because I thought I was doing the right thing…mainly because I was aware of the increased risk for mammary cancer.  At least it makes me feel better about my rescued cocker who was two when I adopted him and was still in tact.  I had him neutered immediately after adopting.  Thanks for the info.  I’ll know better next time.  Lynne

Lynne dog died at 9 of myasthenia gravis and other health problems

Disadvantages of spay or neuter

•  Decreased life span
•  Increases risk of urinary incontinence (in both bitches and dogs)
•  Increases risk of obesity
•  Increases risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
•  Increases risk of prostatic cancer
•  Increases risk of bladder cancer
•  Increases risk of cardiac haemangiosarcoma
•  Increases risk of splenic haemangiosarcoma in spayed bitches
•  Increases risk of cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of bile ducts) in spayed bitches
•  Increases risk of cranial cruciate ligament injury
•  Increases risk of patellar luxation in small- and medium-sized dogs
•  Increases risk of adverse vaccine reactions
•  Increases risk of myasthenia gravis in spayed bitches
•  Increases risk of pancreatitis in spayed bitches
•  Increases risk of aggression, fearfulness
•  Increases cognitive impairment in aged dogs already showing signs of disease
•  Increases risk of benign perianal tumours in spayed bitches
•  Increases risk of peri-vulvar dermatitis, vaginitis, cystitis and recurrent urinary tract infections in early-age spayed bitches

SHOULD KNOW the risk of mammery cancer is very small as long as the female is spayed before the age of 6 years. And I am just saying wait until two! It is looking like to me anyway the small risk of mammery cancer does not come close to the many many other problems that come with spaying early.. In 25 years so far of never spaying any of my females only 1 has gotten mammerry cancer at the age of 11.. and that is because I never spayed her. Now I spay at the age of 6.. for the last ten years none have had any kind of cancer all have lived beyond 12 some beyond 15

Robin,

I was looking at your retired females link and you wanted anyone to email you that had a gsd that lived past thirteen years of age. My Ripley lived till just past his 13th birthday. 11-5-96 thru 11-30-09. He was 28 inches at the shoulder and ranged from 105 to 110 lbs most of his life. He was never neutered. He was my greatest treasure. I will bring a picture of him to show you when I pick up my new puppy.

Marleen Bachand

This letter speaks for itself:

we are inquiring about a German Shepherd puppy. I have owned 4 German Shepherds in my lifetime. My wife and are now retired. Our beloved best friend, Samantha, recently died from cancer that was untreatable. She was only 8.5 years old.

Samantha was a large black and silver female, the largest of the litter. She was the pick of the litter and the first one taken. We named her Samantha and she was absolutely the best friend we had. She lived inside with us and was a member of the family. She had her own chair and ate boiled chicken and hot dogs and treats every day. She was extremely intelligent and could do everything but talk. She had many ways to communicate though. We lived our lives around her; she was that important to us. She traveled with us. She made friends everywhere she went and total strangers would kiss her out of the blue. I asked a lady about that once and she said that Samantha just looked kind and gentle. Anyway, Samantha developed cancer and died. There was nothing we could do to stop it. I had her at the University of Florida Animal Hospital and they said there were no treatments that would help. My wife and I are both heartbroken. It was as hard as losing a member of the family. As a matter of fact, I believe it was harder. I have always had females and I have them spayed so they never have puppies. They live inside and are just part of the family. It is just my wife and I; we are in our early 60’s and retired.

I emailed on when she was spayed as I was doing a survey: here is the response

Hello:

You requested information about when we had our female spayed. Our last female we had spayed at 6 months and this one we're going to have spayed at 5-1/2 months.

Hope this helps you.

Roberta & Don Fulmer