By Karen DeAngelo
Updated 3/14/23
I have had hundreds of Shih-Tzu altered at 7 weeks of age for years with NOT ONE bad effect.
This is BREED Specific AND NOT ALL DOGS SHOULD UNDERGO THIS EARLY PROCEDURE, ESPECIALLY LARGE BREEDS. SHIH-TZU ARE NOT AFFECTED AND I HAVE PROVED THAT  HAVING THIS DONE FOR 25 YEARS.
Pawsitively, Karen
 

Early Neutered males NEVER have "Male HABITS"!
NO HUMPING OR HIKING if done EARLY !
Humane Society has been neutering pups for over 40 years! 
Don't buy into the wives tale that there is urinary problems later on. 
THAT IS IN CATS ONLY.
I CAN GIVE many many REFERENCES THAT this INCONTINENCE ISSUE IS false.
LOTS of issues causes incontinence, NOT neutering!
I have RECORDS to PROVE my findings.

I have seen MANY females who were spayed after 6 months get bladder infections and 
become incontinent while infected. I have NEVER had a compliant of incontinence in small pups who 
were spayed YOUNG. It is EASY and NO RECOVERY time. I have seen dogs DIE at 6 months from surgery.
 

WAKE UP TO TRUTH

EARLY STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES...
I have been neutering for years at  2+ Lbs 
(pups can be safely put to sleep at 2 lbs)
and spaying for 25 years with NOT ONE LOSS!
NO long term effects and WE HAVE THE RECORDS TO PROVE IT!
Think of how this will SAVE YOU the aggravation
of this surgery AND how much better it is on the dog!  

 

Health Benefits of  Spaying and Neutering
READ DOG WORLD MAGAZINE
Confirms early Castration is best!

updated 12/121/04
Available is the fact that you can render an animal sterile as young as 7 weeks of age. The American Veterinary Association has determined (after many years of study) that this young age is ideal because the animal has less bleeding and heals faster. It’s amazing to me that very few vets even mention this to you.

Do you know that NEUTERED MALE shih-tzu are MORE LOVING than females?
Our neutered males DO NOT MARK TERRITORY,
DO NOT ROAM LIKE CASANOVA,
Have ZERO incidence of prostrate cancer,
and 
Make the BEST THERAPY DOGS!
They are easier to housebreak than females.
This is why we neuter at 7 weeks.
We are a modern knowledgeable breeder with a excellent vet
who knows early neutering/spaying is the endorsed recommendation
of all major animal concern organizations!
It is fast, simple, inexpensive and  NO SIDE EFFECTS
when done early!
WE take the risk...not you!
Many a dog has died under anesthesia at 
6 months of age during procedures, it is reported to me.
So why would you want to take the chance later?
Our MALE price INCLUDES the neutering.
Neutered males no longer feel the need to roam to look for a mate. The result is that they stay home and have less chance of being involved in traumatic accidents such as being hit by a car. They also have a much lower incidence of contracting contagious diseases, and get into fewer fights.  In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer.  It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviors.

Lets Discuss "The Men"

If you have males neutered young, they don't mark territory (lift their leg to urinate on inappropriate objects). We have them neutered BEFORE you get them.  Now think about this...NO inconvenience OR risk to YOU to have this done at a later date! Does ANY other breeder offer you this? Statistics show NO harm to young dogs who are neutered at 6 weeks. This is a simple procedure by a skilled vet. I KNOW...I watch them do it. The HUMANE SOCIETY is suggesting neutering for ALL males sold in pet shops...THAT'S how safe this is! Our males are less expensive than females because of the MYTH that males are "rude". Not so with a trained neutered male. Our males do fabulous in Therapy Programs.

And the Females…

In Females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer (the rate goes down to almost zero if the spaying is done before the first heat cycle!). It eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature unspayed animals (pyometra). Spay surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviors, messy spotting (in dogs) and the attraction of all available males to your yard.  Recent studies show that very young spayed females have less bladder infections after being spayed and less submissive urination. The simple fact is that spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of your pet and increases quality of life as well!

                           Here is a letter I received. Pyometa is another REAL THREAT to your dog...
Hi Karen,

Even with all my research on the internet and magazines, something horrible happened to my baby, and I have been spreading the word to everyone I know who has dogs. She's ok now, and you're probably going to think I'm silly for mentioning this to you, but it caught me off guard and I don't want it to happen to prospective buyers you may have. I had decided not to have her spayed, because I wanted to wait till she was older and have 1 litter of puppies, then have her spayed. I didn't want to continue to breed her, just get 1 litter. (because I'm selfish and wanted to see her babies, hehe, I guess all 'parents' want to see grandchildren at one point or another don't they) Anyway, during her first heat cycle she developed Pyometra! I had never heard of it!! It was horrible, I thought she was going to die! I thought I had read about/heard about everything that coule possibly happen, and when my vet said Pyometra, I had no idea what she was talking about. I thought researching for over a year had given me the knowledge to be a responsible dog owner, and it terrified me to think I'd let something like that had eluded me. I even read a lot of medical web pages, and message boards...

Anyway... I just finished reading your site (again) and I'd like to make the request that you add something about the risk of Pyometra in there, where you talk about getting females spayed. I know it's not something that happens that often, but for the people like me who think they're informed.. they just may not be as informed as they think they are!

Michele

A Note From Karen…

If you don't neuter your male and you breed him one time, he will lift his leg in your house. This is a normal sexual behavior! Don’t blame the dog if you don't neuter him young! You will not be able to "break" this normal behavior in a stud! That is why we professional breeders build kennels...to let our studs be studs.... and still keep our home clean.

Vets who discourage early neutering are either not up with the times or are looking to make some money off you!!!  I make no money whatsoever by having it done here. I will not guarantee a dog during a neutering or spay procedure at your location. I have heard of too many dying needlessly!! That is why I handle the surgery.
   Most text from Valley Oak SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

 Early Spaying
I Personally Observed
I observed many spay operation done on my pups at 7 weeks old.  
This is what I see:
The pup was put to sleep with a shot under the skin.
A tranquilizing drug is used that is fast acting and 
does not last long. I have observed  this operation many many times over the past year, with NO ill effects on the pups.
There one tiny incision made on the side of the groin. The Ovaries and uterine horns were removed through this tiny incision with a forceps, tied off and 
1 tiny stitch was put in the incision. The dog was awake shortly thereafter.  2 hours later the dog eats as usual and I could barely see where the incisions were made.  The stitch can come out in 3 days.  This operation was so easy on the dog, that I believe it is cruel to wait until 6 months of age, when a huge incision needs to be made and a weeks recovery.
WE cannot spay pups unless they are over 2 lbs.
  We will ship 4 days after it is done, or when we deem appropriate.

SPAY YOUR DOG and PREVENT DEATH from
PYOMETRA
This is a disease of the uterus that fills with pus during a pregnancy.
This can result in death for the mother as well as aborted fetuses around the 5th week of pregnancy.
This is very common.
PLUS
BREAST CANCER,
UNWANTED PREGNANCY

Date: 01/24/06 18:19:03
Subject: Thank-you

Hi Karen,Just thought I'd write you a short note and say thank-you for all the advice and help you've given me over the last few years. With your help and wealth of information my vet has agreed to early spay neuter. This such a blessing to me as you know people are sometimes not as honest as they could be and holding AKC papers does not guarantee they will fix their pet.Being a responsible breeder I feel it is my responsibility to ensure that none of my puppies end up in puppy mills or have unwanted puppies in shelters....eww just the thought sends shivers up my spine. Just so you know the humane society here and another vet in the area also offer early spay neuter. Thank-you again
Sincerely, Gwen Seiber  
Fern Gully Shih-tzu
 

MORE EXPERT PUBLIC INFO LINKS FOUND HERE ON THIS SUBJECT:
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/despayneut.html

http://www.artanimals.org/earlyspayneuter.html

http://www.thepetpress-la.com/articles/earlyage.htm

http://www.thepetpress-la.com/articles/earlyage.htm

http://regaliapyrs.tripod.com/early_spay_neuter.htm
This site directs you to these:
Link's to Early Spay/Neuter Articles

*PEDIATRIC SPAYING & NEUTERING by James Snyder, DVM; Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenology (Veterinary Reproduction)

http://www.pacificpets.ca/spay&neuter.htm

*University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article2.cfm?id=1010

*College of Veterinary Medicine-University of Illinois, From the Spring 1998 Illinois Veterinary Bulletin- Early Spay/Neuter: An Overview

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ceps/ivb/spay-neu.htm

Colorado State University- Early Sterilization in Dogs and Cats

http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/reprod/petpop/early.html

Pediatric or Early Spay/Neuter by Dr Tracy Land

http://www.petorphans.com/earlyneut/earlyneut.html

Articles by Dr. Dick Rosebrock,  W PRESTON STUBBS, KATHARINE R. SALMERI, and MARK S. BLOOMBERG

http://www.danesonline.com/earlyspayneuter.htm

Animal Health Articles -Researched and written by Virginia Lawrence, Ph.D.

http://www.he.net/~virginia/00000024.html

Professional Information on the Benefits of Early Spay/Neuter

http://www2.dgsys.com/~ermiller/earlys-n.html

Spaying and Neutering- Dr. Sol Perl

http://www.devotedtodogs.com/Library/episodes/31/spay-neuter.htm

Early sterilization surgery

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/earlysn.html

The Pro's and Con's of early Spay & Neuter

http://www.exoticbengals.com/spay.htm

Rally Obedience

http://www.rallyobedience.com/early.htm

Leesburg Today Newspaper- Ask The Experts, Early-age spaying/neutering

http://www.leesburg2day.com/news/2001Jun/spaying.cfm

PetsMart.com- The Myths and Facts of Spaying and Neutering

http://www.petsmart.com/articles/article_5768.shtml

Early Spay and Neuter Surgery-My Experiences. by Lynne Thomas -- Shaineh Cattery

http://www.devonrex.com/kittens/earlyalter.htm

A.W.A.R.E.

http://www.king.igs.net/~brica/esp.htm

Humane Society and SPCA articles:

LA SPCA

http://www.la-spca.org/early_spay_neuter.htm

Scottsville Veterinary Adoptions

http://www.petadoption.cc/pethealth/juvenile.phtml

Animal Rescue of Tidewater

http://www.artanimals.org/earlyspayneuter.html

Humane Society of Greenwood

http://www.gwdhumanesociety.org/clinic.shtml

Silicon Valley Animal Rescue

http://www.svar.org/youngneuter.html

Elmsford Animal Shelter

http://www.elmsfordanimalshelter.com/earlyspayneuter.htm

Karen,

I have a rescued Shih Tzu that came here pregnant and is about to deliver any day.  I found your site by looking online for information about whelping and baby Tzus to better prepare myself for what is about to come.

 

I want to say how refreshing it is to see a breeder commenting on the same horrors we comment on daily.  I wish more wannabe breeders would do their research and breed for the right reasons and not to line their pocket books.  We rescues can't keep up with all of the unwanted dogs now.  I am sure we will see a rash of 15+ lb Tzu's being dumped now because they were supposed to be "Imperial" and they are way bigger than they were supposed to get.  Right now we are trying to keep up with the Labradoodles and Puggles people are dumping...........Lord knows what's next.

 

​

NOTE FROM KAREN:
Today I received this request on the above letter and I would like to make a statement:

You have a letter from me posted on your website.  I wrote it a couple of months ago when I was looking for help with a rescued Shih Tzu.  You were very kind to me and I very much appreciate your help.

 

I would like to respectfully request that you please remove that letter from your site.  Someone has apparently taken offense to the fact that I wrote that to you when I am a rescue and you are a breeder.  They have circulated this to Lord knows how many people and I have spent the entire day fielding harassing, rude, and downright mean emails.

 

I normally would not even ask because I don't think there is anything wrong with what I wrote or who I wrote it to, but the gross amount of emails is honestly keeping me from doing my rescue job.  People have also threatened to put me on DNR lists, and other very nasty things.  I just can't work and continue to rescue if these people do what they are threatening and the dogs will suffer for it.