♥ Please help me decide about Spay ♥

[LilMissy]

On Thursday, it will be 6 weeks since Missy had her leg surgery. The surgeon requested follow up xrays 6 weeks post-op. My vet said it is fine to do them anywhere from 6-10 weeks post-op. She wants to do Missy's spay at the same time as the xrays because she will have to sedate her for the xrays and would like to just take care of everything all at once.

My dilemma...she is 6.5 months old now (2 lbs 14 ozs). Should I do the surgery/xrays this Monday (which is 6 weeks post op)? Or should I wait another month just to let her heal more and have some time between surgeries. If I wait another month, she will still be confined to her ex-pen until the xrays confirm that her bone is healed AND she will be confined an extra 10-14 days to heal from her spay after that. If I wait, it will mean she's stuck in this x-pen another 6 weeks! Do you all think I should just do the spay NOW and get it over with, or wait 2-4 more weeks. Please give me your honest opinion. My husband and I are really struggling with this decision.

[phfgkl]

My little one is 9 mos and 2 lbs 5 oz and I'm not spaying her until she's over a year. I really don't know what to tell you. Do you feel comfortable enough with your vet to have it done then?

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by LilMissy

On Thursday, it will be 6 weeks since Missy had her leg surgery. The surgeon requested follow up xrays 6 weeks post-op. My vet said it is fine to do them anywhere from 6-10 weeks post-op. She wants to do Missy's spay at the same time as the xrays because she will have to sedate her for the xrays and would like to just take care of everything all at once.

My dilemma...she is 6.5 months old now (2 lbs 14 ozs). Should I do the surgery/xrays this Monday (which is 6 weeks post op)? Or should I wait another month just to let her heal more and have some time between surgeries. If I wait another month, she will still be confined to her ex-pen until the xrays confirm that her bone is healed AND she will be confined an extra 10-14 days to heal from her spay after that. If I wait, it will mean she's stuck in this x-pen another 6 weeks! Do you all think I should just do the spay NOW and get it over with, or wait 2-4 more weeks. Please give me your honest opinion. My husband and I are really struggling with this decision.

I'm not sure why spaying her at the same time would add another 10-14 days to her recovery. The recovery time would overlap with her recovery from her recent surgery, wouldn't it? Am I missing something?

Personally, since she has to be sedated for the xrays anyway, I'd get her spayed then. There is always a risk with anesthesia so why risk another anesthesia in a few weeks by waiting to spay her?

[LilMissy]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I'm not sure why spaying her at the same time would add another 10-14 days to her recovery. The recovery time would overlap with her recovery from her recent surgery, wouldn't it? Am I missing something?

Personally, since she has to be sedated for the xrays anyway, I'd get her spayed then. There is always a risk with anesthesia so why risk another anesthesia in a few weeks by waiting to spay her?

Her recovery from the recent surgery would be considered done now if the xrays prove that bone has healed. If I do the spay now, she will just have the recovery from the spay (another 10-14 days). If I wait 2-4 more weeks, she will have to remain confined because we won't know if the bone has healed, and then she will still have another 10-14 day recovery time for the spay. Did that explain it better?

I just feel so bad for her. I feel like she is missing out on some important playful puppy weeks.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by LilMissy

Her recovery from the recent surgery would be considered done now if the xrays prove that bone has healed. If I do the spay now, she will just have the recovery from the spay (another 10-14 days). If I wait 2-4 more weeks, she will have to remain confined because we won't know if the bone has healed, and then she will still have another 10-14 day recovery time for the spay. Did that explain it better?

I just feel so bad for her. I feel like she is missing out on some important playful puppy weeks.

I get it now!

I think I would still spay her while she's under to minimize the anesthesia risk.

I bet she'll make up for her confinement when she is all recovered!

[LilMissy]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I get it now!

I think I would still spay her while she's under to minimize the anesthesia risk.

I bet she'll make up for her confinement when she is all recovered!

Thank you! Do you think that I should do it right now @ 6 weeks post op. Or put it off for 4 weeks?

[PennysMum]

I would do it now. A lot of small breed dogs go into heat fairly soon after their six month birthday, and if a dog is in heat when they are spayed, it increases the possibility of complications because of increased bleeding and swelling.

Beyond that, anesthesia is stressful, and even if she has been under before without incident, each time there is a slight risk associated with it. There's really no reason to put her through that more often than necessary.

[LilMissy]

Originally Posted by PennysMum

I would do it now. A lot of small breed dogs go into heat fairly soon after their six month birthday, and if a dog is in heat when they are spayed, it increases the possibility of complications because of increased bleeding and swelling.

Beyond that, anesthesia is stressful, and even if she has been under before without incident, each time there is a slight risk associated with it. There's really no reason to put her through that more often than necessary.

Thank you! I will keep her appt set for Monday then. I'm so nervous!

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Personally, since she has to be sedated for the xrays anyway, I'd get her spayed then. There is always a risk with anesthesia so why risk another anesthesia in a few weeks by waiting to spay her?

Hey girl! I can't believe it's already been six weeks!!! You know my opinion- I agree with Marj and would just get it over with now! Ry was neutered (I know I know, there's a difference ) at the same exact weight and did super great. I just wouldn't want to possibly have her come into heat and have to deal with that and the fun stuff that comes with it

Just get it done now in in two weeks you will have your Missy back!!!!

[LilMissy]

Really?

Shoot! I just rebooked her appt for April 7th which will make her 7 months 4 days old, and it's 8 weeks and 5 days post-op.

Amanda, I was going to bug you yesterday to ask you about this, but I didn't want to bother you. Thanks for responding.

[LilMissy]

*sigh*

I just can't make up my mind. I just rebooked it for March 30th, so that I can squeak her in there before she turns 7 months old. I just don't want her to have that first heat! It would mean she'd have to be sedated again at a later date, I really want to avoid that!

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by LilMissy

*sigh*

I just can't make up my mind. I just rebooked it for March 30th, so that I can squeak her in there before she turns 7 months old. I just don't want her to have that first heat! It would mean she'd have to be sedated again at a later date, I really want to avoid that!

Sorry about earlier Shaunna, I was out of service playing with ponies

The chances of her going into heat at six months are pretty slim given she's so tiny, but it could certainly happen. You will be on pins and needles hoping she doesn't go into heat before the 30th!!!

I'll be around this evening if you want to chat

[LilMissy]

So, I noticed this morning that I can feel the screw sticking out a bit that was put in Missy's leg during surgery. It doesn't seem to bother her, but it wasn't like this before. I called her surgeon and he would like to see her and do the xrays rather then my regular vet doing them. He isn't going to charge me for the follow up exam, and the xrays cost the same except that it sounds like they will only do 1 or 2 instead of my vet doing 4 (at $60 per xray that adds up). Also, they seem to feel that they will be able to do the xrays without sedating Missy at all, or just *slightly* sedating her. This pleases me. Now, I don't feel pressured to do her spay at the same time as the xrays since she won't be fully sedated like my vet wanted to do. I am going to hold off until 10-12 months of age for the spay which was my original plan. If she comes into her first heat, oh well! At least I will be giving her plenty of time to gain some more weight and lose those baby teeth.

I feel SO MUCH BETTER about this decision.