Is it Spaying Time Already!?
 

Ever since Ariel caught Kennel Cough the 2nd week we had her, her vaccination schedule has been a bit off. We took her to get her last set of shots yesterday [finally!], and we brought up the subject of spaying to her vet. He replies that we should have it scheduled in 2 weeks :eek: , for mid-December, which I seriously did not expect.

She's currently 3.5 lbs at 20.5 weeks old, and I told him I wanted to wait a bit longer as I felt it was too soon. He kept insisting that we have it done by 6 months because after that 6 month period has elapsed, they will charge us an extra $60 for the surgery. He says it's because her organs will have developed more and the surgery will be more complicated? :confused:

I am seriously uneasy about this. When Belle got spayed, her vet [at a different hospital] never told us anything about this and we got her spayed a little before 7 months at 7-8lbs. No doubt Ariel will be under 4 lbs at 6 months, and the thought of her tiny self going into surgery is freaking me out :(

I just don't want her to experience her first heat cycle if I wait too long. And, I also want to make sure all of her baby teeth fall off before going under, so she doesn't have to go under anesthesia twice. Is this too soon to get her spayed?! When do little dogs usually go into heat?

If she is just over 20 weeks now, you could wait til mid January. That would be six months. The earliest I would consider doing it is 5 or 5 1/2 months. Ellie was just spayed at 6 YEARS old and it was the same price for me... Usually vets only charge extra when the dog is in heat because they have more blood to deal with. Can you get a second opinion?

I should. I'm going to call Belle's vet, and ask them what they think

I think it's a great idea for you to get a second opinion.

you should definetly get a second opinion... maybe with big sdogs it's ok to get them spayed at 5 months, but for a little3lb yorkie, i wouldn't feel safe

IMO its best to get her spayed at 6 months old before she goes into her first heat which can be anytime after that. THEN your vet might charge you more to do it. There is no reason under normal circumstances to charge extra after 6 months old, unless the dog is in heat. That will cause the surgery to be slightly more complicated, thus causing a higher fee.

Maybe he's offering a discount on the price to people who spay/neuter at 6 months, and his $60 increase is the normal fee.

I wouldn't be alarmed at her size tho. being worried is normal, but many of us here have had our babies fixed at this age with them weighing less then 3lbs, mine included.

also at the time of spay, ask to have all the remaining baby teeth pulled so you won't have to put her under a second time to do it later on.

spaying is usually 5-6 mos. there wouldn't be anything wrong with having it done now..I had my smallest one spayed at 3 lbs. and she did fine

I think it's fine to have her spayed now. A lot of vets are spaying at 16 weeks now as long as the female is over 2lbs. I know you're worried, but as long as your vet is familiar with tiny dogs, she should be fine.

My vet, who specializes in small breed dogs suggested in waiting till she was bigger....(at the time she was 6 mths old and weighed a lil over 4.5 lbs) he has been my vet for the past 20+ years so I trust his judgement...I'm planning on having my lil one spayed during the holidays.....I know...what a x-mas present huh :eek: ( but I will be home with her for 3 weeks so I can watch over her)

Actually, he did say that if we choose to have her spayed after 6 months [even a few days after] we get charged extra. He didn't mention her coming into heat first or anything ~ just that the extra fee will be applied.

My boyfriend did make an appointment for her to get spayed on January 2, which I was seriously considering of postponing until she hit exactly 6 months or a few days after that. It's so nerve wrecking because she is much much smaller than Belle was when she got spayed. It has eased me a bit, though, that you said your furbaby was perfectly fine with her spay at under 3lbs.

Yeah, when he said we should schedule her appointment just before Christmas, I shot down that idea immediately. I didn't want to put her through that during the holidays :( If we stick with the January 2nd date, I'll be able to be with her 24/7 for a couple weeks, which is a good thing.

Made Lil' Miss Izzie's Spay Appt
 

Well I finally did it....stopped at her vet's this evening and she is scheduled to go in and get spayed on Friday, Jan 4, 2008. I am now sitting here in tears about this, :cry8: :cry8: She is my baby and I hate the thought of her being put under and having any pain....my vet did help reasure me a bit by letting me know that she will come home with a collar on and some pain pills and that she will probably be a bit groggy/sore for a day or two and probably sleep alot....I will be home with her so that I can monitor her and then 10 days after the surgery I will take her back in to have the staples removed....I guess I just need to hear from those of you who have had you babies spayed and to hear that all went well with them. Please pray for her.....I know it's early, but prayer never hurts....Thank you everyone...

I'm with you SweatPea...We're keeping Ariel's original spay appointment, which means she will get spayed on Wednesday, January 2. I'm still nervous about it because she's so small, but I know that this is in her best interest for a long, healthy life. My mind has been eased much more than before though, as many YT'ers have had their [tinier] babies get through their surgeries perfectly fine.

Prayers that your Izzie will get through the surgery, and have a speedy recovery. Please pray for my Ariel as well! :)

Prayers heading your way also Melody for Ariel's surgery and a quick and pain free speedy recovery.. :hands: :hands: :hands: OMG.....the anticaption of the upcoming surgery is definately nerve racking.... :wavecry: I'm already have a list of questions to call and ask the vet about.... :confused:

prayers going out to you both. I had morgan spayed at around 3 pounds. she had 6 teeth pulled and a microchip put in as well. She came home a bit sleepy but around dinner time she was back to her normal self of wandering around the table while we all ate. i gave her pain pills for two days and the rest of the time she didn't need them.