When to spay?
 

Hi All :) Sorry if this has already been asked, but when is the best time to spay a dog? My baby is exactly 6 months and 1 week today, and I feel like I should make an appt now, but last time I took her to the vet she was less than 3 lbs! I'm nervous. The vet said I should really have it done before her first heat though, and I think that could be any time now? What's your advice? Should I make an appt for her to get spayed maybe next week? She'll be 6 months and 2 weeks, but still prolly only 3 lbs or so? Should I get her dew claws removed then too? And actually she still has some baby teeth. I had wanted to just leave them in but heard they usually lead to infections if not removed? All that at once seems like a lot for my little baby to handle though :( ??

I just asked my vet today because we took Reese to get her shots. They said 5 months is a good time. ANd you don't have to wait for them to get their first "cycle" either. Our vet actually charges EXTRA if you wait until after 6 mos. So I'd just go ahead and schedule her now. :)

I just posted this on another thread....I JUST had both of the girls spayed...Sadie is 4 yrs old and 5 1/2 lbs and Lillie is 2 yrs old and 4 1/2 lbs.I waited because I was worried about having them put under when they were smaller. My vet said it is best to have them done before they come in heat but, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I FINALLY had them done last Thursday. I also had their teeth done at the same time. They are doing great...Sadie did better than Lillie...as far as coming out of the anesthesia. And Lillie seemed to lick her incision and made it red...I was concerned about this cause she opened it a little...I took a tube sock, cut off the band then, cut the sock to make a "belly band" I put it on her so she couldn't lick anymore. The redness has gone away and it has healed....again. Lillie had 2 baby teeth that didn't fall out but, because I had waited so long to have her spayed the fell out on their own. I will tell you.....I was a nervous wreck from the time I made the decision to have them done until they came home. But, I am glad it's over...now I don't have to think about it anymore. Sadie ate the very next day...Lillie didn't..I gave her some nutri cal and she did drink. Lillie (who is a very good eater) still isn't eating like she used to...she will eat the soft food but, not her kibbles. maybe her mouth still is a little sore from her teeth cleaning. Good luck to you and your furbaby....I'm sure she will be fine.

yeah, my vet said if you get them spayed AFTER they've had their first cycle that that increases their chances of getting cancer by a lot? i def dont wanna increase her chances of getting cancer... i guess i can make the spay apt soon... and i guess i'll just ask my vet whether or not she thinks she should start pullin some baby teeth? i noticed her two bottom fangs, the adults came in right behind the baby teeth :( and if i get the spay AND pulling teeth done at the same time, maybe i'll just leave the dew claws... poor little baby is gunna be in so much pain :(

Great question! I would go with what your vet advises you to do. Are you planning on having a blood panel done to make sure all of her levels are in check? I would strongly advise you to do that! Also, having her baby teeth removed is a smart idea. It can lead to problems down the line, not only with infection or stinky breath, but also it could make her adult teeth crooked and affect the way her bite appears. I don't know about the dew claws, most breeders have that done the same time they have their tails docked. Good luck with your decision!

Ive always had my females fixed at around 6 months, with my toy poodle we waited untill she was 7 months, she was right around the 3/4 pound mark and she did fine. My little boy Tucker is 4 months old and will be going in 2 weeks for his neuter, but he is 5 pounds already!! :)

Lucy was spayed a couple of weeks ago at six and a half months and 5lbs, and we had full bloods done beforehand.

My vet told me that having them spayed after a heat does increase the possibility of cancer...however....I believe that if they are going to get it they will...whether you have them spayed before a heat or after. I am not going to think of that. I am just glad that I had it done and it's over with.

Getting your dog spayed before she ever has a heat cycle basically eliminates her chances of ever getting mammary cancer. If you wait until after she has one heat cycle, the risk goes up to 8%. Spaying anytime after the second heat cycle, including not spaying at all, increases her risk of cancer to 25%.

If she were my female, considering her size, I would wait until she is more mature, at least a year old. I know it is a tough decision. Here is an interesting article on the subject written by a vet.
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

I am worried about this as well as I have been receiving conflicting information for my baby Paige. My vet has the same argument about breast cancer - it increases the risk by 7%. However. my trainer, who is internationally recognized, says she has seen dogs that never completely mature due to never going thru a heat cycle - causing eventual behavior issues, she advises going thru at least one heat cycle.

That is 7 percent :)