Spaying and Dew Claws. Timeline for procedures?
 

OK. I'm semi new to the forum. Well, new to being a member, not exactly new to reading it. It's been helpful in so many ways. Bella is not my first dog but definitely my first Yorkie and I love her so dearly that I'm finding myself extremely overprotective and wanting nothing but the very best for her. I've been listening to far too many rumors on what to do for her and I know that so many of you are truly knowledgeable and can answer my questions assuredly.

Now for my question. I'm sure these have been asked but it's so hard with so many topics to find answers even with the keywords, so I hope someone here will be kind enough to answer again. She was born on June 4th and I've had her since August 20th. She has a completely clean bill of health, had her first grooming, and caught up on shots. Vet says I'm doing fine. People have been telling me her Dewclaws have to be removed like, NOW if I'm going to get them done. I'm wondering if it's possibly too late or I can still do it. My other question is that some people have told me it's best to wait until she's gone into heat once before having her spayed. How soon is too early to have my baby spayed and does she need to go into heat once before she does? I absolutely love her and don't want to put her through any unnecessary torture.

Thank you so so much for your time and I'm sure now that I've finally spoken here, I'll have so many more questions. and one more thing... She's considered a 'Toy Yorkie' so she's definitely still pretty small, and it may affect the answers to my questions, as well. Again, thank you!

Welcome to YT. :)

How much does she weigh?
All Yorkies are members of the toy group. :)

Dewclaws can be removed without anesthesia 3-5 or so days after birth. After that, it requires anesthesia, is somewhat harder on them, but as far as I know it can be done any time. While I do not like dewclaws and I wish Ellie's had been removed, she is 8 and we have had no major problems.

There are different recommendations on the best time to spay because there can be some developmental differences in dogs spayed early, but for the most part in small breeds, somewhere around the six month mark should be fine as long as they weigh enough (and what enough is depends on your vet). A dog who is spayed before her first heat has a less than .5% chance of getting mammary cancer. When spayed after the first and before the second, it goes up to 8%. Anytime after the second heat it goes up to 26%.

Your new baby's dew claws should have been removed when she was born between 3 and 5 days of age. I've no experience with having an older one's removed. However, discuss it with your vet and it will probably be done at the same time as her spay. Her spay should be done before her first heat. Cutting down the chances of mammary cancer. Spay will be done at the same time any retained baby teeth have to be removed. Speak to your vet as the proper time to do the procedures. Not to young as to affect her growth. Have your vet check her growth platelets.

Wow Ellie May so glad you are here for us. You are so knowledgeable about these little guys. Thank you for your expertise.
:thumbup:

Thanks so much. I called my vet, as I'm not exactly sure of her weight since the last time we went in. She definitely looks a bit bigger although she still doesn't fit most of the sweaters and shirts I've gotten her which are an xxsmall. I'm bringing her in for a consultation on Saturday to see how much she weighs and when the best time would be. I was also pretty sure that before her first heat was a better idea and others told me I shouldn't be having her spayed at all. But since I have no intention of breeding anywhere down the line, I don't see why either of us should have to suffer her "heat stroke" (that's what I called it with my pug...) Definitely not a fun time. Thank you so so much for your answer!

Actually, I have just one more question since i've already talkd to my vet and don't want to call him over and over and over again, although to be honest, I think I already have...

Before the spaying procedure, since I know they're given anesthesia, what do I need to do? Does she have to stop eating after midnight before her procedure? What kind of anesthesia are they given? General or local? I'm sorry if I'm making people crazy here, but usually when I talk to the vet, I ask him so many questions about other things that he tells me he needs to go, haha. Of course once I hang up, I think of 5 more important things I needed to ask. I feel like a new Mommy. Having a baby Yorkie is so different than having any other kind of puppy. I grew up with a pug and a dachshund. Both were my responsibility and I took great care of them throughout my childhood and young adulthood, but this little girl is so different, personality wise and OH SO MANIPULATIVE. I'll make another post sometime on that.... So before I ramble on for days (now you see what I do to my vet) can anyone tell me how to take care of her before the procedure? I'm sure that after the procedure they'll give me strict instructions, but I'm wondering like I said above about the anesthesia and preparing her. Thanks again, so so much. I apologize for being such a bugger.

Iso or Sevo is given....it's what is used in pediatrics...He'll tell you what he wants you to do prior to the procedure.......blood tests, feeding and water allowances....time limits.

There is a sticky in the library section that explains correct anesthetic protocol. Not all vets do things the best way, so it is important to learn about what should be happening and make sure your vet does things the right way. Some like to use older anesthetics or not place an IV to cut costs.

Spays are done under general anesthesia.
Times to stop food and water vary by vet office, but usually food is stopped at about 9PM the night before and water at about midnight.

I agree! May I add: Hopefully before the 1st heat, but some girls will go into heat very young. Ideally you want to spay her around 8-9 months. It depends on her maturity. We don't want to do early spays any longer. When were doing them when we thought they were better. Although some breeders do very well with it, my findings aren't in favor of it any longer.

I just want to add something... MY vet is a graduate of Tufts, she / actually every vet in her office will NOT remove dew claws unless they are new born puppies... she told me it is extremely painful ( similar to us loosing a finger if done at spay time.. My Laci was 6 months old almost 7 months , she told me that she doesnt do it due to the pain it causes. .she has had no problem with them at all, you just have to keep them clipped ( no big deal), I posted this question in the breeders section a while back and many agreed with my vet... Just wanted you to think about it.... ;)

This is exactly what my vet told me. She said she would not remove the dew claws on an older dog unless it was very necessary. She was very discouraging, and my baby has had minor problems with them. No big problems. She just seems to lick or nip at them occasionally.