PARANOID about spay - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ShanPando · 09-27-2010, 11:13 AM

Okay, so Piper is 4 months old and at the START of when she can be spayed. I don't feel comfortable taking her until she is 5 or 6 months old. I'm totally paranoid for some reason about this. I've had other dogs, but only males and it seems like the neuter is less invasive than a spay. Anyhow, I'm having major anxiety about this. Anyone have any advice? When will she have her first heat? I want to make sure I take care of it before then.

Dara311 · 09-27-2010, 11:18 AM

First of all, 4 months is way to early for your dog to be spayed! They should do it when she is 6 months old....unless your dog is smaller, sometimes the vet will hold it off until they gain weight. It's hard to tell when your dog can come into heat, I was a vet tech for 7 yrs and we would always spay/neuter pets at 6 months old, unless they were really sick, and needed it done sooner. Fiona was spayed after she was 6 months old, and 2 days before her apt, she came into heat, so that pushed her spay back 3 weeks later.....good luck.....

ShanPando · 09-27-2010, 11:20 AM

Thanks. I thought 4 months was WAYYYY to young also but the vet mentioned that she could be spayed at 4 months when I took her in last week. I was sorta appalled but didn't say anything. No offense to anyone who did that. I think I will wait until she is 6 months. Sounds "safer" to me.

Dara311 · 09-27-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShanPando

Thanks. I thought 4 months was WAYYYY to young also but the vet mentioned that she could be spayed at 4 months when I took her in last week. I was sorta appalled but didn't say anything. No offense to anyone who did that. I think I will wait until she is 6 months. Sounds "safer" to me.

Is there a reason why your vet wants to do it that early!? Does she have a hernia or anything!? ( Usually the vets I worked for would do spays on kittens/puppies young if they needed a hernia repair) Make sure when you get her spayed, that you get blood work done, just to make sure everything is alright! =) and yes, spaying is much more invasie than neutering!

My poor Fiona, she put me through a lot! I never had issues with Fleas until I got her, and then of course she had a fake pregnancy, so her spay was much more invassie than ever!

yorkieusa · 09-27-2010, 12:43 PM

When you do eventually have her spayed, be sure they will remove any retained baby teeth at the same time so she won't have to be anesthetized more than once.

I think it is good to wait until their teeth are through coming in, so you can have the teeth removed during the spay operation.

Sweet Apple · 09-27-2010, 12:59 PM

I waited 'till Apple was 12 months old, and had had one heat...I knew she wouldn't get preggers, and I felt it was better for her health...I know lots of ppl disagree w/me, but I'm very very very pleased w/my decision...Unless you have an unnuetered male around, there's no rush...

Dara311 · 09-27-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

I waited 'till Apple was 12 months old, and had had one heat...I knew she wouldn't get preggers, and I felt it was better for her health...I know lots of ppl disagree w/me, but I'm very very very pleased w/my decision...Unless you have an unnuetered male around, there's no rush...

I have heard that its better for your pet to have 1 heat cycle and then spay, and then vice versa!

Ellie May · 09-27-2010, 01:40 PM

Four months isn't considered too young for a lot of dogs. With the Yorkies, there is no harm in waiting to let them gain weight. Also, spay incontinence is less likely if you hold off. But waiting until after the first heat raises the chances of getting mammary cancer from <1% to 8%. There are some studies that suggest it shouldn't be done before a year, but really every owner (and their vet) needs to look at the science behind the surgery and make an informed decision.

KashasMom · 09-27-2010, 04:39 PM

I was told between 5-6 months for spay. We did Kasha at exactly 6 and it worked out nicely because she had 8 "shark teeth" (both baby & adult) which needed to be pulled. Had I gotten it done earlier I most likely would have had to put her back under. Also, she went from about 3.5 lbs to 5.2 in those 2 months.

I don't think it's very common for small dogs to get their heat before 6 months I only know that both my Scotties were well over 10 months when they got theirs.

YorkieChick1 · 09-27-2010, 05:05 PM

I agree with YorkieUSA and SweetApple. I like to wait until all their teeth are in because Yorkies are notorious for needing their baby teeth pulled and I like them to have some weight on them. Some of my babies are only 3 lbs full grown so I like them to be bigger. Also, I think it is really important that you go to a vet that will have another vet or a vet tech that is there in the operating room just taking care of the anesthesia. I don't want to scare you but I have had 2 friends lose their babies to anesthesia. It is not common, so it is weird that I know 2 people but if the anesthesia is not monitored by someone other than the vet doing the surgery, things can go bad. My vet also only cut a 5/8" hole so she could put her finger in and pull out the appropriate organ, instead of cutting a 2-3" hole that some vets do just to make it easier on themselves. Ask some questions and good luck with her spay!!

Furbaby Dad · 09-27-2010, 05:13 PM

I had Maggie done at 6.5 months. She weighs 4.7 lbs but she did great. You could not even tell she had surgery. She stayed at the vets overnight because they have 24 hour coverage.

Sarathegreat3 · 09-27-2010, 05:34 PM

Roxy just went through her spay thursday. I was so nervous && she did great. She is 5.5 pounds and is almost seven months old. I really agree that you need to do pre op blood work. My little girl even came home with me the same day. Now a week later it is as if nothing happened she is back to her hyper self.

LuvTaycieGirl · 09-27-2010, 06:44 PM

I had Taycie spayed 2 weeks before she turned 6 months.. I was paranoid and really didn't want her to go into heat.. she has recovered beautifully! I was a wreck about it as well, but I do trust my vet and the staff they are excellent and they did an amazing job taking care of my little girl!

09-27-2010, 11:13 AM	#1
ShanPando Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 234	PARANOID about spay Okay, so Piper is 4 months old and at the START of when she can be spayed. I don't feel comfortable taking her until she is 5 or 6 months old. I'm totally paranoid for some reason about this. I've had other dogs, but only males and it seems like the neuter is less invasive than a spay. Anyhow, I'm having major anxiety about this. Anyone have any advice? When will she have her first heat? I want to make sure I take care of it before then.

09-27-2010, 11:18 AM	#2
Dara311 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,515	First of all, 4 months is way to early for your dog to be spayed! They should do it when she is 6 months old....unless your dog is smaller, sometimes the vet will hold it off until they gain weight. It's hard to tell when your dog can come into heat, I was a vet tech for 7 yrs and we would always spay/neuter pets at 6 months old, unless they were really sick, and needed it done sooner. Fiona was spayed after she was 6 months old, and 2 days before her apt, she came into heat, so that pushed her spay back 3 weeks later.....good luck..... __________________ Mom to Fiona Marie

09-27-2010, 12:43 PM	#5
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	When you do eventually have her spayed, be sure they will remove any retained baby teeth at the same time so she won't have to be anesthetized more than once. I think it is good to wait until their teeth are through coming in, so you can have the teeth removed during the spay operation. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel Last edited by yorkieusa; 09-27-2010 at 12:47 PM.

09-27-2010, 01:40 PM	#8
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Four months isn't considered too young for a lot of dogs. With the Yorkies, there is no harm in waiting to let them gain weight. Also, spay incontinence is less likely if you hold off. But waiting until after the first heat raises the chances of getting mammary cancer from <1% to 8%. There are some studies that suggest it shouldn't be done before a year, but really every owner (and their vet) needs to look at the science behind the surgery and make an informed decision. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

09-27-2010, 04:39 PM	#9
KashasMom YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: West Palm Beach, Fl, USA Posts: 292	I was told between 5-6 months for spay. We did Kasha at exactly 6 and it worked out nicely because she had 8 "shark teeth" (both baby & adult) which needed to be pulled. Had I gotten it done earlier I most likely would have had to put her back under. Also, she went from about 3.5 lbs to 5.2 in those 2 months. I don't think it's very common for small dogs to get their heat before 6 months I only know that both my Scotties were well over 10 months when they got theirs. __________________ Lauren & Kasha There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -- Ben Williams

09-27-2010, 11:20 AM	#3
ShanPando Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 234	Thanks. I thought 4 months was WAYYYY to young also but the vet mentioned that she could be spayed at 4 months when I took her in last week. I was sorta appalled but didn't say anything. No offense to anyone who did that. I think I will wait until she is 6 months. Sounds "safer" to me.

09-27-2010, 12:59 PM	#6
Sweet Apple Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 2,473	I waited 'till Apple was 12 months old, and had had one heat...I knew she wouldn't get preggers, and I felt it was better for her health...I know lots of ppl disagree w/me, but I'm very very very pleased w/my decision...Unless you have an unnuetered male around, there's no rush...

09-27-2010, 05:05 PM	#10
YorkieChick1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,249	I agree with YorkieUSA and SweetApple. I like to wait until all their teeth are in because Yorkies are notorious for needing their baby teeth pulled and I like them to have some weight on them. Some of my babies are only 3 lbs full grown so I like them to be bigger. Also, I think it is really important that you go to a vet that will have another vet or a vet tech that is there in the operating room just taking care of the anesthesia. I don't want to scare you but I have had 2 friends lose their babies to anesthesia. It is not common, so it is weird that I know 2 people but if the anesthesia is not monitored by someone other than the vet doing the surgery, things can go bad. My vet also only cut a 5/8" hole so she could put her finger in and pull out the appropriate organ, instead of cutting a 2-3" hole that some vets do just to make it easier on themselves. Ask some questions and good luck with her spay!! __________________ Nanci 's her furbabies!! Brooke,Binky,Bunny,Buster & BooBoo And My Chichis: Baby & Bitsy There's nothing that brightens my day more than a puppy kiss!

09-27-2010, 05:13 PM	#11
Furbaby Dad Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 63	I had Maggie done at 6.5 months. She weighs 4.7 lbs but she did great. You could not even tell she had surgery. She stayed at the vets overnight because they have 24 hour coverage.

09-27-2010, 05:34 PM	#12
Sarathegreat3 YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Posts: 379	Roxy just went through her spay thursday. I was so nervous && she did great. She is 5.5 pounds and is almost seven months old. I really agree that you need to do pre op blood work. My little girl even came home with me the same day. Now a week later it is as if nothing happened she is back to her hyper self. __________________ Sara &The Mighty Tucker && Little Baby Roxy Girl

09-27-2010, 06:44 PM	#13
LuvTaycieGirl Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Salt Lake City UT,USA Posts: 2,726 Blog Entries: 1	I had Taycie spayed 2 weeks before she turned 6 months.. I was paranoid and really didn't want her to go into heat.. she has recovered beautifully! I was a wreck about it as well, but I do trust my vet and the staff they are excellent and they did an amazing job taking care of my little girl!