Scheduling Rosie's spay??
 

Ergh, I'm a little confused and looking for input. Ultimately I will talk with Rosie's vet about what is the best option for her. She is 6 months old and they went ahead and set up the spay for August 7th, putting her at almost 7 months, but I will probably cancel that and wait it out longer, especially if she is still under 3 lbs. There's so much debate over if it is best to spay before or after the first heat.

I'd like to hear what age your female was spayed, what their weight was, and if they had their first heat or not. If there is a specific reason why you spayed when you did, please share. I just want to make an informed decision. I was a nervous wreck for Luma's spay and she was around 5 lbs already. Rosie is 2.6 lbs. She has lost some baby teeth so of course I would get the rest pulled while she's under for the spay. More reason to put it off a while longer.

We had Princess Sophie spayed at 6 months of age but she was over 3 lbs. at the time, in fact, she may have been about 4 lbs. at the time. She had absolutely no problems. Good luck, I understand how worrisome this decision can be. I'll be praying for you and your pup when you get it scheduled. Just be sure to let us know.

Thank you. It is stressful to read conflicting information regarding the growth plates, the first heat...waiting too long can lead to a higher chance of x but spaying too early will cause problems with y...:eek:

I had Izzy spayed last month. She was 7 months and 2.6 pounds. She didnt go into heat before and she got her rabies shot and 2 baby teeth pulled also. She did great and I am glad I did it :)

My female was spayed very early (4 months). I am a believer in spaying before the first heat. However, if I had a pup today, I would spay at the 6 month mark because my female was spayed too early. It didn't impact her health negatively since she was sickly and a breeding disaster from the day I took her home at 8 weeks of age.

Well that is why like a good owner you are doing your research. Females are, (and aren't they always a bit more complex than the males) to decide on when to do the de-sexing.

There is a very small increased risk for mammary tumors, and also pyrometra (and yes even in a spayed female), but spay incontinence is lessened and also thyroid problems if you wait a tad longer. As well baby teeth have the opportunity to fall out naturally.

Growth plates close at approximate 8mths old give or take 1-2 months, and it is a good thing overall that they close prior to de-sexing a dog.

I would counsel to spay after growth plate closure; there is no need to guess, just have the vet take a lateral view of the tibia, that growth plate is the last to close. THen once closed, off to the clinic you go.

Dependent upon your female she "may" go into one heat prior to growth plate closure, or not. If so, you must keep her safe throughout her first heat, and then you can spay 6wks later.

Callie was 9 months when she got spayed and it was before her first heat and that's how I wanted it. Most vets still say before the first heat is best and I 100% agree. They do not get mammary tissue if they are spayed before there first heat but they do get it once they have had there first heat. In simpler terms Callie's nipples are flat against her chest and just look like little black marks after her first heat then they would look more like nipples. This means there will be a increased risk of breast cancer. You also need to make sure to do monthly breast exams on her if you wait until after her first heat. They also can get a certain infection if they go into heat that can kill them within 24 hours if immediate vet attention is not gotten. I know we all freak out about anesthesia but its really not as scary as it seems and very few dogs really have any kind of problem with it and dogs who get the blood work done first and it shows no problems generally have very little risk at all to have a problem. I have been told weight and age don't mater to much. Also even if you where to get her spayed right now they could go ahead and pull all the baby teeth. Also remember the heat can last a month so that's a month she needs to never be left alone with any males or outside with out constant supervision.

Thanks you guys, I feel better knowing a little more about the pros and cons. I would love to put it off as long as possible but before her first heat. Maybe have her spayed in September. Not sure when she will go into heat, are there "PMS" symptoms the week of, like humans sometimes have?

Curri was 19 months old and 3 pounds still had not had her first heat. I wanted to wait until her growth plates had closed and she had matured and also put on a bit of weight. Also wanted to give her time to lose her baby teeth.

As it was, her spay was a little problematic as in she was tiny so it took longer than usual and her baby teeth were stubborn to release.

I do not regret waiting.