Is a dog ever to small to spay?

Competent Vets routinely perform surgery on very small dogs. As long as you have confidence in your Vet, they perform pre-surgical blood work, use fluids during the procedure, there should be no problems. HOWEVER, dogs are no different than people, anesthesia is a risk and some MAY have problems. Those that do are a very low percentage. I would much rather do a spay on a healthy dog than try to do an emgergency Pyometra surgery.

What are the best ways to see if a vet (particulary the vet I already go to) to see if he is qualified? Any specific questions I should ask?

Thanks so much, benita.

nowdays, with the proper pre exam, no animal is too small to spay... I have, in the past spayed rats in research,guinea pigs and hampsters in practice...again with  the proper pre surgical testing, any animal can be done...size really doesn;t matter.....but the person doing it should have at least some experience...

I've had 1.5 lb. foster kittens spayed before - nervewracking to say the leasy, but they were fine.

I have to agree.  If the dog is not too small to get pregnant, she's not too small to spay.

Because small dogs look fragile it's a common myth that they are 'too small' to spay.  That means they die younger and have a harder life too and are more at risk from pyometra.  *sigh*
 
If the vet has any hesitancy at all about it move on!  Call your state vet board and ASK!!
 
Ask around -- don't just go to a vet who is close to you.  Ask people you know who are not just pet "owners" but who consider themselves "guardians".  If they don't refer to their dogs as their 'kids' don't ask them!
 
But ask WHY do you go to Dr. __??  If they asnwer you:
 
"Well he's right around the corner"
"Well, he's cheaper than anyone else near me"
"Well, we started going to him years ago and I never questioned it"
"Well, his office always looks SO nice -- it just looks upscale and the dogs coming out always look nice"
 
Anything LIKE those phrases and run away!
 
Instead look for someone who says "Wait a second -- your vet said what??? MY VET isn't like that ... MY VET is ***the*** best! I've got his number in my purse -- want it??"
 
(Better yet, they have his number MEMORIZED!)
 
or
 
"Well, you know my vet isn't exactly close -- we drive over half an hour to get there but he's just SO good and I'd rather drive and havea good vet than one closer"
 
that's the vet you want.

I even had my rat neutered.  If a 4 month old rat can do ok during surgery, anything can[]  Dogs are monitored very closely during and after surgery.  Doing the pre surgery bloodwork is a good idea, as it will alert the doctor to any health issues that would cause complications.  And, if you think about it, most cats are under 4 lbs at 5-6 months, and come through their spays just fine[]

have, in the past spayed rats in research,guinea pigs and hampsters in practice...

Wow! I've never heard of a hampster being spayed!

My little Emma was spayed at 8 weeks. She weighed in at just under 4 pounds, and her reproductive organs were probably smaller than an adult dog's, since they'd not come to maturity, yet. She did fine with it.

 response about calliecritters post...I used to tell clients who were moving to another area that i could loaok in the directry and find a vet 'But i would know zilch about that vet so i suggested that they walk in the local park or see people with pets and ask who they used and how did they like him...If you needed a specialty vet then the directories are good but for a regular vet---ask people....i would not even reccomend my brother when they were moving into his area...I thought he was a good vet but maybe  people had some problem with him....of course he did mostly race horses and cows so working on a toy poodle might not be his bazg..

Posts: 1104
From: Southeast Georgia
Status: offline

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

have, in the past spayed rats in research,guinea pigs and hampsters in practice...

Wow! I've never heard of a hampster being spayed!
 
My little Emma was spayed at 8 weeks. She weighed in at just under 4 pounds, and her reproductive organs were probably smaller than an adult dog's, since they'd not come to maturity, yet. She did fine with it.

 
it is possible to spay a hamster but it is not commonly done as it is very risky because of their size and the dangers of anesthesia and other medications to hamsters.  it is not recommended.