Dog Community

What age to spay?

Posted : 3/13/2007 11:12:04 PM

I have an 8 wk old JRT and I was wondering what age is best for spaying her. My vet says he likes to wait until after the first heat but I was reading that maybe I should get it done earlier. Also if I get it done before the first heat will she still bleed all over the place and come into heat?

jennie_c_d

Posted : 3/13/2007 11:27:31 PM

Also if I get it done before the first heat will she still bleed all over the place and come into heat?

Nope. She won't have ovaries, or a uterus.

What age you choose to do it at is entirely up to you and your vet.

timsdat

Posted : 3/14/2007 10:23:35 AM

There are 2 schools of thought. Right before the first heat and after the first heat. Ususally several months after the heat to let all the body parts settle back down to normal. I don't think that it would make a difference either way. My vet explained both and I choose right before the first heat. If you to wait until after the first heat you will have to be careful with the dog while she is in heat.

ottoluv

Posted : 3/14/2007 10:46:19 AM

There is a significant reduction in the incidence of mammary tumors in dogs spayed before the first heat. If your dog has puppy vaginitis waiting until after the first heat can cure this. This always seems to be a hot topic, I think what Jennie said is correct, the best person's advice to follow is your VET !!![sm=wink2.gif]

Misskiwi67

Posted : 3/14/2007 10:22:01 PM

As close to the first heat as possible, without spaying during a heat.

If you can keep your dog from getting pregnant and are OK with waiting, I actually think waiting until after the first heat might be better. It allows a bit more time for growth, and only increases the risk of mammary cancer by a small margin. If you don't want to deal with a 21 day doggie period, get it done before the first heat and reduce the risk of mammary cancer by 97%.

patricia gordon

Posted : 3/16/2007 8:13:17 AM

Thanks everyone I have spoken to my vet and I think I will have it done 16-20wks of age. I do not want to deal with a doggie period,and we are out and about alot so I don't want to be driving a bunch of male dogs crazy either.

dvet

Posted : 3/25/2007 9:39:32 PM

strictly my opinion but I used to spay when they were large enought to safely take anesthesia,,,ie about 2 months..I know lots of nasty words will be said about this but I never saw a bad reaction nor could I tell or anyone else tell when the animals grew that they were done at an early age, again just my opinion

willowchow

Posted : 3/25/2007 10:24:18 PM

I don't know about how young they should be. But, I did want to mention that Willow got done late at around 2-years. And, it was a tougher surgery and she had a harder time with pain management right afterward too. They had to give her more medication before sending her home. So, based on this experience and the vet saying it was directly related to her being older--that the surgery was trickier and took longer---I'd say get it done as young as possible.

Lori

Amanda Jones

Posted : 3/26/2007 12:11:12 AM

Where I work we recommend anytime after the pet is given their rabies vaccine. In my state this is done at 16 weeks old. Of course each veterinarian has their preference.

Xebby

Posted : 3/26/2007 10:10:26 AM

Here we do it at 5 to 6 months and no earlier which puts the dog right before her first heat. I've known other vets to spay as early as 8 weeks. I personally would do it right before the first heat but it's really up to you and your vet. Some vets are just more comfortable doing it when the dog is bigger because of less risk of complications, it's really up to each vet what they prefer.

dvet

Posted : 3/26/2007 2:22:52 PM

i agree with Xebby...the safest time is what your vet is familar with.. any time after the first heat can lead to pyometra (but actually rare under 5 years of age)..but again it is the owners choice but personally I find the owners choice is based mostly on heresay and lack of experience...If a client insists I will do it at what ever age they desire but would prefer to do it at an early age..