Spaying, first heat, growth and development.

[Shamas mom]

As the title says, these are the factors going into the decision of when to spay.

We think we're nearly grown....coming in on a year and starting to put on muscle now.

However, we haven't seen heat---which I feel is odd. Angel went at 9m and I keep reading dogs can go as early as 6m.

9 was about what I was looking for, with her being a larger breed.

So.......when did your bitches go into the first heat? When did you spay?

On the one hand, we want her to have all of her proper hormones for proper growth and development. On the other, we want to balance that against mammary cancer, female incontinence as a result of spaying, risk of puppies, etc

Obviously, we're out of the window of "early spaying" now. Hubby wants her to have one heat, so all of her female things can finish developing before a vasectamy. That's how they did it growing up... one heat and spay.

I'd been thinking it would be scheduled for approximately 18m, but without her having a heat yet, it's hard to get an idea of when we can book to go in. She might go into/back into heat on the day of her spay

 

[kateincornwall]

Some bitches can be much later starting a first season , one of mine was almost 14 months old . Its also easy to miss the first one as it can be such a light loss of blood ! Re spaying , it is a personal choice , I did have my girls spayed and was always told that the best time was in between seasons, so three months between . Hope she has her season soon so that you can start a plan x

 

[Atemas]

when did your bitches go into the first heat? When did you spay?

Red was 13 months when she had her first and only season. She was spayed just over two months after her season ended

 

[Shamas mom]

Some bitches can be much later starting a first season , one of mine was almost 14 months old . Its also easy to miss the first one as it can be such a light loss of blood ! Re spaying , it is a personal choice , I did have my girls spayed and was always told that the best time was in between seasons, so three months between . Hope she has her season soon so that you can start a plan x

It's possible I missed it then...

I thought she was going last month, when angel did. Shamas was more interested in her, and she washed more.

But I never noticed swelling or blood

But her fur is longer than angel. You always know what she's doing in that respect.

Now she's calmer, and easier to train, like angel got after first heat.

But I don't know because I saw no physical symptoms

 

[MellowYellow]

Poppy was eight months old. We didn't have her spayed until she was four years old.

It is difficult to plan, I understand that. But I'd just wait until she comes into season, as Kate says you then have several months time in which to get the appointment sorted.

 

[Jelinga]

The younger the better as it is an easier op, so after her first season would be good.

 

[Boogie]

We had Tatze done after her first season, about three months after, as I recall.

 

[Candy]

Joy had her first season at seven months and was spayed three months later.
Our vet has always advised that a bitch should have her first season before spaying, otherwise she can be left with an immature vulva, which can make her more prone to infections. The reason for spaying three months later(which she also explained) is that it's safest to spay midway between seasons as this is when the uterus is at its strongest, so less likelihood of complications. The thing that seemed to upset Joy most about her spay was the restricted exercise afterwards. It was during The Beast from the East, the first snow she'd ever seen and she wasn't allowed to play in it!

 

[Jelinga]

Joy had her first season at seven months and was spayed three months later.
Our vet has always advised that a bitch should have her first season before spaying, otherwise she can be left with an immature vulva, which can make her more prone to infections. The reason for spaying three months later(which she also explained) is that it's safest to spay midway between seasons as this is when the uterus is at its strongest, so less likelihood of complications. The thing that seemed to upset Joy most about her spay was the restricted exercise afterwards. It was during The Beast from the East, the first snow she'd ever seen and she wasn't allowed to play in it!

A vet I used to work with, let her dog off the lead a few days after the spay!

 

[Candy]

A vet I used to work with, let her dog off the lead a few days after the spay!

Don't tell GGJ that, whatever you do! She'd never forgive me!

 

[Selina27]

Cassie was 11 months at the time of her first season, she was spayed 3 months after her second season when she was 22 months old.

Keeping the weight off makes the op more straightforward -- the senior partner at my practice was very strict about that, and the timing between heats affects the risk of blood loss etc.

 

[Selina27]

A vet I used to work with, let her dog off the lead a few days after the spay!

Time was they just came home and carried on with life !

 

[Shamas mom]

Since I'm not sure if she's had heat yet, hubby and I have decided to continue to wait

We're in no hurry to do the op and want what's best for her.

We also plan to take the week off when she's done so we can closely monitor her movements. She is very active and we will want her kept on leash to prevent jumping

We also decided to go with a surgical suit rather than cone, as she tolerates clothes better than the ecollar. That ear infection was really rough on her.

And I want a 48inch crate too, for the living room so she's got space for the confinement periods when we can't watch her. Her bedtime crate is a good fit for sleeping but snug for just hanging out

 

[Jelinga]

Best to spay between seasons as the hormones are quieter then. Make sure she stays slim as @Selina27 says. It is easier to spay a younger, fit dog.

 

[edzbird]

We also decided to go with a surgical suit rather than cone,

She may not need either, but best to be prepared. Belle didn't worry her spay wound (rather a large one too), and Scooby didn't worry his chest wound when he had a lump removed. Thankfully - as we didn't have anything in to prevent it!