When Should I Get My Dog Spayed?

The standard answer for when to get a dog spayed is six months, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Some vets will spay a dog when she’s as young as eight weeks old, even though it’s best to check with your veterinarian on when would work best for your dog. In any event, spaying should be done before her first heat cycle, which does happen when she’s about six months old.

One factor that influences the puppy’s age when she’s spayed is her size. She’s going to be under general anesthesia during the operation, and the amount of anesthesia she’s given depends on her size and weight. It may be difficult for an anesthesiologist to deliver the right amount of anesthesia for a dog who is tiny. A very big dog also presents challenges for the surgical staff because it’s simply harder to maneuver around the dog’s abdominal cavity. But six months seems to be the sweet spot for most dogs.

What Is Spaying?

Spaying is technically called ovariohysterectomy. During the surgery, the doctor takes out the dog’s ovaries and the uterus. This prevents her from getting pregnant and, even better, prevents her from going into heat. A watchful owner can prevent a dog from getting pregnant, but even a housebound dog is going to go into heat if she’s not spayed. Dogs go into heat every eight months, and it lasts for three weeks. Since dogs don’t undergo menopause, this will last the rest of her life. The situation is not comfortable for anyone in the household.

The Operation

Before the operation the veterinarian will do some blood tests on the dog to make sure she’s a good candidate for spaying, and the owner will be given instructions as to how to treat the dog before the surgery. Dogs, like humans, need to fast overnight before major surgery. However, she can drink water.

During the operation the dog is placed on her back and put under general anesthesia via a tube. Her limbs are tied out of the way, her belly fur is shaved, and drapes are placed over her. If she’s very small, the surgical staff keeps her warm with warming pads. The surgeon makes an incision in her abdomen and finds her ovaries and her uterus. Her ovaries are near her kidneys and her uterus, which is Y-shaped, leads down from them to her cervix. Ovaries and uterus are removed, and the incision is sutured.

Dogs and animals in general tend to take surgery better than humans. The dog may be able to go home the same day as the surgery, or she may just spend a night at the clinic. She probably won’t need pain meds, though she may cough and be nauseated for a couple of days. The owner should make sure she takes it easy in order to heal properly. If there are signs of infection such as leakage from the surgical wound, the dog should be taken back to the vet right away.

The vet removes the stitches after a week or so.

Other Benefits of Spaying

Spaying not only keeps the dog from experiencing the discomforts of heat, but it lowers the risk of illnesses such as mammary and other reproductive cancers. It also removes the risk of the deadly pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus. Spaying also keeps down the number of unwanted puppies and keeps persistent male dogs away from the house and yard.

A few negative effects that seem to come with spaying are urinary incontinence and obesity. These disorders can be treated. The homeowner will need to watch the dog’s diet, and make sure she gets lots of exercise after she’s recovered from her surgery. Urinary incontinence can be treated with medicine.

Should Any Dog Not be Spayed?

If the owner intends to show their dog, she can’t be spayed. Responsible dog breeders also would not spay a dog, but would also not allow her to be continuously pregnant. Some dog owners want their dog to have a litter to experience the joy of motherhood before she’s spayed, but they should understand that their dog will not miss being a mother.

Cost

Spaying can cost as much as $350, but there are places where the dog can be spayed for low or no cost.