When should I spay my female dog? We recommend waiting until your dog is at least over 6 months and likely even older for larger dogs. The benefits are much more pronounced in larger dogs, but there is not a lot of difference for lap dogs.
There are some old wives' tales that a dog should go through at least 1 heat cycle before she's spayed. This just isn't the case. Studies have shown that the risks of mammary cancer and urinary incontinence are higher if you wait to spay your dog after she's gone through 1 or more heat cycles.
Can Spaying or Neutering Make a Dog Less Hyper? The short answer is that no, your dog isn't likely to be less hyperactive after getting spayed or neutered. It won't change their personality much, if at all.
Due to the prevention of sudden hormone changes, a female dog should return to her normal behavior within the first three weeks after spaying. However, spaying does not change your dog's personality. She will not be any less hyper or aggressive after spay surgery if those are her normal personality traits.
Many pet owners find their dogs and cats to be more affectionate after they are spayed or neutered. As a pet owner, you stand to benefit in many ways by spaying/neutering your dog or cat. Dogs and cats that have been spayed or neutered are generally happier.
The discomfort caused by spay or neuter surgeries usually only lasts a few days and should be gone after a week. If your pet is experiencing pain or discomfort for more than a couple of days you should contact your vet to get further advice.
Desexing will not change your dog's personality. Male and female dogs that are desexed have a nicer temperament as they are not as driven by their hormones and make much nicer family pets.
In general, in small breed dogs (less than 50 pounds) we recommend spaying around 6 months. In large breed dogs (greater than 50 pounds) we recommend waiting until after skeletal maturity but before the second heat cycle(usually 12-15 months) in spaying female dogs or anytime after skeletal maturity in male dogs.
Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence.
Dogs desexed before 5.5 months of age had a 6.7% incidence of hip dysplasia, whereas dogs desexed at 6 months or older had an incidence of 4.7%. However, only 54% of the dogs with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia were reported to also have arthritis or joint problems requiring veterinary attention.
No healing occurs for the first 5 days and then the wound and underlying sutures will heal over the next 5 days. So it is important that your animal is confined to a small area for the 10 days post surgery. Your animal is allowed to go for small walks as long as her activity is restricted with the use of a short lead.
Your pet needs to be kept in an indoor crate/ kennel for most of the day and night for the next 10 days. The time of highest risk for the sutures breaking down is 3-5 days after surgery.
Typically, a dog will need to wear their cone for 10 to 14 days after a spay or neuter surgery — but will need it for much longer (6 to 12 weeks) for orthopedic surgeries. With some simple conditioning, it will be much easier for you to put the cone on and take it off your dog throughout their recovery.
Give water and supervise. Some pet parents schedule the surgery for a day they can stay home. Being with your pet is an excellent option to comfort a pet after a spay (if you can arrange it). Post-spay, your dog or cat will most likely be a little woozy for the rest of the day.
To be clear, the question here is whether or not to spay early or after the first heat cycle. Because of significant risks of pyometra (uterine infection) or mammary cancer late in life we recommend that all female dogs not intended for breeding be spayed before their second heat cycle.
Keep her as quiet as possible for one week. Too much activity too soon will disrupt the healing process and can lead to swelling and/or the formation of a fluid pocket under the incision. If a fluid pocket does form (seroma), it should go away on its own in a few weeks.
A female cat spay is generally fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on her age and where she is in her heat cycle. A female dog spay is generally twenty to ninety minutes, or longer, depending on her age, size, and if she is in heat.
NSW: RSPCA NSW - $200-$500 (male or female) SA: Dr Ken's Vet Clinic - $120 - $350 (male or female) WA: Hanly Vet - $250 - $510 (male or female)
If we spay a female dog before her first estrus, or “heat,” we essentially eliminate her chances of developing mammary cancer. This benefit holds true for any female dog spayed before the age of 2, yet incidence of mammary cancer increases with each estrus period.
WHEN IS IT SAFE TO SPAY OR NEUTER MY PET? Generally, it is safe to spay or neuter most kittens and puppies at 8 weeks of age.
Spaying: A spay procedure should be done at 4-5 months old. This is before your dogs first heat cycle, which typically falls around 6 months — this helps decrease the risk of serious health issues, such as mammary cancer. Neutering: A male dog should typically be neutered during the same 4-5 month period.