When to spay a puppy

My breeder now recommends waiting until after they are a year old to spay or neuter so that the growth plates are closed. And because of that I experienced my first bitch in heat. Ribbon kept herself very clean, but classes were very interesting with adolescent intact males in there as well. I'm lucky that my instructor allowed us to go to class while she was in season.

I'm not sure how "fair" that was to the intact males in class - people paying for a class usually have enough training challenges to work on without adding that one.

Just me.
 
I'm not sure how "fair" that was to the intact males in class - people paying for a class usually have enough training challenges to work on without adding that one.

Just me.

The class was a very controlled "focus" class based on the book Control Unleashed. Had it been a general basic obedience class then she would not have been allowed. But these were overall all well trained dogs.
 
Yeah I should have explained it better. Happily I don't have to worry about that again as we had her spayed 3 months after her season.
 
I am waiting till after Zoey's first heat to spay her. Have never done this before, hopeing she will be in heat soon. What age do they generally go into heat? She is 9 months.
 
I'm not sure how "fair" that was to the intact males in class - people paying for a class usually have enough training challenges to work on without adding that one.

Just me.

If you choose to keep your male dog intact that is something you just need to work though IMO. If you can not train a dog and manage it intact then you need to neuter it.

I never minded girls in heat in class it just gave me an opprtunity to work on attention and behaviors around that distraction so when you at in all breed show and a in heat conformation pug sticks her butt though the ring gate at the go out spot you can stop your dog.(yes that really happened to Justice and man was his go out fast that day. :lol:)

As for cats, no way I would have an intact cat in my house. Their heat cycles are totally different- they go in and out every 2 weeks until they are breed and spaying them in that state is ALOT more difficult and prone to complications. TOm cats who reach sexaul maturity love to spray and it smells to high heavens and sometime the behavior does resolve with neutering but to each their own. :smile2:
 
Why has spaying gone from a routine procedure, to this complex procedure recently. I say that because we had female dogs all my life, and back then 70's...you took your dog in for a spaying in the morning, you picked them up in the afternoon, and they sent you home with pain meds. In the 80's my 1st sheltie, same thing, 90's for 2nd sheltie same thing. Now with my 3rd sheltie, I am told that it usually is an overnight procedure (though the animal hospitals I have contacted don't staff their clinics overnight) and now I have to opt for stuff or opt out of stuff. I never had "choices" before...why the change??? And they make it sound as if you better be prepared for all kinds of add ons once they open her up. My vet is holistic so he doesn't perform surgeries, and doesn't recommend animal hospitals :(. Many of them have wanted to re-vaccinate her, to be sure, AH NO! That is just insane to me. He is a licensed vet...being practicing for years with a SOLID rep, so why in the world would I re-vaccinate to "assure them". When I contacted my breeder they told me what they did for those they chose to spay and they told me GET your puppy after spaying, no need to be kept overnight, and don't let them do the "add ons", because they breed quality puppies and never had issues with any of theirs. They are almost 2 hrs away from my home, along with the Vet they use, or I would take my puppy there. Why is it so involved now???? Or is it??? Oh and most charge $350 to $450, w/o any "add ons/complications" oh and pain killers are extra to be sent home with. UNBELIEVABLE. But I have noticed the animal hospitals all sit on prime real estate locations, so I am inclined to think they have to charge a lot to pay the rent. My holistic vet is on a modest street, nothing flashy.

Don't know. Never kept a dog overnight after a spay in fact most in my area don't. As for add ons, not sure what you are refering to but if one is preop blood work it is a good idea because things can be happening that you don't know about and drugs and dosages can be taylored to the patient. Alot safer that way. When I was in private practice, blood work and IV fluid were included and not optional. Any other adds on again not sure what those maybe.
 
Ditto on the intact cats -- yikes. Intact cats (both male and female) are the WORST beings on the planet.

I always spayed and neutered at 5-6 months (cats that is). They mature a whole lot faster than dogs.
 
Hanna came home same day as her spay - I had a hard time keeping her quiet, she was ready to play the next morning. Unless something goes wrong or you're really worried I don't see why they shouldn't come home right away.

If it weren't for the blood work results Miss Mulligan would already be an it - not a fan of intact cats here.
 
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