Zoey is in heat ... upset!

[happylabs]

So I kept telling my daughter and her boyfriend that they should get Zoey spayed soon. She is just about 6 months old now. They haven't had it done yet and now she is in heat.

The thing that bugs me is I told them not to get a dog in the beginning because they are both in college and do not have a lot of money. Although I do love Zoey to pieces now that she is here, well not at my house.

So my daughter calls me this morning and says she isn't bringing Zoey over and she isn't telling me why because I would say "I told you so". I knew right away. I said she's in heat. She said yes. I asked what they were going to do about it and she said Justin says he doesn't have the money right now to get her spayed. Why don't kids listen to us? Dogs cost money.

I don't really have the extra money to give them to get her spayed either. Apparently their vet will not let them do a payment plan.

Oh I am just so frustrated with them right now.

[Craftlady]

Check with your local shelter for spay/neuter clinics. Our shelter hooked up with clinic in Cincinnati Ohio cost is $25 to $45 depends on program offered.

[pomtzu]

Unfortunately with kids, they think they know it all, and seldom listen to advice. Hey - I was a kid once, and I was that way too. Make a mistake??? - well just chalk it up to a learning experience and move on, and hope that if the same situation presents it self again, you will handle it more wisely.

So the damage is done and you can't "un-heat" Zoey. Just hope they watch her like a hawk, and that she doesn't present everyone with a litter of pups.

And tell your daughter to just put away a couple of $$ each week, so that the money will be there and Zoey can be spayed before she goes into heat the next time. Just give up that fast food or that cup of coffee and donut for a few weeks, and the money that's needed will be there.

[Taz_Zoee]

I was going to suggest a low cost clinic as well. The shelter I volunteer at has one and that's where I got Paizly spayed.

If they can't afford to get her fixed that worries me, because what if (god forbid) something else happened to her and she needed to see the vet? Can either of them qualify for Care Credit? I have that since Taz's surgery and its a life saver. For the animals and my dentist visits.

Well, I hope everything works out in the end and you don't have puppy pictures to show us. Especially since Zoey is still a puppy herself.

[Vette]

Just hope they watch her like a hawk, and that she doesn't present everyone with a litter of pups.

My thoughts exactly

[*LabLoverKEB*]

See if they can apply and get approved for Care Credit. Also, check out your local animal shelters/humane societies, they tend to have very low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

I totally understand your frustration, even though I am the same age as your daughter, lol! Good luck and keep us updated!

[Freedom]

I'm fairly sure you can't spay a dog in heat anyway. I think you have to wait, but I don't know how long -- 6 weeks? A quick phone call to a vet will clear this up.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Dogs and cats can be spayed during their heat cycle, however it will be more complex because during the heat cycle, the ovaries and uterus are swollen and their is a greater risk for more bleeding during the procedure.

[Karen]

Helen, as long as they are very careful about never leaving her outside unattended, and don't take her to dog parks during her heat, she should come out of it okay, and living with this may be just the incentive to put aside a few dollars a week, as suggested, and get her spayed before it happens again.

[kaycountrygal]

Dogs and cats can be spayed during their heat cycle, however it will be more complex because during the heat cycle, the ovaries and uterus are swollen and their is a greater risk for more bleeding during the procedure.

Yep, You're right. My LilGirl went into heat approx five days before her appt to be spayed. I called and was told basically what you said above. I went ahead and had it done and it turned out ok for her. Hmmm, I think (not sure) that I had to pay a bit more because she was in heat at time of spaying... Kay in NC

[kaycountrygal]

Maybe I'm wrong but my guess would be that your daughter and boyfriend waste money every week, if not every day. If they got their act together, I think they could save the money to have dog spayed. I understand your frustration. Dogs ARE expensive if you take care of them the way that needs to be done. She/they should have listened to momma.. but there are a lot of "should have"s in the world. Hope doggy doesnt get preggy... Kay in NC

[happylabs]

Thanks everyone! They have a completely fenced in yard and you cannot even see into other yards. I am not really worried about her getting pregnant. She is very sheltered by them, they take excellent care of her and she is loved more than most people's children. I am mostly upset that the boyfriend says he does not have the money to have her spayed since he is the one who purchased her. I am a little disappointed because he is a few years older than Rachael and I thought he was more responsible. He has a lot going on right now though. In addition to going to college full time he is renovating his mother's rental property and he also has another job. I think he just has a full plate right now.

I called my vet's office. They can spay her while she is in heat and they did not express any issues with her having it done while she is in heat. The boyfriend uses a different vet that is very reputable so I am sure it will all work out in the end.

I am a very emotional mom. Zoe is here now with my daughter and we are having a wonderful afternoon. She doesn't seem to be bleeding all that much. She is such a love!

[MonicanHonda]

Just as long as they watch her like a hawk, they're fine. Vets aren't usually excited to do a heat spay but they usually will... and honeslty, it's good that she went through one heat before being spayed. It gets the hormones flowing and allows the growth plates to close sooner, causing shorter bones that are less likely to be weak and break. I'll always make sure to let my dogs go through at least one heat before spaying.

[Taz_Zoee]

Spaying a dog in heat is usually more expensive. I say let her run this cycle and then get her spayed. Cheaper for them and its not going to hurt Zoey, since it sounds like she won't have access to a male.

BUT, on that note.....my friends dog was in heat and in their own backyard. They caught a male dog JUMPING their fence coming out of the yard!! Sure enough, she got pregnant. Male dogs can smell a dog in heat from a long ways away. So maybe mention this to them and just have them not leave Zoey in the backyard unattended.

[cassiesmom]

The first thing I thought when I saw the title of this thread was something others already wrote: hmmm, I wonder if your vet would give you a referral to a low-cost spaying program. That way you could be referred to one that your vet knows is dependable. even though it's low-cost I would still want it done by a skilled provider. I would not want anything going wrong.