Still no heat.........

[MoonandBean]

Hi everyone, Sunny turned 6 months old on 8/22/08. She is scheduled to be spayed on 9/8/08. When I called the vet, they said they recommend 6 months and BEFORE she goes into heat. My Aunt is a vet tech and last night she told me that they recommend waiting until AFTER they've gone through their first cycle as it reduces the chances of developing cancer later in life. HELP! What do you guys know and think? As always, I appreciate all the advice I get here from all my very knowledgable dog lover friends!

[Moesha]

I always try to get them fixed before the heat cycle. No chance that an accident happens and they get pregnant.

[Sighthounds4me]

I think your aunt needs to re-check her facts. Studies have proven that to wait until after the first season, the risk of certain cancers (like mammarry) actually increases.

I'd go ahead with your plans as you have made them.

[sasvermont]

I've always been under the impression that it is best to spay the girls right at the six month date. That's what I have done. I had one Siamese cat that I waited for two years before spaying. She lived to be 21. Go figure. I think doggies run about the same, spaying wise.

I would stay on the side of caution and have her spayed soon, before she escapes and makes little ones!

Good luck. Spaying usually runs smoothly.

[Catlady711]

I think your aunt needs to re-check her facts. Studies have proven that to wait until after the first season, the risk of certain cancers (like mammarry) actually increases.

I agree completely!

Maybe she just misspoke or you mis-heard her? Definately spay BEFORE the first heat cycle.

[lizbud]

I agree completely!

Maybe she just misspoke or you mis-heard her? Definately spay BEFORE the first heat cycle.

I agree as well. That would be tomorrow, right?

[MoonandBean]

I agree as well. That would be tomorrow, right?

Oops...Tuesday morning I guess I meant 9/9/08.
Thanks for all the advice...I guess Tuesday it is. Does anyone have any good tranquilizers for me? HaHa...just kiddin.

[AllAmericanPUP]

definately get her spayed before her first heat.
don't know what studies your aunt and those people are reading but chances of cancer are lessened if spayed before the first heat

[Freedom]

I've also always done it before the first heat; that is what my vet always advises.

Yup, it is hard on mom as well! You won't need tranqs, you have all of us to lend support. Sunny will be fine.

[Ginger's Mom]

OMGosh she is getting so big. How big is Sunny now, and how much does she weigh? I have to agree with everyone else, sort of. When I had my first dog, I am fairly certain that the accepted thought at that time (18 years ago) was that the dog should be spayed after her first cycle. I am assuming they thought there was some benefit to proper development to wait that long (sort of like waiting two years to get a large male neutered). However, it appears that that mode of thought has been replaced by "the earlier the better" mode of thought. I think Sunny will be just fine on Tuesday. A lot of pups are done before they are sent out for adoption (Ginger was spayed at 10 weeks).

[Giselle]

There is some developmental benefit to spaying later, like filling out and growing less tall (this is really only crucial to large/extra large breed dogs). But all that stuff is pretty insignificant, statistically speaking, for the average pet dog. So - definitely BEFORE first heat.

Don't worry; Sunny will be perfectly fine. Come to think of it, Ivy has "gone under" three times already in the ~1 year we've had her I'm a little desensitized to it all heh..

[Emeraldgreen]

WOW! Sunny is soooooooooooo BIG now!
I've always heard that the 6 month marker is a good time to spay. I hope all goes well when the day for surgery arrives. Please give her a big hug for me. She is so beautiful. I love those floppy ears!

[MoonandBean]

Thanks everyone! As always, your advice is so helpful to this first time puppy mamma I will keep her appointment for Tuesday. Joyce, I love your new siggy!!!!!!!

[lizbud]

Oops...Tuesday morning I guess I meant 9/9/08.
Thanks for all the advice...I guess Tuesday it is. Does anyone have any good tranquilizers for me? HaHa...just kiddin.

Best of luck on Tuesday then. I'm sure Sonny & you will do just fine.

[luvofallhorses]

You most definately need to get her fixed BEFORE she has her heat cyle. It's not good for the dog IMO to go through, they are so miserable, plus you have the risk of her sneaking out the door and getting pregnant, so I would spay her BEFORE she has her heat cycle. If she goes into heat, it can risk her health by getting mammory gland cancer and that isn't something you want to mess with. So I would get her done as soon as you can.

I hope she does well on Tuesday. Best wishes to sweet Sunny AND you. I will be thinking of you both on Tuesday. let us know how it goes.

Don't worry if she isn't herself for a couple days, she'll be back to normal soon. and make sure you follow the vets orders after she is spayed which I am sure you will. sometimes they keep the females overnight to monitor them, it just depends on the vets.