Zoey is in heat ... upset!

[*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.

[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.

[Cataholic]

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.

This is a myth. There are a HOST of reasons why a dog should be spayed before it gets its first heat, the biggest one, by far, to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

I spent three minutes, and found this information readily available:

*In the United States, most dogs are spayed between 5 and 8 months of age. Many animal shelters and veterinarians are starting to spay female animals at a younger age, even at 2 months. This early spaying does not affect the growth rate, and there are no appreciable differences in skeletal, physical, or behavioral development between those animals spayed early than those spayed at a more traditional age. It must be remembered that younger animals may need different anesthetics and are more prone to hypothermia (lower than normal body temperature) during surgery. As long as procedures are modified to account for these differences, early neutering is very safe. In fact, animals spayed at a younger age often have faster recoveries than those spayed when they are older.

Then this:


•If your dog has not yet had her first heat, consider having her spayed before that occurs and you can avoid the complications that arise if she is spayed while in heat or that can occur if you wait until after she has been in heat to have her spayed. A common misconception lingers that a dog should not be spayed before her first heat cycle. There are actual health benefits, such as the decreased likelihood of certain types of cancer, if a dog is spayed before her first heat. An infection of the uterus called pyometra can also occur in dogs and cats a few weeks after their heat cycle ends. If the pet is spayed before her first heat cycle, the possibility of this life-threatening condition can be eliminated. The spay surgery can generally be performed at any point after a dog is 8 weeks old, though about 4 months of age is often considered the ideal time.




Two separate sites, biased? I think not. But, in case you are not convinced, THIS material is straight from a BREEDERS site.

http://www.breeders.net/k9-articles/.../dogs-in-heat/
When should I spay my dog?

If you are not planning on breeding your dog, it is best to have her spayed prior to her first heat cycle. Doing so is protective against many types of cancer later in life. Many shelters insist on spaying all dogs before placement so spaying may be done as early as six to eight weeks of age. At traditional veterinary clinics, it is much more common to spay at six months.

One common myth is that a dog will somehow mature better if she is allowed to go through one heat cycle prior to being spayed. In fact, there is no such advantage, and waiting to spay your dog actually puts her at a disadvantage because she is at a much higher risk of developing mammary cancers later in life.

Another myth is that your dog should be allowed to have one litter before spaying so she will be a better pet or so your children can experience “the miracle of life.” Again, not true. There is no advantage to having your dog reproduce before spaying her, and your children might be much better served by spending time working at a shelter to experience the misery of abuse and neglect suffered by unwanted puppies.

Here is a sad fact from the Atlanta Humane Society, one which is mirrored at most other shelters in large cities: “20 tons of dead animal bodies produced in one year in the Atlanta Area alone.” The moral of the story? Don’t breed your dog unless you have good reason to, such as furthering the breed for show or competition purposes by conscientiously and responsibly pairing dogs who are prime examples of the breed standard.




Back to the OP- I know she is your daughter's dog, and she is still trying to make her way out in this big world, but, please continue to do what you can to see that Zoe gets into the clinic!!!