My vet told me that so long as the puppy is altered before their first heat, the risk for cancer is much lower. Samantha was born sometime around late June or July 2002 and I had her spayed in January 2003. She did absolutely fine through the anesthesia and when Josh and I went to pick her up that evening, she bounded to us like nothing happened. She didn't get spacey until we gave her a pain pill when we got her home. Poor thing would be walking and just stop and start staring...

I took the following day off so that I could help her get around, but that little skank jumped up on my bed and started racing around the house! The vet said to keep her quiet and subdued for at least 10 days -- HA!!! I couldn't even do it for one!!