Determining when to spay a female dog after the first heat cycle can be confusing. The essential thing to remember is that every dog is different, many factors are involved, and there isn’t one definitive answer for all dogs. You’ll need to consider your dog’s size, breed, sexual maturity, and age in addition to the symptoms she is experiencing.
Talk to your vet if you have any questions or concerns about spaying your dog. They can help you make the best decision for your pet. You want to reduce or altogether eliminate the risk for future health problems by getting the right timing on this surgery.
Many pet owners are curious about this topic. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best time to have your dog spayed to prevent extra unwanted pets. It may be different for small dogs than it is for larger dogs. It could be more of an issue in certain breeds rather than others. Your dog’s family history can also play a part in these decisions. Keep reading for more information.
Heat Cycle of Female Dogs
When should you spay a dog after the first heat? Dogs come into heat (or “season”) twice a year. Females that are not SPAYED cannot become pregnant during any other times – only for about seven days at the beginning and end of each cycle when they’re most likely still nursing their pup.
The heat is well-known for its characteristic discharge, dripping blood, and female dogs’ tendency to “flag” once they are ready to reproduce. During this process, the dog will tilt her tail at a 90-degree angle towards the side to attract male mating partners.
Intact female dogs who come into contact with a male dog during their heat cycle can get pregnant and end up with an unwanted litter of puppies. To avoid these unwanted litters, scheduling a spay surgery for the appropriate time after their first heat cycle is essential. If you wait too long, your dog will be on her second heat before you know it.
When do dogs start to have their first heat cycle? There is medical evidence that it can happen as early as six months of age or late in life after 1.5 years; there’s no way for you to know precisely when your pet will get her groove on. Most female dogs experience heat cycles around twelve months of age.
You should spay your female animal as soon as she starts showing signs of being pregnant to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Seek veterinary care any time you suspect your dog may be pregnant. Spaying and neutering pets are essential to help control the pet population, as shelters are filled with many unwanted pets. An early spay could prevent this epidemic.
Can a dog be spayed while she is in heat?
The surgery isn’t always successful and can cause excessive bleeding during a heat cycle. It’s important to spay your dog before their heat months because it increases the chances of complications such as shock or death from blood loss if you don’t remove all potential breeding sources while there is still time.
It is a more straightforward surgery if you wait until the heat cycle ends. It is possible to spay a dog during her heat cycle, though there are increased chances for complications? Every owner should carefully consider if it’s necessary or not before doing so since many reasons exist to wait until the end of this period simply.
In theory- yes! But in practice, we know that isn’t always enough advice when you’re just starting with your new pup at home. Delaying spaying until your female dog is through her heat cycle is a far better idea.
Taking care of your dog in the heating season
Spaying or neutering your dog is a great way to keep them from becoming pregnant and giving birth. If you’re considering whether they should be spayed, here’s what we recommend.
Keep her inside
It’s a good idea to keep your dog on a leash when you’re outside with her. If she runs away from home, many intact males will show up and try their luck at the mating season – this could even happen in neighborhoods where dogs aren’t usually allowed.
Though we hope that the owners of male dogs are equally responsible for neutering, it is not something we can count on, so it’s better to keep her away from male dogs if we want to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Don’t trust fences
You may think your female dog is safe because she’s inside and protected by a fence, but this isn’t always true. Motivated large breed dogs will get past even high fences to pursue mating rituals – so keep them indoors during peak season.
Don’t be concerned about walks.
Using a command, you can teach your dog not to approach strange dogs. If an off-leash friend comes to her while on her leash, you’ll need to say “no” and correct her behavior with another word or sound before giving attention when it is appropriate for both animals.
Why does spaying a dog in heat cost more?
If you want to get your pet spayed, the cost can vary depending on where you go. Some low-cost clinics are under $100, and other specialized centers might charge up to 500 dollars for this procedure in addition to their base fee.
If it’s during dog season (which happens all year), expect an additional rate between 50-$200 above what was initially paid just because there are no discounts.
Should you let a female dog have her period before getting her spayed?
The answer to this question is tricky because it largely depends on what you plan to do with your pet. Many owners of large dogs who participate in sports like agility will wait until their pup has gone through one heat before they get spayed. It’s said that this helps the body mature naturally. It decreases the chances of future injury, especially if your dog plays high-intensity games such as esports or NFL football, where there are lots of intense tackles every play.
If you have a female dog around males, or your pet spends lots of time unsupervised in the yard, it might be best to get her spayed before she becomes pregnant. The risk for disease transmission between dogs also increases with sexual maturity and age, so don’t wait.
Get an appointment today for spay surgery and omit the risks of mammary cancer, mammary tumors, urinary incontinence, orthopedic disease, hip dysplasia, breast cancer, and many other complications and increased risk that may arise from your female dogs not being spayed.
Conclusion
The heat of a female dog is something that should be respected. The males are very motivated to check out any new girls in town, so keep them away from your pup during this time. An early spay helps avoid much-increased risk down the road, so the surgery is highly recommended for female dogs, regardless of age.
When to spay a dog after the first heat? You should generally fix or neuter your female dog by 8 or 9 years old to avoid the risks of pyometra (a potentially fatal uterine infection). A male’s aging doesn’t affect this procedure since he only needs one mate, but females can get pregnant even after their heat cycle has ended. Early spaying for female dogs is ideal – it reduces their lifetime risk of developing mammary cancer and other health issues.
If you’re still reading, congratulations! You’re now a qualified dog owner. Just kidding – there are plenty of other things to learn before taking the plunge into pet parenthood. But hopefully, this article has given you a better idea of when to spay or neuter your new furry friend and what to expect from their first heat cycle at any age.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to spay a dog after first heat?
Medically, it’s better to spay your dog before their first heat. This greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors in pets and people who wait until after they have had two heats greatly increase that chance too.
What is the best age to spay a female dog?
To ensure your pup is safe and healthy, getting them spayed or neutered at 6-9 months of age is essential. Not only will this help prevent pregnancy but also testicular atrophy (a condition where the ballsac becomes less active), which can lead to erectile dysfunction.
How many heats should a dog have before spaying?
Humans and dogs share many similarities, including their tendency to suffer from skin folds. Unfortunately, the same is true for our furry friends- some can develop the same type of fold that traps urine or moisture, which leads them to infection later in life.
Do female dogs change after being spayed?
Many people think spaying a dog will eliminate all her behavior problems. Although it often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by the heat cycle, there are no guarantee your pup-potter's actions and attitudes towards you after surgery; many dogs continue to be irritable or moody postop even with successful surgeries.
