Your puppy is growing up rapidly, which might have you wondering whether it‘s time to get her spayed. When it comes to recommendations for altering your dog, we don’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. But now is a good time to check in with your veterinarian to see what they recommend for your individual pet.
When a dog gets spayed, they undergo a surgical procedure that either removes the ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy) or just the ovaries (ovariectomy). Both procedures remove their ability to get pregnant as well as stop heat cycles. Dogs have two ovaries, which produce eggs for fertilization. The uterus of dogs is a Y-shaped organ designed to carry litters of puppies.
- Eliminating the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
- Reducing the risk of mammary (breast) cancer, the most common cancer diagnosed in unspayed females, to under half of 1% (0.5%) if the dog is spayed before her first heat cycle. The risk is also significantly reduced if a dog spayed after her first and before her second heat cycle.
- Reducing the risk of developing pyometra, a uterine infection in unspayed dogs that is often fatal without surgery.
- Eliminating the risk of unplanned pregnancies.
- Reducing the undesirable behavioral and physical changes associated with a dog in heat, including vaginal bleeding, attraction of male dogs, escaping to search for a mate, mounting and aggression.
However, when to get your dog spayed is less cut-and-dried. For small and medium dogs who are expected to weigh under 45 pounds, we generally recommend spaying at around 6 months of age prior to the first heat cycle. For dogs who will weigh 45 pounds or more once full-grown, the recommendation can range a bit more and the decision should be made with veterinary consultation.
Why are larger dogs spayed later? While spayed dogs live longer overall than their intact counterparts, spaying is associated with obesity, urinary incontinence and, in some breeds, increased risk of joint disease. The effects of an early spay on cancer risk are being studied, so ask your veterinarian for information on the current state of research.
Keeping all of this in mind, your veterinarian will work with you to determine their recommendation, which will be based on available data and the lifestyle of you and your pet. If your veterinarian recommends delaying the spay procedure until your dog is more full grown, make sure to review the estrous (heat) cycle of dogs and recommendations for avoiding accidental breeding.
A spay surgery is a major abdominal surgical procedure and requires that your puppy be put under general anesthesia. Because your dog will be anesthetized for the procedure, your veterinarian will recommend fasting your pup the night before surgery. If they eat the morning of surgery, they run the risk of vomiting while unconscious. This could cause them to inhale vomited material, leading to potentially life-threatening pneumonia.
You’ll usually notice one small incision on the midline of your puppy’s underbelly, just behind the umbilicus (belly button). The ovaries and uterus are removed through this incision. Some dogs may go home with absorbable sutures under the skin, while others may have skin sutures that need to be removed. Your VCA care team will tell you when to come back for suture removal (usually around 10 days).
Most spay surgeries are routine and go without a hitch. However, with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications. Prior to the surgery, the veterinary team will discuss potential complications with you, such as bleeding, infection and anesthetic risks.
Your puppy will usually go home the same day as surgery. Your veterinarian will send instructions on:
- Use of a cone-shaped e-collar that prevents them from licking their incision
- How to administer pain medications
- How to monitor the incision
- Follow-up appointments, if needed
- Activity restriction
- Avoiding bathing or getting the incision wet
One thing to note is that spayed dogs are at an increased risk of obesity, so make sure to check your dog’s body condition and weight regularly, and adjust feeding amounts when needed. Your VCA care team will help you determine how much to feed your dog.
If you plan to breed your dog, speak with your veterinarian about the risks as well as how to properly care for pregnant dogs and newborn puppies to ensure you’re prepared! It takes a lot of time, cost, effort and consistent veterinary care to have a healthy mom and pups.
The spay procedure can be added on to a CareClub® membership. Annual exams, rechecks and sick appointments1 are all included, along with the vaccines and yearly preventive services2 your pet needs to support their best health.
CareClub Memberships are preventive pet health care plans and not pet insurance. CareClub Membership covers only the selected health care services and products which are specifically identified in the applicable CareClub Membership agreement.
1. Covered services vary by CareClub plan. Unlimited exams are any exams during regular business hours, excluding specialty, emergency and telemedicine exams. Urgent care exams are available through CareClub until December 31, 2024, at select VCA Animal Hospitals Urgent Care locations.
2. Vaccines may include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, canine upper respiratory disease, canine influenza, leptospirosis and Lyme disease, depending on your location. Lab work checks for issues like diabetes, liver and kidney disease, parasites and general infections.
