One Heat Cycle Before Spaying? Â Your Carmel Animal Hospital Explains
One of the best things about working at our Carmel animal hospital is that I frequently get to meet new people that have just gotten their very own puppy. Â These are always very exciting visits with lots of education about various dog health topics and behavioral issues. Â One topic we always discuss is spaying or neutering the dog.
Why should I spay my dog? Â If you have to ask this question, you haven’t visited the Humane Society for Hamilton County. Â I do a lot of work for the Humane Society helping to provide surgery for the pets without families yet. Â The pet overpopluation problem is most obvious reason, but there are many others that impact your personal dog too. Â I often see intact female dogs at my Carmel animal hospital that develop a uterus infection. Â This is a life-threatening problem and can be eliminated by spaying. Â A recent study from the University of Illinois veterinary school showed that dogs that have been spayed live an average of 28% longer than intact female dogs. Â Not having to deal with bleeding and a diaper for 2 weeks twice a year is also nice. Â I recommend spaying for every dog unless they will be used for breeding, as a working dogs, or show dog.
When should I spay my dog? Â I recommend spaying your dog at 6 months of age. Â This surgery can be performed younger and often is for dogs adopted out of shelters to ensure they don’t send 6 more puppies back into the shelter, but 6 months is ideal for your pet.
Should I let my dog go through one heat cycle? Â The answer is NO for most dogs. Â The more heat cycles your dog goes through increases the chances for developing breast cancer later in life. Â If you spay the dog at our Carmel animal hospital before the first heat, you essentially remove any chance of breast cancer. Â There is one common reason we recommend that you do allow one heat cycle to occur with your dog. Â Some dogs develop a skin fold over the vulva that can trap urine and moisture which leads to skin infections later in life. Â This will be examined at our Carmel animal hospital to determine if this potential problem exists.
Like Bob Barker always said, “Have your pet spayed or neutered.” Â For more information on our Caring Hands, Compassionate Hearts, click on this link to your Carmel Animal Hospital.