Comment

Comment by Charlie on September 6, 2008 at 12:36pm

Wow! Thanks for all the comments guys! I was a little skeptical if it was true or not about waiting vs not waiting.. but you can never be too sure.

Again thank you all for your help!

Comment by Sarah C. on September 5, 2008 at 8:26pm

It depends on if you want to take her to a shelter or an organization that does it cheap, or a vet.
I've never heard that it's not good to fix a dog after their first heat. I've even heard some people say you should wait till after their first heat.

Comment by Sam Tsang on September 5, 2008 at 7:44pm

Hi Charlie, it is not true, it is absolutely okay to get her fixed after her first cycle. Here's a previous thread on costs and places to go for low cost procedure.

Comment by Carmen on September 5, 2008 at 7:36pm

You can get your dog fixed at any point. It's best to get it done before she goes into heat again. The spay procedure is pretty routine. Usually, you'll drop her off in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. Some vets keep the dog overnight. If I remember right, we paid about $125 for Pandora to be spayed. Check around where you live, there may be vets who perform spays for a discounted price. Ask at the nearby humane society or shelter.

Comment by Kristen on September 5, 2008 at 5:11pm

It is not try that it is a bad thing to get a dog fixed that has gone through a heat cycle.It won't be a problem to have her fixed. In fact, it is what is best for her. Spayed females live longer and it eliminates some common cancer risks as well as an unexpected pregnancy--it just takes one little mistake. Costs will vary from vet to vet and they type of surgery options (laser vs standard). I think there are some programs available to help offset the cost--you will need to check to see what is available in your area. You can expect to spend about $150 and up without assistance. All of the female dogs that I have owned have come through the surgery with no problems and the biggest concern following surgery was trying to keep them from doing too much. It is a significant surgery, but I do believe it is in the best interest of your dog and they almost act as if nothing happened within a day or two. Helps to simplify your life as well! All the best!

Comment by Lou Ann Lemaster on September 5, 2008 at 4:20pm

I know of no reason why you still can't have her fixed. I would call several places and ask what they charge for their procedures. When I was looking for two cats I had, a female and a male, I found one place that did both of them for $120!!! And that included their first shots. Was I ever surprised. Anyway, just sit down and make the calls, and you might end up with them as your permanent vets, I did.

Comment by Carlie on September 5, 2008 at 3:43pm

I work at our dog's veterinary hospital, and while most veterinarians highly suggest you spay your dog before the first heat, many say that it's better to do it now than never. The reason for this is because the risk for Pyometria increases the older the female dog gets. Some pricing at veterinarian hospitals is dependent upon the age of the dog, it also is dependent upon whether or not the dog has had her first heat, just because the surgery is a little more complicated, but it's not necessarily "bad" to get her fixed after she's gone through her first heat. Our hospital is one of the more expensive ones in the area, and our spays run about $481, which includes the medicine, e-collar, recheck and suture removal. I would ask around and definitely find a good vet that is AAHA accredited. Hope this helps.