You’ve been meaning to get your dog fixed but for some reason, she came into heat way too soon! It’s common for both cats and dogs to experience their very first heat cycle at six months of age or up to a year. However, there are some that could start experiencing the cycle as early as four months old. This can put your plans into disarray, especially if you’ve already marked your spaying schedule months ahead.
In fact, most vets would recommend that you wait for the heat cycle to complete before taking the pet in for the procedure. This is to ensure that the surgery is performed safely. You’ll save on the costs too if you wait since spaying a pet while it’s in heat can be more expensive.
The age, size, and overall state of your pet’s health will also need to be factored in. At the end of the day, it really is the interest and safety of your beloved furry friend that will count the most.
Possible Risks of Spaying Dogs in Heat
An ovariohysterectomy or a spay surgery means that the reproductive organs of a dog are removed. This includes the ovaries, the uterus, as well as the fallopian tubes. While considered to be a common and routine procedure that veterinarians perform, it is also one of the most difficult.
This is even more so when the subject is a dog in heat. While spaying is possible even when the dog is in heat, the surgery will usually take a lot longer to complete. This is because the tissues in the reproductive organs will be swollen so they will ooze blood. With the blood vessel engorged, there is a very high risk of bleeding. Tissues will also be more fragile at this stage as well so knots are likely to pull through which could lead to possible internal bleeding.
The surgery is going to be quite stressful and will be doubly so in breeds that are deep-chested and larger. It’s also for these reasons that veterinarians are likely to charge you more if you insist on getting a dog in heat spayed.
A Guide on How to Decide
If you’re not sure whether it is best to proceed with the procedure or not, consider the following:
Considering the Dog’s Pregnancy Risk
This is the most crucial consideration. If there’s a very high possibility that the dog can become pregnant, then going for the surgery while it is still in heat may be worth it.
Coping with the Nuisance
There will be certain inconveniences that you’ll have to deal with when a dog is in heat. For instance, she may attract male dogs. There will be blood spots too. There may even be some changes in the dog’s attitude. If these nuisances are things you can deal with, then it is best to wait until the cycle is over.
Vets at the Parkside Animal Health Center will be more than happy to assist you in getting your poet fixed even when she is in heat, however, it is a procedure they highly discourage. Nevertheless, you can be guaranteed that they will handle it with your pet’s safety and recovery at the top of their priority list.
Ultimately, it will be up to you whether to go through or not with the spay procedure despite having a dog in heat. Considering that it’s a complicated procedure, it is also important to consider your vet’s recommendations, while others might do it for a high price, most will just flat out say no and will recommend that you wait it out. Keeping your pet inside for the rest of her cycle will help ensure that she won’t get pregnant.
