Charlotte is a good girl, isn't she? She's loyal, brave, obedient and good-natured to a fault.
Maybe you have gotten it into your head that you don't want her breeding.
You have no desire or use for a litter of puppies and you know that getting her fixed is the responsible thing to do.
Even so, at times you're unsure.
The thought, "What if she hates me?" might pass through your head.
Well, stop there a moment.
Dogs and cats breed by instinct.
Unlike humans, there is no 'desire' to have a baby.
They breed purely because of their genetic predisposition to secure the line.
Dogs also do not have sexual relations for fun, unlike us (and some dolphins and apes).
Removing her uterus won't alter her personality.
Any traits she has are based on upbringing, the environment in which you've raised her and training.
The only thing you are removing is her hormonal drive to reproduce and further the species.
The point of this article however, isn't to advocate for or against spaying, but rather, when.
The argument exists that health complications can arise from doing it too early.
But they can also arise from doing it too late.
First, let's start with the basics.
What happens? Anatomy of a Spaying The spaying itself is the sort of procedure that any vet worth his or her salt can do half asleep, but you, as any good parent of a perfect pooch will know, it's no picnic.
You worry and fuss, potentially upsetting your dog too (they're empathic, you know, and can pick up on our feelings).
That said, the dog is given a general anesthetic to put her to sleep, an incision is made, the vet clamps off major arteries and blood vessels, then removes the uterus and the ovaries.
Last, he stitches or otherwise seals up the cut and suturus the patient's abdomen closed.
Once the anesthetic wears off and she wakes up, provided there are no immediate complications, she is then moved to what amounts to the recovery ward that humans go to following surgery.
In very rare cases dogs can become ill from the anesthesia, some have even died from it.
The risk of this occurs as often as it does with humans, approximately 2% or less.
Certainly it leaves them feeling yucky.
They tend to react just how we do to going under.
This is why care must be taken to make sure she is well-cared for and monitored afterwards and in the following days.
There can be no denying the importance and necessity of the procedure but the question remains, when? To Wait or Not to Wait? Some will advocate the surgery be done no later than eight weeks, at or around the same time the pup is weaned and is on regular food.
This is also when she usually gets her first shots and, most importantly, before her first heat or estrus cycle.
Others may say that you should wait until she hits puberty and gets her first heat (the heat of course brings with it its own set of problems, but that's for a different article).
The health risks and benefits that Charlotte will face depend mostly upon what type of dog she is, and how old she is when you do it.
Beyond the risks and benefits, spaying Charlotte prior to her first heat cycle makes for a far simpler procedure.
If you wait until afterwards, it complicates the matter considerably (and makes it more expensive).
One of the most important benefits seen in not waiting, or having her fixed right before her first estrus cycle is that it greatly decreases the risk of mammary (breast) cancer.
Literally, the odds go from 1:1 for an intact dog, they drop by nearly three quarters for a dog who has had two or more before being fixed, to less than a 10th of a percent for one, and even less than that for catching it well in advance of her first cycle.
So it would seem that spaying early is the best option, but as with any health questions you may have, consult your vet if you are unsure.
He or she will be able to give you the best answer based on Charlotte's breed and will be able to determine the optimum course of action once you have set definitely upon the idea of getting her fixed.
Then once you do, you can breathe a sigh of relief, bringing her home, knowing that your furry friend has come through unscathed and you can look forward to years and years together.
Maybe you have gotten it into your head that you don't want her breeding.
You have no desire or use for a litter of puppies and you know that getting her fixed is the responsible thing to do.
Even so, at times you're unsure.
The thought, "What if she hates me?" might pass through your head.
Well, stop there a moment.
Dogs and cats breed by instinct.
Unlike humans, there is no 'desire' to have a baby.
They breed purely because of their genetic predisposition to secure the line.
Dogs also do not have sexual relations for fun, unlike us (and some dolphins and apes).
Removing her uterus won't alter her personality.
Any traits she has are based on upbringing, the environment in which you've raised her and training.
The only thing you are removing is her hormonal drive to reproduce and further the species.
The point of this article however, isn't to advocate for or against spaying, but rather, when.
The argument exists that health complications can arise from doing it too early.
But they can also arise from doing it too late.
First, let's start with the basics.
What happens? Anatomy of a Spaying The spaying itself is the sort of procedure that any vet worth his or her salt can do half asleep, but you, as any good parent of a perfect pooch will know, it's no picnic.
You worry and fuss, potentially upsetting your dog too (they're empathic, you know, and can pick up on our feelings).
That said, the dog is given a general anesthetic to put her to sleep, an incision is made, the vet clamps off major arteries and blood vessels, then removes the uterus and the ovaries.
Last, he stitches or otherwise seals up the cut and suturus the patient's abdomen closed.
Once the anesthetic wears off and she wakes up, provided there are no immediate complications, she is then moved to what amounts to the recovery ward that humans go to following surgery.
In very rare cases dogs can become ill from the anesthesia, some have even died from it.
The risk of this occurs as often as it does with humans, approximately 2% or less.
Certainly it leaves them feeling yucky.
They tend to react just how we do to going under.
This is why care must be taken to make sure she is well-cared for and monitored afterwards and in the following days.
There can be no denying the importance and necessity of the procedure but the question remains, when? To Wait or Not to Wait? Some will advocate the surgery be done no later than eight weeks, at or around the same time the pup is weaned and is on regular food.
This is also when she usually gets her first shots and, most importantly, before her first heat or estrus cycle.
Others may say that you should wait until she hits puberty and gets her first heat (the heat of course brings with it its own set of problems, but that's for a different article).
The health risks and benefits that Charlotte will face depend mostly upon what type of dog she is, and how old she is when you do it.
Beyond the risks and benefits, spaying Charlotte prior to her first heat cycle makes for a far simpler procedure.
If you wait until afterwards, it complicates the matter considerably (and makes it more expensive).
One of the most important benefits seen in not waiting, or having her fixed right before her first estrus cycle is that it greatly decreases the risk of mammary (breast) cancer.
Literally, the odds go from 1:1 for an intact dog, they drop by nearly three quarters for a dog who has had two or more before being fixed, to less than a 10th of a percent for one, and even less than that for catching it well in advance of her first cycle.
So it would seem that spaying early is the best option, but as with any health questions you may have, consult your vet if you are unsure.
He or she will be able to give you the best answer based on Charlotte's breed and will be able to determine the optimum course of action once you have set definitely upon the idea of getting her fixed.
Then once you do, you can breathe a sigh of relief, bringing her home, knowing that your furry friend has come through unscathed and you can look forward to years and years together.
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