When Can a Dog Be Spayed?
Generally speaking, dogs can (and often are) be spayed at any time during their life. However, most people choose to have their dogs spayed at some point between six and nine months.
Let's take a closer look at what spaying entails, why you should consider doing it during puppyhood, and everything else you need to know about when dogs can be spayed.
How Are Dogs Spayed?
The first thing you need to know about when to get your dog spayed is how the process works.
Spaying or surgical sterilization of dogs is fairly major surgery, but it is one that most dogs get through just fine. The surgery itself can vary. In some cases, vets might only remove the ovaries, or they might remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus of the dog during surgery.
All of these things make it impossible for your dog to get pregnant.
The surgery itself is usually fairly quick and is done under general anesthesia, but many dogs are able to go home the same day. In fact, most spay surgeries will take between 20 and 90 minutes, so with recovery and observation time, they'll almost certainly be ready to go home the same day.
What Age Should Dogs Be Spayed At?
Usually, when it comes to spaying and neutering dogs, your veterinarian will aim to do it before they reach sexual maturity, but once they are already juveniles.
In smaller dogs, that is usually somewhere between 6 and 9 months, but sometimes, in larger or giant breeds, it may be a little later.
It's always best to speak to your veterinarian and find out what they recommend.
Can Dogs Be Spayed Later In Life?
Absolutely. Dogs can be spayed at any age. Many are spayed later in life, often even after they have had one or more litters of puppies.
Many breeders also spay their dogs once they are being retired as breeding stock. They do this because by removing the reproductive organs, you can avoid many potential reproductive-related diseases and conditions, and it's just safer for your dog.
Sometimes, dogs are also spayed during whelping if they have had complications, and in that case, spaying can be considered emergency, life-saving surgery.
What Is Recovery Like After Spaying?
Spaying is major abdominal surgery, so you can expect your dog to be a little sore after the procedure is done. They're also likely to come home while they're still a little anesthetized, so you can expect them to be slow and sleepy.
Once the anesthesia wears off, most dogs will be sore for a few days to a week, and your veterinarian might give you pain medication to help them cope during these early days. Keep them calm, still, and away from other pets and kids. A quiet corner with a pee pad, a comfy bed, and food and water within easy reach is the perfect spot for the first few days.
Most dogs will start feeling better within a few days to a week of their surgery, but it's important that you don't allow them to get too active or have access to their stitches. They can still injure themselves, tear stitches, and so on for a while, so make sure any walks and playtime are supervised and sedate.
In fact, most vets will say that full recovery will take 10 to 14 days, so even if your dog is feeling much better before then, you still want to keep them as calm and still as possible.
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When your dog has had surgery like being spayed, it's very important that they don't have easy access to their incision or stitches. An Elizabethan collar or even an inflatable collar can help initially, but most dogs really don't like wearing those when they are up and about! A surgical recovery onesie like this one can help to ensure that your dog can move around as freely as possible but still keep their surgical site safe and clean. |
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Is Spaying Painful for Dogs?
Spaying is major surgery, and there's always going to be some pain after that.
However, recovery from spay surgery is relatively quick, and your dog will be right back to its usual self within a couple of weeks.
Just make sure you follow your vet's orders for the recovery period, and if your dog has pain medication and antibiotics, make sure they take them as prescribed.
Do Dogs Change After Spaying?
Dogs are a lot like people in that reaching sexual maturity changes our personalities.
If your dog is spayed early, they won't reach that point, so they're likely to be calmer, gentler, and less aggressive than they would have otherwise.
However, if your dog was spayed later in life, their personality is already formed, and you're not likely to notice any changes after this kind of surgery.
Some female dogs that are spayed will gain more weight, since they are effectively in menopause, but controlling diet and exercise is always the solution.
Alternatives to Spaying Your Dog
If you aren't sure if you want to have your dog spayed, or are considering alternatives to traditional spay surgery like ovary preserving surgery or something else, be sure to talk to your vet.
Female dogs who aren't spayed are always at risk of conditions like pyometra and even certain kinds of cancer, and of course, there's always the risk of unwanted and unplanned puppies.
Generally, spaying your dog is safe and a healthy choice, and it's a great way to keep your bestie healthier and happier for life.