My dog is in heat. Can I spay her now? What about age, size, recovery?

Most veterinarians do not like performing a spay surgery when the previous heat cycle occurred within the last 30-40 days. It sounds like that is not likely to be the case. The reason for this is become the uterus and ovaries tend to be much more difficult to handle and vulnerable to tearing during surgical removal. The speed of the surgical procedure is largely dependent upon the surgical approach, the tools available, and the skill of the surgeon. I have seen spays done in 5-10 minutes while I have seen some doctors take an hour and a half. Hope this helps.

Many veterinarians prefer to wait to spay until after they are out of heat. It can be done while they are in heat, but there is an increased risk of bleeding, and they may charge an additional fee as it takes longer. On average estrus lasts for 9 days, but can last up to 24 days. I recommend rescheduling your spay until after vaginal discharge stops and her vulva is no longer swollen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Good on you for getting Precious spayed! As with any surgery, of course there will be risks, but it is a routine surgery and it's not often that things go wrong. It's good that she handled the anesthesia well in 2015, and your vet will check to make sure that her organs are functioning well so that the anesthesia and surgery will go as smoothly as possible. In addition, there will be someone monitor her anesthesia at all times during the surgery to make sure it goes as well as possible. It won't change her personality, but she will likely be a little sleepy and painful the first couple of days after surgery. Your vet will send home pain medications for her to help her be more comfortable. Typically we see dogs bounce back pretty quickly from a spay, and it's extremely important you keep her as quiet as possible while she is recovering. No running, jumping, or playing at all under her sutures are removed. Too much exercise and movement post surgery can lead to complications, which is why it's so important to keep Precious quiet. You also need to make sure she doesn't lick her incision site and sutures, and she will likely be sent home with an Ecollar. Dogs typically don't like them, but she has to wear it all the time to make sure she doesn't mess with her incision. As hard as it is, try not to worry, she will be in good hands with your vet. I hope this helps!

Recovery will take approximately two weeks in most dogs. During this time, it is recommended to prevent or avoid excessive running, jumping or rough play. An e-collar (cone) is typically work until sutures (stitches) are removed 10-14 days after surgery. It should be left on at all times to prevent licking or chewing at the spay site. There is no reason Daisy cannot be left alone as long as she has someone to let her out to use the bathroom.

Incision lengths vary from surgeon to surgeon. Since incisions heal from side to side and not from end to end, it takes a short incision the same time to heal as a long incision. Your vet will give you written instructions on how to treat your dog after surgery. Here is a sample: http://files.dvm360.com/alfresco_images/DVM360//2014/09/26/ca50e33b-4a98-4584-bf15-dbf0f2a912c7/handout_afterspay_neuter.pdf Healing times will vary but the incision should be healed after 10 to 14 days. All will be well.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No, the care would be the same. Give her medications as prescribed. Strictly rest her: no running, jumping, playing with other dogs and leash walks only for 2 weeks. Use an E-collar or T-shirt to prevent licking of the incision. Watch for increased lethargy, anorexia, or labored breathing. Bleeding is a complication of a spay regardless of if they are in heat or not. Luna should be fine!!

Your vet should go over instructions for her aftercare based on the surgery. In general we recommend restricting activity untli the sutures are removed, which is normally 7 to 10 days. Unless she has had an upset stomach we can usually give them their normal food, just in small amounts initially to be sure the anesthetic didn't make them nauseous and they aren't going to vomit. As far as how long the surgery will take, that will depend on your vet's office and where the bump being removed is located. You should contact your vet for information on when she will be ready for pick-up from surgery, and at discharge/when she goes home,they should provide you with their specific instructions for aftercare. If they do not, then please ask them for details. Best of luck to you and Precious!