Spaying Your Female Dog: Timing, Process, and Myths

Here's what you should know and expect when it comes to the spay surgery.

Author:
Whitney
Updated:
Dec 13, 2024 5:08 PM EST

The best way to prevent unwanted puppies is to spay your dog; this is an overview of the process.
Suzana Dreno via Getty Images, Image created via Canva

Spaying a Dog

I love all dogs, but that doesn't mean that I want puppies. When you adopt a dog from a shelter, the dog is generally already spayed or will be shortly after adoption. However, you may still have questions about the whole process. The best thing you can do to ease your insecurities is to make sure that you know everything you can about the surgery.

It is actually an important surgery because it will greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer and reduce the risk of an unwanted pregnancy by 100%. Regardless, spaying your female dog can feel scary. Below is the basic information that should, hopefully, ease any worries about having your precious pup spayed.

When to Spay a Female Dog: Should I Wait Until First Heat?

There are a lot of breeders who recommend that you wait until after the dog's first heat to get the dog spayed. This is because many people believe that a female dog is not fully done growing until she has her first heat—when she becomes an adult, so to speak.

Some theorize that spaying too early prevents the dog from maturing to its full size. (I personally believe that a dog will grow to its full potential no matter when you spay.)

Spaying Before the First Heat

Otherwise, the main concern is spaying the dog before the first heat. Some vets will spay females as early as six weeks old, given that the puppy weighs more than 5 pounds, but most vets wait until the puppy is at least six months old.

By spaying before the dog's first heat, you prevent an unwanted litter, and you give your pet more protection against developing breast cancer in the future.

The actual stats on preventing breast cancer are as follows:

A dog spayed before her first heat has a mere 0.5% risk of developing breast tumors later in life.
A dog spayed between her first and second heat has an 8% risk of developing breast tumors.
A dog spayed after her second heat has a 26% risk of developing breast tumors, which is the same as a dog who is not spayed.

Spaying After the First Heat

The only time that you really want to wait until after the first heat is if your female pup has severe vaginitis, as it may be resolved by letting her go through one heat cycle before spaying her.

If you wait too long, your dog's odds of developing a uterine infection called pyometra greatly increase. If you do not have the dog spayed by the time she's five years old, her odds of a uterine infection are pretty high. The treatment is to surgically remove the uterus, but if you don't notice the signs of the infection early enough, then there may not be anything the doctor can do.

Spaying During a Heat

Sometimes, you can get your dog spayed during her heat, but very few vets will actually do it, as it is more complicated (and expensive) during the heat.

I personally waited it out until my American Pit Bull Terrier was about eight months old before I had her spayed, trying to get as close as I could to her first heat without actually having to experience it.

What Is the Process of Spaying a Dog?

Although it is a pretty routine and basic surgery for vets, for a pet owner, it can be scary knowing that your beloved pup is going under anesthesia and having major surgery. It will calm your nerves if you understand the process.

Anesthesia and Monitoring

The basics involve your dog being put under general anesthesia just like a human would be using a breathing tube in the trachea that is connected to the anesthesia machine. Your dog's heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the procedure, as well.

Shaving and Making the Incision

Your dog will be positioned on her back on a heated surgical table. The hair on the abdomen is shaved, and the skin is cleaned with a surgical scrub. Using a scalpel, the vet will make an incision, and depending on the dog's size, the incision will vary between 1½ inches to 4 inches long.

Removing the Uterus and Ovaries

The vet will locate the uterus underneath the bladder and follow each horn of the uterus up to each ovary. Then, using clamps and sutures, the vet will tie off the blood vessels before he/she cuts the uterus and ovaries free to remove them.

Suturing and Recovering

The vet will then suture the abdominal muscles back together and then suture or glue the skin back together. The anesthesia is turned off, and the vet techs will watch your dog as she slowly wakes up, and she will be moved to a recovery kennel.

Sick and laying on the covered couch after getting spayed

What Happens After the Surgery?

Depending on your vet, they will either require that you leave your dog overnight or allow you to pick up your dog later in the evening. Some dogs will show some signs of discomfort after the surgery, but not all will.

In most cases, your dog will act completely normal after the surgery, but you want to monitor what the dog eats due to the anesthesia. Sometimes, dogs will react to the anesthesia just like humans do. Many vets will recommend that you half—or significantly reduce—the dog's normal diet for the first meal.

It took about three days for my APBT to fully recoup after surgery, as she got sick drinking water, much less eating an ice chip. It will typically take about 10 to 14 days for the incision to heal.

What Are the Risks of Spaying Your Dog?

The most severe complication is death from an unpredictable anesthetic reaction, excessive bleeding, or abdominal infection, but it is extremely rare for a healthy young dog to die as a result of being spayed. Other complications can include fever, pain, skin irritation from the sutures, or a reaction to the anesthesia (typically throwing up).

Myths About "Fixing" Your Dog

A few myths associated with spaying and neutering dogs include the following:

She will no longer want to protect her family or home. Protection is a natural instinct that cannot be taken away by removing hormones. The actual extent of the protection trait will depend on genetics, environment, and training.
She will get fat and lazy. This is more likely to be due to overfeeding or lack of exercise after the procedure.
She will either stay a puppy or revert to puppyhood forever. A dog's overall personality is very unlikely to change after surgery, nor will she forget any training.
It's expensive. Remember, spaying your dog once prevents a full litter of puppies that you have to feed, care for, and find homes for.
She'll be sad and upset with you because she can't have a litter of puppies. She doesn't want the puppies. You do. Your female dog will not act or behave any differently if you breed her once or never breed her at all. It's all animal instinct, and if you remove the hormones, for the most part, the instinct is gone.

Sources

Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. (n.d.). "Mammary Cancer in Female Dogs."
Hunter, Dr. T. et al. (n.d.). "Spaying in Dogs." VCA Animal Hospitals.
Llera, Dr. R. & Ward, Dr. E. (n.d.). "Vaginitis in Dogs." VCA Animal Hospitals.
Purina Institute. (n.d.). "Decreased Energy Needs in Pets After Spaying or Neutering."
Weir, Dr. M. & Ward, Dr. E. (n.d.). "Pyometra in Dogs." VCA Animal Hospitals.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Comments

Alicia on November 09, 2018:

No worries she has had IV fluids during surgery.I had my my 6 month old pup spayed on Tuesday. She was back to normal the next day. They give medication to last for 24 hrs. I just put a plastic bag under a she as she might go in her sleep. Tomorrow she will be much better.Most dogs dont eat or drink till 24 hrs. after surgery

Lupe Mcmillon on July 31, 2016:

I just had my 8 month old dog spayed 2 days ago on friday, and I noticed the next day that she now has a saggy/loose stomach, she has never had a litter , is this common afterwards, I'm a bit worried and I will be calling the vet Monday

concerned puppy mom on April 11, 2015:

i got my dog right before she came in heat but it has been 3 weeks and she is still spotting blood is there something wrong with her or I she almost done. I am take her to get spayed as soon as she is done just not sure how much longer it is going to be.

suzie on March 10, 2015:

I gotten my 5 pound maltese fixed before her first heat cycle at 6 months, and she's fine. The surgery went well, the only problem i had was she got a yearn attract affection from the surgery but the vet gave her a shot of antibiotic. She's the same dog, she's fine and healthy. I recommended it. But that my opinion.

Sarah Carlsley from Minnesota on March 07, 2013:

Very useful. Our dog is 5 months and we're debating getting her spayed (well I'm debating - my husband doesn't want to) but I'm pretty sure she will be having the surgery. Thanks for the information here.

Olga on October 26, 2012:

i found coco took her to SPCA no one clamed her so I adopted her she was just doing fine they send her to a vet to get fix and now throwing up Dirhia and won't eat I took her back to the vet they gaved her fluids and a shot still not eating Dirhia and losing lot of weight please help coco

andrea on October 09, 2012:

Ally, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog passing. I was extremely terrified of leaving my Lily at the vet, for reasons such as that. I couldn't imagine what you are going thru. I hope everything works out.

judy chartrand on August 24, 2012:

Ally, wow, I am very sorry, I know you are torn to bits.

I would be. This is a problem. Of course you were doing what is usually done with females, as I did, and now I am having problems with my female 3 years later.

Sometimes we don't know if we are doing the right thing, and when we make a decision, something goes wrong. I know that my dogs trust me to protect them, so I have put off having my Mini Schnauzer neutered, because of the complications I had with my Vizsla's spaying. If something happened to him, I may not be responsible for lashing out at the vet, or worse.

One of the things I have learned in all my years with my pets, is that you cannot completely trust a vets decision. You must educate yourself on all things, as much as is possible, and then make the choice, I have had to do this many times, going against the advice of a vet, to find out later the vet was not aware of certain dangers of vaccines, and treatments. I am not a vet, of course, but I was a nurse, and I know that sometimes certain procedures are just as risky for dogs, as they are for humans.

Ally on August 23, 2012:

I just got my year old yorkie spayed, on Monday I was told by my vet that she had done well and was recovering well. I picked her up at 4:30 pm brought her home and she slept til about 8:00pm. I tried giving her water and tried to feed her but she refused both. I gave her rimadyl for pain and she fell asleep til 11:30 and was moaning in pain. I called the vet and was told it was normal and that all dogs react different. She got up at 9:00 am and drank water and used the restroom and seemed Okay. At about 12:15 she started crying so I took her to the same vet they immediately took her to the back to be checked. The vet came out and told me that she thought that my dog wasn't responding well to the pain killers and they were going to give her a shot of morphine and send her home with painkillers. The vet recommended blood work, about half an hour later the vet came and told me that my dog had stopped breathing and they had to perform CPR and had machines breathing for her. She said my dogs body went into shock from the surgery and she devolved pancreatitis and her heart was going into shock and she didn't think she was going to make it. She then asked if I wanted to euthanize her or allow her to pass on her own. She walked out of the room and said she would give me a minute and walked back in saying that my dogs heart had stopped. I was in shock and was upset. I loved my Ally more than anything in this world and wanted some kind of closure of how she passed away. Nothing made sense to me in how it all happened