Puppy's first heat

[RykonosPerfecto]

When is the soonest I can take her in to be spayed?

[Ghilly]

It takes the female's body approximately 40 days to completely return to normal following a heat cycle.  During a heat cycle it is riskier to spay because the blood vessels in and around the uterus are engorged with blood, increasing the possibility of a hemorrhage during surgery.  

By waiting until about 40 days post-estrus the blood vessels return to their normal size and the likelihood of surgical complications returns to normal as well.  

Some vets will spay while the female is in heat, but because of the increased risk they charge more money for the surgery, in some clinics almost double.  If you go to a small hospital with only one doctor he or she will probably not spay during a heat mainly because there is not another doctor there to assist should a hemorrhage take place.  If it's a larger, multi-vet practice they will probably do it, but again, the charge will reflect the risk involved.

Ghilly

[JanisM13]

Excellent information,thanks for filling in the blanks I
left out Margot..
One more thing,IF your dog is in heat(female) some
vets will not spay them until they are out of season,
a heat cycle last 3 weeks,one coming in when the
swelling starts in their vulva( where they pee) you
can see the swelling and this first week is when the
dog will be bleeding bright red blood( usually spots
not massive bleeding) My vet waits until they've
been out of heat for 2 weeks before he will spay
as there is added risks if spayed when they're in
season and bleeding,he wants them fully over a
cycle before surgery.
Second week is when they usually are able to be
bred by the male,the discharge will be light pink to
no visible color,third week going out and they will
start to bleed (spotting) again,although dogs have
been bred while in this going out time too...so you
know what to look for,,,best thing is to keep them
away from all males for the whole 3 weeks. Do not
even let them out alone in in your fenced yard as
males can smell they're in season and have been
known to climb over or dig uner fences so go out
with her to potty,then bring her in and don't walk
her away and back home from your property if
she's in season,brings the scent right back to the
house if they pee on the walk.
Yes, as Margot asked, why breed is your 'lil girl
and how old is she now?
Jan

[Margot49]

Is she in heat now?  The Shelters and a lot of rescues do spay/neuter at a very young age, often as young as 8 weeks.  It used to be recommended you wait until between 6-9 months of age.  Some recommend before the first heat cycle and some recommend after the first heat.  I think some studies were done showing there was a lower risk of mammary Cancer in females spay before their first cycle.  Due to bone growth, etc. In large breeds it is recommended you wait until after 1 year to close to 2 years of age.  I have dogs spay or neutered at different ages. I have a little rescue here that was spay at about 4 months.  I have another small make rescue here that was neutered at probably a year and a half old.  Having a female on season can be messy and you have to be "very" vigilant about keeping an eye on her, especially when she is outside.  How old is your pup and what breed?

[JanisM13]

Different vets have different ideas on this,my personal vet
spayed or neutered my puppies when they were over 2
pounds and they were altered by the time they were 2-1/2
months old.Females can come into their first season by
5 to 6 months of age depending on breed and size,I did
have 2 very tiny Yorkies who were not spayed until 10
months because they were under 2 pounds until then
but this is not the normal thing..
Some humane societies alter at 6 weeks of age which I
feel is WAY TOO YOUNG...some vet want you to wait
until a pet is 6 months old,best to ask your vet what they
suggest.
BE SURE( think most veterinarians now do use gas) but
you need to be sure (ask them) if they use gas when they
alter your pet. With gas they can regulate the amount given
and when the gas it turned off within seconds the dog/cat
is coming up and out from under the anesthetic.
Jan