Question

[MaxMason]

Well since I've always had male dogs, I was wondering when I should get Ginger spayed. She is a little over 5 months old now going on 6 months Feb, 4th. I definately don't want puppies and I know she's prolly on the verge of her first heat cycle.

Now atm I've been paying alot of bills and really can't afford the $100 to get her spayed just yet. Around Feburary I'll be able to go ahead and do it, now my next question is they say its better to get it done before there first heat cycle. Now what if she has her first heat cycle and I get her spayed afterwards, will this hurt her in the long run? Also what do I look for when she does go in heat? I assume there is discharge of blood correct?

I'm just a bit worried cause if she goes in heat before I can get this done, then I'm afraid it might affect her health. Guess I just need advice from you experienced female owners Thanks as always

[EliNHunter]

What a sweet little girl you've got! You're best to do it now and not let her get her first heat. She will most likely go into heat at 9 months, I think. Its best to spay her before her first heat.

[EliNHunter]

And yes... you are correct that she will bleed when she's in heat... just like a human female...

[MaxMason]

Originally Posted by EliNHunter

What a sweet little girl you've got! You're best to do it now and not let her get her first heat. She will most likely go into heat at 9 months, I think. Its best to spay her before her first heat.

Hope your right and it is 9 months, gives me plenty of time to do this. I will be able to do it in about 3 weeks or maybe sooner. Lets just hope that first heat doesn't happen before then. From what I've been reading the surgery is alot easier to do if they haven't had there first heat. But then again I never have much luck, so watch her go in heat tomorrow lol that would be just my luck.

[Renee750il]

Just a warning - from another dog owner who always had males and is now dealing with females: if you don't realize she's in season until you see blood droplets you may be in trouble if she's been around intact males. You'll start noticing differences in her behaviour, she may get moody, cranky, needy, whiney (think PMS); her "female regions" will start swelling somewhat and she will probably lick at herself more. If there are other dogs around you'll see them start to sniff at her more and as she comes closer to her fertile period she'll move through a spell where she'll snap at them. This is about when you should start to see some blood. As the days go on, she'll become willing to "stand" for the male dog. You want to be sure she's well sequestered from any other males well before this happens. No going outside unless she's on a leash in an enclosed area. Accidental pregnancies happen in a flash.

Hope this helps you know what to look for! I've been through several of these with the Filas. It is SO not fun!

And different dogs mature at different rates. Buffy went through her first heat just after six months . . .

[MaxMason]

Originally Posted by Renee750il

Just a warning - from another dog owner who always had males and is now dealing with females: if you don't realize she's in season until you see blood droplets you may be in trouble if she's been around intact males. You'll start noticing differences in her behaviour, she may get moody, cranky, needy, whiney (think PMS); her "female regions" will start swelling somewhat and she will probably lick at herself more. If there are other dogs around you'll see them start to sniff at her more and as she comes closer to her fertile period she'll move through a spell where she'll snap at them. This is about when you should start to see some blood. As the days go on, she'll become willing to "stand" for the male dog. You want to be sure she's well sequestered from any other males well before this happens. No going outside unless she's on a leash in an enclosed area. Accidental pregnancies happen in a flash.

Hope this helps you know what to look for! I've been through several of these with the Filas. It is SO not fun!

And different dogs mature at different rates. Buffy went through her first heat just after six months . . .

Yeah thanks alot Renee, unfortunately we have 2 males that live behind us and I'm sure with their iresponsible owners they haven't been neutred. Now my worry is this if she has had her first heat cycle, which I don't think she has and I get her spayed this shouldn't affect her long term health should it?

What really makes me upset is the 2 dog owners we got behind us never and I mean never come out and play with their dogs. Matter of fact the one behind us don't even have a dog house with these cold temperatures. Some people just shouldn't have pets

P.S. Oh one more thing surely they couldn't do it through a chain length fence could they?

[ChiliBeans]

The sooner you get your dog spayed, the less likely she is to have any complications, such as mammary cancer, later on in life. However, just getting her spayed will improve her chances of having better health long-term. We got our dog spayed at two years old, and she got through the surgery just fine. Getting her spayed earlier would have been ideal, but we were waiting for the funds as well. Good luck!

[MaxMason]

Originally Posted by ChiliBeans

The sooner you get your dog spayed, the less likely she is to have any complications, such as mammary cancer, later on in life. However, just getting her spayed will improve her chances of having better health long-term. We got our dog spayed at two years old, and she got through the surgery just fine. Getting her spayed earlier would have been ideal, but we were waiting for the funds as well. Good luck!

Yeah I'm going to have it done this week, just going to have to and just be broke for a few days :P I have noticed her licking herself but I looked down there and it doesn't look swollen to me. Didn't see any evidence of blood droplets either, so don't think it has happened yet. Have been seeing the males smelling her more, so I imagine she is on the verge of it. Going to try and get her in tomorrow, and I hope they don't keep her overnight. They didn't with Max, but maybe females are different.

[Renee750il]

Sorry to tell you this, but they can manage through a chain link fence!

Those poor neighbor dogs! It's heartbreaking to see dogs living like that and not realistically be able to do much about it. Theoretically you can always report them to animal control, but that often ends up with your dog being teased, tormented, injured or poisoned in retribution.

I guess I'd probably have to try to sneak and drop a bale or two of straw over the fence for them if I couldn't do anything else, although the older I get the easier it is for me to talk to people about taking care of their dogs.

[MaxMason]

Originally Posted by Renee750il

Sorry to tell you this, but they can manage through a chain link fence!

Those poor neighbor dogs! It's heartbreaking to see dogs living like that and not realistically be able to do much about it. Theoretically you can always report them to animal control, but that often ends up with your dog being teased, tormented, injured or poisoned in retribution.

I guess I'd probably have to try to sneak and drop a bale or two of straw over the fence for them if I couldn't do anything else, although the older I get the easier it is for me to talk to people about taking care of their dogs.

Yeah I don't want any trouble cause if someone messed with my dog, it would prolly end up me being in jail, which I don't need that. Have thought about sneaking some treats over there when its dark, cause I imagine they don't even know what a treat is. What I will never understand is why in the living hell do people have dogs if they aren't willing to at least play with them and give them affection?

I noticed the other day the male dog directly behind us has been scratching himself alot, I bet he has fleas or mites or maybe even allergies, but I guarentee you this stupid lady behind us don't take him to the vet. Matter of fact I never see her come out and even play with him, same thing with the other dog on the other side of us. This lady behind us has a son and I've seen him hit dogs before, and he was over there this morning and that male dog acted like he was scared to death of him. This is the reason why I love animals better than people, anyway /rant off

And yeah going to get Ginger spayed this week, hopefully tomorrow.

P.S. Thanks for the responses everyone