When Should You Spay Your Female Puppy?

Every year millions of dogs are abandoned. Many of these animals are the result of unwanted pregnancies. Even dog breeders find themselves with more dogs than they can sell. The best way to avoid an undesired pregnancy is to have the female dog spayed.

Some people are hesitant to have their purebred dog spayed because they plan on breeding them. However, they should consider that 25 percent of the dogs in animal shelters are purebred. People find themselves with dogs that do not sell and find that they cannot handle the time or expense needed to raise puppies.

Dogs can generally be spayed when they are at least 8 weeks old and weigh over two pounds. The age and weight requirements may vary depending on the breed. However, it is best to have the dog spayed before it has its first heat.

Spaying while the dog is young is best because puppies are able to recover faster than adult dogs. The surgery will be easier for them, and their healing time will be reduced. Spaying early also reduces the rate of some diseases they may encounter as they grow older.

Spaying early can help to reduce the dog's risk for mammary cancer. The chances of developing this cancer increases after the dog has its first heat cycle. Spaying can also reduce the risk of a Pyometra Bacteria infection.

Most dogs have their first heat in their first 5 to 12 months of life. However, because toy breeds mature faster they may have their first heat within the first five months. For that reason, it's important to start looking into spaying options somewhere between the first two to four months of your puppy's life.

There are a number of low-cost options that make it inexpensive to get your pet spayed and neutered. Check with your local animal shelter or ASPCA for low-cost or free spaying options in your community. Spaying should be considered one of the costs of having a pet, like food or veterinary expenses.

Some people don't spay their female dogs and when she has a litter of puppies, they give them away or sell them. If these puppies are not spayed or neutered this cycle can repeat itself over and over. As a responsible pet owner, it's important that each dog in your care is either spayed or neutered.

Some people fear that spaying a puppy will change the puppy's personality or behavior. Generally there is no real change in the level of playfulness or friendliness a dog displays. Their personality will remain the same. The only change will be a reduction in behaviors associated with a dog being in their heat cycle.

Dogs have an overpopulation problem. There are over 6 million homeless pets in animal shelters in a given year. Many of these animals will never find a home. In order to keep the population down and eliminate the number of dogs sent to animal shelters, do your part as a responsible pet owner and get your dog spayed.