We get a lot of questions here at British Dogs about spaying female dogs and the effects the procedure can have on them in relation to behaviour, weight and other health related knock ons.
Here’s an example of the sort of question we receive regarding spaying female dogs:
Is it safe to spay a female dog while she is in season?
“Being the forgetful person that I am, getting my female dog spayed has always slipped the calender. Now she is in heat and it is worse than ever! I would like to have her fixed by getting an operation this week but was wondering if it were a problem to get her spayed while during her heat session.”
Answer:
It’s better not to spay a dog while she’s in season since it involves some risks that otherwise would not be present. When the female is in heat, her uterus and blood vessels are enlarged, and this is what poses the risk. However, if it is necessary, any competent veterinary surgeon can perform the operation.
All of the veterinarians that we have researched and asked about this situation agree that they would attempt to talk to a dog owner out of requesting the surgery until the animal had completed the heat cycle; but if conditions warranted the immediate surgery, they all agreed that they would perform it – after first making the elements of risk known to the dog owner.
Our friends at K9 Magazine have put together a really comprehensive guide that covers a lot of the bases regarding spaying female dogs and neutering in the male dog. Read dog spaying and neutering.
