I have a new puppy which I am sure some of you read and have a few questions.. - when can he get fixed he is 8 weeks old now - has anyone used the mobile unit that comes around clayton - what is the recovery like thanks
thanks, I will wait til he is 6 months just to let some of the puppy get out of him, right now he is very active and is loving to play...
Good idea to ask the vet. Do you have one? If not, Cleveland Community is great. They've taken care of my crew and even saved a life
Pediatric spay and neuter is on the rise. For a male, the surgery is much simpler than for a female, just like with humans ;-) The SPCA of Wake spayed and neutered animals that were over a certain weight...some as early as 7 weeks old. Talk to your vet. For the mobile unit go to www.snap-nc.org Their info will answer a lot of your questions, or phone them about anything you might not understand. The recovery is generally quicker on a younger animal than on an older one. You will want to be sure for the first couple of days you can keep your dog indoors after it's surgery as after anestesia, they can not regulate their body temperature as well. Usually for males within a couple of days they are just like new. Females usually a week, although both are up and moving hours after surgery. You just want to keep them from running and jumping...keep them quiet for a few days so they can heal.
I have heard, do not know for a fact, that it is better for the males to wait till they are 6 months old or so to give their "parts" time to mature, I believe I was told that they could have urinary problems later in life it is done too early. This was in regards to cats, may not be true for dogs. Definately a call to your vet is in order.
Don't know what you mean by maturing "parts," but there is definately no problem with S/N cats earlier. My preference is 15-16 weeks because then they are old enough to get a rabies shot and a 1-year FVRCP. I have had them done as young as 10 weeks, but I think the recovery was a little harder on the girls. Boys bounce back to normal play immediately. And cats can become sexually active by 6 months. Males will spray and siblings will mate. So safer to do earlier. Here is an excerpt discussing early S/N. Full article is at www.sniksnak.com/stop_s-n.html
Well, I guess my vet is wrong, that is who told me about the male cats, that why I said a call to her vet was in order. I said "parts" because felt no need to get graphic about the cats anatomy.
Somebody said "sperm" in another forum and didn't get zapped. Perhaps the webmaster is getting more lenient. :lol: And for the record, I know very little about dogs. I haven't owned one in 20 years. But plan to get a couple small ones (bed buddies) after I retire and have time to spend with them.
kdc, no one is say ing your vet is worng. Every surgery has it's possibility of danger. Every DVM, like every MD will not share the same opinion. HOWEVER, the benefits, in my opinion (not a vet - but as someone who has devoted over 15 years to animal welfare, preventing the chance of a litter, putting marking to a hault before it begins, and faster healing are pro enough on the list for me to have had all of my personal pets, as well as foster pets done the moment they were large enough to operate on. None of them (over 20 dogs - ever suffered a complication) Pediatric or Early Spay Neuter Pediatric or Early Spay Neuter refers to spaying or neutering pets at a much earlier age than the old six month standard. With today's anesthetics, advanced monitoring equipment, and surgical techniques, not only are these procedures safe in young puppies and kittens, the risk of complications is lower and the recovery period shorter. Concerns about adverse affects have been proven unfounded. The American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Spay/Neuter Veterinarians, and the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, are among those that support early spay/neuter. The reasons for spaying and neutering are compelling and well known: * Overpopulation and the resulting mass euthanasia and neglect * It avoids heat cycles, unwelcome visitors fighting on the lawn, accidental pregnancies, unwanted puppies and kittens, inconvenience and expense. Males and their owners are spared roaming and fighting and the resulting injuries, spread of disease, and expenses. In our area, 80% of the dogs killed by cars and 80% of the cats with feline aids are unneutered males. * Healthier pets - Neutered males don't have testicular cancer or the prostate problems common in intact dogs. Females spayed before their first heat cycle have 96.4% less breast cancer, a common cause of death. They have no risk of uterine infection, or the many complications associated with pregnancy, whelping, or raising a litter. But why spay and neuter babies? * It's safer. The mortality rate is lower. * It's easier on the pet - anesthesia time is shorter and recovery takes only a few hours. * It completely eliminates the possibility of accidental litters. We daily hear the infamous " I didn't know she'd go into heat so soon." And "She just got out for a few minutes." The list is endless. My personal favorite is "She can't be pregnant, I chained her up when she was in heat." * It completely eliminates the possibility of intentional breeding by well meaning but ignorant owners. The old "so the kids can have the experience", "just one litter", "we can make a little money", or "I found her a good home" that turns out to be a backyard puppy mill. * Breeders can avoid having their names show up on poor quality stock and help control competition by backyard breeders. * The bottom line is fewer unwanted pets, and fewer ill-bred animals filling up homes so that others go without. Early spay/neuter does require some special training and adjustments to the techniques used in older dogs. If your vet is unfamiliar with these procedures, there are plenty of vets who would be happy to consult with him or her, and/or provide research data and recommendations.
