Cone of Shame: A Vet Tale

Usually, a puppy is spayed or neutered, unless the owner is planning on breeding the dog. The medical term for a spay is an ovariohysterectomy, which is the female dog's surgery. The male's is an orchetomy. These surgeries stop the dog from being able to have or make puppies. There are different views on when to have this surgery done. Before or after the 1st heat cycle are the common ways of thinking. The 1st heat cycle occurs around 7 months, but varies by the dog. Penny's people asked me for advice a while ago and they had the surgery yesterday, 6 days before her 4 month birthday.

Dear Lassie,

When should Penny have her spay surgery? Is it beneficial to wait until after her 1st heat cycle or her 1st litter? Or should we go ahead with it now. Thanks in advance!

-the Andersons

I responded with this letter answering there many questions.

Dear the Andersons,

I would recommend doing the surgery before her 1st heat cycle. This will decrease the risk of certain diseases that can be fatal such as mammary cancer (breast cancer) than can occur in dogs. If you spay after the 1st, but still before the 2nd, the risks will still decrease, but by less than before. Also, heat cycles are very messy and your dog getting pregnant will be difficult to deal with before, during and even after the puppies arrive. I would get her spayed at around 4 months to help reduce risks or diseases and definitely before her 1st heat cycle.

Love,
Lassie

Today, they wrote back, sending a pic of post-surgery Penny.

Dear Lassie,

Thanks for the advice! We took her for her spay yesterday and the vet said she did great! Although she's pretty out of it and tired, which Cookie is very happy about. The vet said it was normal and she should be back to usual in 10-14 days. That's also when they remove the cone and the stitches on her incision. We are waiting for that time so we can play with this puffball again!

-the Andersons