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INFORMATION FOR PET
OWNERS
SPAYING A FEMALE DOG AT TOA PAYOH VETS
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS
(Glasgow), MRCVS
First written: Jun 10,
2009.
Update: Dec 31, 2009
Recently, one young lady told me that her vet
phoned her to spay her female dog at 4 months of age. Her dog
was vaccinated one month earlier by this vet who is in her 30s
and the lady vet followed up with a call to get her dog
spayed.
This young lady
rejected
the offer to spay early. She waited for her dog to come
into heat and then spay her 2 months after the heat period.
By
the 9th month, the small-breed dog still had not come into
heat. "Most dogs come into heat from 6-8 months of age.
She could have a silent heat with no signs of vaginal
bleeding," I said when the lady told me that she had monitored
her dog daily and would know if there was bleeding.
"She would have had her heat period or could be coming into
heat soon," I checked that the vulva area was swollen but not
red. She made a decision to spay. The dog was on heat as the
uterine blood vessels were enlarged. However, the dog
recovered safely.
Older vets do not phone owners to spay their dogs in the 1970s
but times have changed. The animal shelters and some
veterinary associations in the USA advocate the spaying of
female dogs as early as 3 months of age. The purpose is to
reduce the stray dog population if one reads between the
lines.
As regards spaying of the female dog who is a home pet,
I do not recommend spaying earlier than 6 months of age
as the female dog has not matured.
My recommendation is to spay your female dog 2-3 months after
her last heat as the operation is practically blood-less and
very safe for your female dog. The heat period is usually 6-8
months of age. However, female dogs can be spayed during the
heat period but it is a more bloody surgery and I will do it
if the owner insists and have been advised accordingly.
Below is some information about your dog's spay procedures at
Toa Payoh Vets.
WHAT TO EXPECT.
The
veterinarian removes the womb and ovaries of the female dog.
This is called ovariohysterectomy or spay. It is a major
surgery. In healthy female dogs, the risk of dying on
the operating table is very low.
WHAT TO DO
BEFORE.
Make appointment 6254-3326, 9668-6469 for surgery. The
dog must be healthy and not obese (if possible). She is
active and has an excellent appetite. Dogs should have
their last vaccination less than 12 months ago.
Bathe the pet the night before and wash her private parts
and lower abdomen thoroughly. Bring the pet to the
surgery at 9 a.m.
FOR DOGS. Don't give food and water after 8 p.m
the day before the surgery and in the morning of the surgery
date. Make sure the dog has passed motion and urine. She
has no ticks or skin diseases. Bring the dog into the surgery
at around 9 a.m. after making the appointment the day before.
WHAT TO DO DURING.
The female dog is given a tranquiliser and a general
anaesthesia using gas. The skin and muscles of the female dog
at midline is incised. A spay hook fishes out the womb and
ovaries.
WHAT TO DO AFTER. FOR DOGS. The owner takes the dog home at around 5
p.m. Bring your e-collar if you have one. At home, make sure that the dog does not jump and run around for
the next 7 - 14 days. Check the wound daily for signs of
itchiness or infection. Replace the plaster on day 3. If not, remove the plaster on day 7.
The stitches on the skin will dissolve after 14 - 30 days.
There is no need to return to the surgery for stitch removal.
Consult the vet promptly if the dog is not eating or
active or he keeps licking the wound from day 3. The phone
number is 9668-6469, e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
TOA
PAYOH VETS
