6 Months old pup. Questions about her first heat and spaying her after that...?

Question

I have a female Siberian Husky. She just turned 6 months old. How do you tell when she is in heat? how long it lasts? And can someone guide me through what happens during her heat? Do I need to do something during this whole process?
She will be spayed after her first heat.
Approximately how much does the operation costs?
How do I care for her after the operation? is there anything special I can do for her when she gets home? and how long is the recovery time after the operation?

Any help would be greatly appreciated....! =)

The breeder told me it was better to wait for her first heart because that way all her intern organs and her hips, reproductive organs, etc, will be completely developed which helps in the long run to faster recovery time, and less health problems.
I had another female dog a few years ago and the vet also told me to wait for her first heat and then spayed her. I didnt own her and she only spent a little bit of time with me so I didnt experience her first heat.
I know some people spay/neuter their dogs when they are younger, but I've heard different and I prefer to wait until after her first heat.

Answer 1

A few days before she goes into heat, you should be able to smell a "raw fishy" scent. You should go to a pet store and purchase a doggy diaper, which is usually made of denim. The diaper will then need pads. I wouldn't recommend buying the doggy pantiliners because I've found they don't stick to the diaper very well. I used human pads with wings because they are definitely more secure. Depending on how heavy her period is, you will want to change her pad at least twice daily. She will be in heat for roughly 3 weeks (it becomes a pain if you happen to be menstruating as well - lol).

Keep a close eye on her while she is in heat, because she will be begging male dogs to impregnate her (you will notice her tail sticking straight up, the tell-tale sign).

The actual operation to get her spayed varies in cost, so it wouldn't hurt to make a few phone calls to get the best estimate. I know I found a bargain and paid about $40 for my dog's spay. It is a much tougher operation with females than males since they actually have to make an incision in her belly to take out her reproductive organs. I would recommend getting the pain relievers the vet offers. The first day after the operation, she will seem completely out of it, mostly due to the anethesia given to her by the vet. Within 2-3 days after the surgery, she will be back to her regular personality, however you'll want to watch to make sure she isn't doing anything to aggravate the stitches. Other than that, just follow the instructions your vet gives you after the procedure, and don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you feel necessary. More than anything, she will just need your love and attention.

Answer 2

I work in an Vetinary centre and i help with the operations and i'm a bit mof a pro now at the old spaying operation. To be honest the whole thing only takes about 5-10 minutes! all they do is put it on some gas ( it goes to sleep) then cut it open, find the right area and put a special stitch on the part that needs doing and then steitch her skin up again. All i would say is there is nothing you can really do before the op. But after you will need to keep a close eye on the dog and make sure it's got a regular heart beat. The dog will look ill EG. it will be confused and very very tired but this is all normal....any concerns just contact your vet or email me on: [e-mail] if you want to talk about anything else.

Answer 3

It is an old school thought to wait for a dog to have a heat before spaying..there is NO validity to this. A dog should be spayed BEFORE she has a first heat.Spaying before a heat pretty much eliminates the risk of mammary cancer and it eliminates pyometria.
I've seen far too many young dogs that had mammary cancer, pyometria or other reproductive issues because their owners foolishly believed the spay after first heat crap.In just the past few months we've had 3 dogs less then 3 years of age that died from mammary cancer.
Get her spayed NOW NOT AFTER a heat!!!!!

The spay itself will take 15 min - 30 min. Many vets now have the dog come in in the morning and they have surgery and go home late in the afternoon. The dog should be kept from jumping, running, etc for 7- 10 days after surgery. Most vets now send dogs home with pain meds. There is nothing special you need to do after she comes home. She may be sleepy and not want to eat much for a day or two.

Answer 4

You can have her spayed now. If you want to wait though, just be prepared to keep her from males for three weeks.

Heat lasts 3 weeks on average. She'll bleed, so you'll know when she goes into heat. They don't bleed that much, not like a human female, but they will drip on the carpet. You might want to put some doggy diapers on her or keep her in an area that is easy to clean. She might be more hyper than usual, or seem depressed. Behavior can vary. She might try to break out of the house and find a mate. The only thing you really NEED to do during this time is keep her away from male dogs for 3 weeks. She'll stop bleeding after about 10 days, but this doesn't mean heat is over. This is the most fertile time, so be extra careful. You can only walk her on a leash. You can't leave her in the backyard.

Cost varies for a spay. I paid around $200, I think. If you want to pay less, contact your aspca. Usually they have programs for cheaper spays. After the operation you need to keep your girl quiet for 7-10 days. No jumping or running! Otherwise she'll irritate her stitches, or sometimes even rip them out. Just keep her calm. Think lots of chew toys. And some dogs lick their stitches or bite them. Then you have to put an e-collar (the cone thing) on her, or put clove oil around the incision (tastes horrible and discourages biting).

Answer 5

Spaying her after her first heat is old-fashioned, and it has been discovered that it is actually a lot more dangerous for the pup to get spayed after the first heat. I think you need to get as new vet -- never heard of a vet telling someone to wait until after 1st heat. She's 6 months, get it done now.

Answer 6

I don't understand why your wanting her to have her first heat. You should get her spayed before. Spaying before the first heat reduces the chance of female problems in your dog later in life. As far as the cost you really should call around to your local vets. I know the cost where I lived varied on the vet.

Answer 7

1st~why are you waiting for her to go in heat before you spay her??

Spay her before she goes in heat which should take place in the next 2 months....otherwise she could be in heat for 1 - 4 weeks every dog is different.

To spay her can cost between 150 & 300$$ depending on the vet.

Answer 8

Why not just spay her now, rather than waiting for the 1st heat?

Call around to some vets to get price quotes.

Answer 9

For health reasons, you should spay your dog before her first heat. It greatly reduces and in some cases even eliminates the chances of her getting certain cancers when she is older.

Answer 10

You don't need to wait for her first heat to get her spayed. Do it now! Depending on where you live, it should be under $100.