Readers Respond: Tell us about having your dog or cat spayed or neutered

Spaying and neutering are considered to be routine, elective surgeries. And, for a young healthy animal, they are. After a short recovery period, the pet resumes life as normal. Sometimes though, the pet may be in heat, pregnant, do too much licking or be too active post-surgery.

There is also some debate at what age (if at all) pets should be spayed and neutered. What's your opinion?

Please share your pet's spay or neuter story or your opinions about spaying, neutering and pet overpopulation. Share your story

spaying dog while in heat

My dog was spayed today. I had her in over three weeks ago to see why her bleeding ( first heat) was so long. Was told all was ok she would be done in a week. So I scheduled surgery for 3 weeks later. When I saw the bill there was an extra 50 added on because she was still in heat!! Told them I was told the date should be fine. Also she apparently gained 7 pounds in the last month which also jacked up the bill becsuse its more for dogs over 25 pounds (she was 24 pounds last time). So owner beware. Have your dog spsyed at a younger age. Mine is 12 mi

—Guest Margaret Brooks

Spay/neuter

Every pet that comes into my house is spayed/neutered. I work in a Shelter and it is heartbreaking. There are too many.

—Guest Lynn

Stupid not to Spay!

I have had dogs and had them spayed. Instead of taking mine in prior to 6 MOA, I waited until her 7th month only to find she went into heat. Why did I do this? I listened to a friend who told me not to do it too soon even after I've had 3 dogs spayed without complications. UGH for listening to her instead of my own intuition.

—Guest Liz

My neutering story

I had my mix breed pup neutered at 6 months and he was came home with pain meds. I was instructed to give him the meds when he began to show signs of pain. Well, he never did. He played, ate, slept well and had normal potty trips. I highly recommend spaying and neutering. I have two more who are going to the vet any day now. My vet has a backlog right now of 6-8 weeks. I want them done as one is male and the other is female. My neutered male is NOT fat or lazy. He has so much energy that the other two can't keep up with him. He has never had any complications of the surgery and I don't expect that he ever will. He stayed one day and night and came home ready to tackle the world and hasn't slowed down yet!!

—Guest 3doghousehold

Definitely recommend it

We currently have 2 spayed females and 3 neutered males. Our 2 and 3 year olds (spayed Shepherd and neutered Golden) are extremely active, so there goes the "they get lazy" myth! All of the dogs are happy and healthy. Had they not all been "fixed," we would doubtless have had 2 or 3 "oops" litters by now from the shepherd's escapades. Something as simple as an open door/gate could leave you with 8 puppies (or 5 kittens) in two months, so spay/neuter is the best way to prevent that. ALL of our dogs are rescues, 4 are (I hope) from "oops" litters, and our Golden was dumped in a shelter. The breeder may have thought it was a good home, and Reuben certainly seems to have been loved and well-treated, but at 8 months old, they dumped him. Reason for surrender? Either the reason they gave ("landlord doesn't want"), or the $2,000 surgery he needed to correct a genetic disorder. Careless breeding comes with a price.

—Guest Kate

Maeve Spayed Before First Heat

I had Maeve Dog, dog being her last name not her sex, spayed at six months before her first heat. The veterinarian was experienced and skilled and Maeve, after staying the night at the clinic, went home the next day. The ony "complication" was forcing Maeve to rest more and allow herself to heal. The operation went so well she was ready to rock and roll on the second day. I had her spayed for two reasons, one was she was not a show-quality dog and I would have contributed nothing to the breed by her having puppies. The second reason, as Dr. Crosby stated, was to reduce the risk of various cancers. She is a fine companion, did not need a heat cycle or a litter and at seven is healthy, a good thing for a giant-breed dog.

—Packingpadre

No problems at all

Back home with my parents, we had our kitties spayed and neutered at 6 months so we could have them done at the same time because they were outdoor cats and very hard to get into the carrier for the vet but did a little better together. My male was just fine. My female was a bit tired at first but there were no problems whatsoever. Out where I live now, I just got a 4 month old kitty, and I'm determined to make sure she's spayed before her first heat cycle. I'm going to start calling around the local vets soon to find a good place for her so everything is ready when she's 6 months.

—Guest Alison

ms

I had my puppy spayed at 6months of age at the a local animal shelter as it is cheaper, although my puppies procedure went great I was not informed that she needed another appointment to have her stitches removed. 2months later I contacted the clinic and explained that she had been spayed there 2months before, firstly they had a problem retrieving her info and whem I explained why I phoned, because shr had small absses looking sores on her stitches I was told that it was my fault as I did not take her back when the tenth day was up, as I was upset because I was not given any written info, I was only told no running or swimming or hard biscuits for ten days, I also found it inconvenient that another appointment was not made for me that day, I love my puppy she is just as much apart of the family as anyone else and I would never have let her suffer so much.

—Guest unknown

Oops!

I diligently had checkups starting @8 weeks with my puppy. My vet won't spay a dog until she is at least 6 months old. At 6 months, 2 weeks I took her for the surgery. After leaving her there I received a call to tell me she was in heat and the surgery would have to wait. I was so upset! During the heat cycle she devoloped a bladder infection for some reason and had to be treated for that. I've decided with my next puppy I will find a clinic that does spaying pre-6 months of age. I love my vet, but the 6 month rule is just cuttin g it too close. Now sinc e she has had one cycle she is at greater risk for breast cancer.

—Guest Julie

Spay & Neuter Myths

I'm happy to see you've covered all the common myths about spay & neuter - I came across a blog that is woeking to clear up myths and you can submit your own question to the spay & neuter "expert" a french bulldog named Pierre - http://www.foundanimals.org/blog/spay-neuter-myths-dispelled - this site also has low cost s&n clinics, addresses maps etc - pass it on to that stubborn neighbor of yours who won't neuter!

—Guest Quinn

Cardiac Arrest during Spaying

My German Shepard pup was 6 mos old when I took her in to my vet to be spayed. While in surgery and at closing of her tummy, she went in to cardiac arrest and he could not revive her. We had adopted her from the local pound at 11 weeks old. She stole my heart and I miss her greatly. The week before I took her in because she was limping. The doc said she was growing to fast and put her on Dog food not puppy chow I can't help but feel as if maybe her growing too fast had something to do with her heart. I can only say "Sugar" brought much happiness to me and my family and will never be forgotten.

—Guest christine

Dog spayed

My dog is a mix between pitt/chow/lab/rott and she was the sweetest girl I'd ever had. She loved all other dogs and would adopt them as her babies regardless of their age, now ever since she was spayed she has been picking fights with out three other dogs who are also female. She's never tried to assert dominance before so its driving us nuts, we also know its not so much a training thing because she still obeys commands. Here's to hoping its just a hormone thing that'll pass.

—Guest MamaKitterz

Toby

We came home from work to find our 13 year old German Shepherd, listless with a high temperature, after being fine in the morning. We took him straight to the ets who diagnosed HGE. It was dark so could not see if he had been vomiting of had diarrhea. Our vet started him on antibiotic immediatelya nd we watched him overnight. Still no vomiting but took him back in the morning. He had blood in his back passage which confirmed diagnosis. He is already recovering and our vet said if we had left left him overnight without treatment he would not still be with us!! Look out for this disease and act promptly!!! We are so lucky!!

—Guest Deb

Do it!

I have always had my cats and dogs spayed/neutered and have never had any problems. Recoveries have been uneventful and quick. I always do it when they are at the youngest age possible. Do it for your pet's health, temperament, and the prevention of unwanted animals.

—Zipper99

day of surgery

Even though we had discussed everything with the vet the day before surgery when pre-op work up was done, and scheduled time for drop off next day (6 am) I arrived to find that I had to fill out another form, needless to say I'm not my best that early, and apparently didn't include the very small belly button hernia that was to be fixed at at the same time, so even though we discussed it the day before, it didn't get done. Make sure to tell & write everything you want done on the forms, or you maybe unpleasantly surprised to find something not done too. I have had good results with spaying and neutering both my dogs and cats. They are usually back to normal within a day or two. My male mastiff was with us for 12yrs, and would still be here if he'd not got bone cancer.

—Guest Mel