Puppy heat & spay questions.?

There is a mandatory spay and neuter law in place here in California that puts the age at four months old. I disagree with the law since I believe that dogs need the hormones of "puberty" in order to achieve healthy bone mass and hormonal balance. I feel (and have several Vet friends that quietly agree) that dogs should be fixed no earlier than eight months old. Especially large breeds such as Great Danes, Pyrenese, Bernese Mtn. Dogs etc. should wait until they are at least a year old since these dogs continue to grow well past the cut off point for other breeds and need all the bone mass they can get to help head off joint problems later in life.

Also, there are usually animal welfare groups that will provide spay and neuter vouchers for people who meet a sliding scale or income limit. Local vets might also be willing to do so on a personal level so ask around starting at your local humane society.

She should be just fine having a spay done at 4 months given she is in good health and you've discussed it with your vet.

Most females go into heat twice a year, approximately every six months.

Call your local shelter, they would be able to let you know if they do low cost procedures or if they know of any vets/clinics that do. I doubt you will find it for free. I live in Canada, I'm not familiar with anything in the Nashville area.

I do know that spaying or neutering has a lot of benefits both to the dog and its owner. Puppies can be spayed or neutered any time after eight weeks of age. Some people wait until just before the dog becomes sexually mature, sometime around six months of age, depending on the breed. Here's more details,

http://dogtime.com/spay-neuter.html

with a bit of luck you have become the puppy from a in charge breeder who will talk all of this with you. (The breeder should additionally supply you a written well being assure certifying the mothers and dads are freed from any genetic abnormalities. If no longer, do no longer purchase the puppy) If the puppy will no longer be shown, usually spaying at 6 months is cautioned earlier the 1st warmth at 7-9 months. the dangers from unintentional being pregnant at that youthful age some distance outweigh any reward from waiting a twelve months or so. IMHO And Miksha is a gorgeous call

Most reputable vets will not spay before 5 months old. 6 months is ideal so that pup has had all its puppy shots, rabies shot, etc.

Shelters and rescues will do them younger at times due to adoptions and not allowing intact animals to go out to new homes.

I believe 6 months to be the healthiest for them IMO.

Some states have low cost spay/neuter clinics and mobile units that come to certain areas and do discount alterations on a specific day.

A call to your local pound, humane society etc should get you the needed info on that.

Puppies can be altered at a very young age. At 4 months old she is plenty old enough. Females usually have their first heat between 5-9 months of age, and generally have a heat cycle every 6 months.

For low cost places check out this site:

http://www.proverbs1210rescue.org/info/display?Pag...

Also consider posting on your local craigslist asking for local info. (I'm in AZ and have even found free spay/neuter events listed there)

truthfully i'm going through the same thing. usually if you're a student they'll do it free, just go to your local human center and tell them, and they'll give you a form to fill out and then a voucher to any vet that accepts them.

what i did to find this out though, was went on yahoo or whatever and put in "free spay or neutering in ______" just put your city in the blank :) and it should come up with all of the shelters and centers that will do them for either free or cheap. i can get mine free, and there's another place here that does it for 61 bucks based on the dogs weight

She can be spayed anytime now. 6 months of age is a good time.

You will have to pay for it, there are no free dog clinics. If you phone the humane society they may be able to tell you of a low cost vet.

She can be spayed any time after eight weeks of age, and preferably before her first heat for the best health benefits. The first heat cycle occurs somewhere around six months of age, depending on the breed.

http://dogtime.com/spaying-your-female.html

Low cost spay and neuter clinic

http://www.freewebs.com/spayclinicstnva/

Yes, you can most defiantly spay at 4month old. In australia they spey as young as 6weeks old.