What age for first season?

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Thistle

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So, Lily our little rescue bitch arrived from Battersea.

She is approx 9 months old, Staffie (possibly X but looks like a staffie). She seems tiny for a 9 month old.

She has had a very rough time, was picked up 2 months ago as a stray very thin with no hair at all, skin leathery and bleeding, yelped when touched.

She has had 2 neg skin scrapes (demodex) and has had a course of baths, she now has a very short covering of hair and was obviously passed as fit and healthy to rehome.

Now I need to get her spayed.

Dilema is this, I go away from 14 - 20 Feb, housesitter who knows all the dogs is staying here.

So do I get her spayed before I go away (would have to be done very soon to give her chance to recover before I go) or do I let her settle in and spay her when I return, running the risk she may come into season in the meantime.

How long does a bitch take to recover (I'm guessing she would be done on the side as she is so puppy like.
I seem to remember my lab had her first season at 13 months.

Do small dogs mature faster? Or would her bad start in life slow her down (she is certainly physically immature)?

It wouldn't be that much of a problem if she did come into season, our male dog is castrated, just the nuisance factor to consider.

My own feeling is to wait until the end of Feb. What do you all think?
 
Mine had her 1st Season at 6 months, I think they do vary, just like us humans!
I personally would just ask my vet's advice re the best time to spey.
I had my dogs speyed later in life and was advised to have it done mid-way between seasons if that is any help to you.
have fun with your new best friend.
 

Hi, my bitch is 9 months and currently having her first season.

In your case, I think I would be inclined to leave her until after her first season (I was advised 6 weeks after). This will allow her more time to recover and develop from her bad start in life
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.

Perhaps talk it over with your vet and petsitter and see what their views are
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Have discussed with vet and we are going to let her have a season, that way her bones atc will be better formed and we shall be sure of dates etc. The Battersea vet said it was best to spay her asap once she had settled in and didn't like my suggestion of letting her have a season. I can see their point though dealing with as many unwanted dogs as they do.

I'm sure she has alot of catching up to do. She can't quite believe just how much space we have and she keeps doing wall of death round our huge garden, even when the other dogs don't join in.
 
Bitches are done mid line, and the correlation between age of neutering and maturity, I have found personally have no bearing.
It's personal choice and it sounds like you are responsible, and already have your male done, so no accidents
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I have mine done b4 their first season, and my vets neuter b4 a first, they will literally be right as rain the next day, making it look like nothing has happened
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, internally, give time for the stitches to do their job, and healing to take place, about 10-14 days.
 
Gosh things have changed, when I worked for a vet small breeds/if young and slim were done on the side like a cat - perhaps it was just that vets preference!

I think the idea of leaving her to settle for a while and mature is a good one, she has had so much trauma in her short life it will be nice for her to have some time to just grow up.

At least I know I won't be troubled by visiting dogs, my boxer is quite territorial and will soon let me know if there are any other dogs about.
 
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when I was born then
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I have worked in for the much shorter time of 10 years, so could explain, why I have always known the mid line way, my mam has worked in practice for about 20 years, will have to badger her, and ask if they did this when she started
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u have me wondering now
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It could have just been that particular vets preference, he would shave the side and go in through a small incision with forceps, fish all the relavant bits out and tie everything off, poke it all back in and close wall and skin.

Certainly for the small and young bitches it was less traumatic than mid line
 
I can remember vets spaying via an incision on the flank, but ws quite while ago. Regarding bitches first season, Evie is nearly 8 months and hasn't had a season yet, but I am keeping an eye on her. Any time from 6 months on is usual, although I did have one bitch who didn't have her first season until she was 3 years old
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We mated her on that season on the vets advice and she had a healthy litter and carried on to have perfectly normal 6 monthly seasons.
To clarify, it was always our intention to breed from her, so vet advised mating her in case she didn't come in again, he didn't advise mating just because she was so late having a season
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Had my labrador done nearly 2 weeks ago - she has just turned a year old.
I'd decided I'd wanted her to have one season or be a year old - she timed it perfectly and came into season at 10 months (which was a pain) and then she was spayed 3 months after the first day of the season (that's my vets timeline, but he was prepared do the deed from 6 months).
Personally, I'm glad I let her grow up a little as she's a bit of a baby generally, and it took her 2 nights to stop whinging and crying (she had a morphine top up the following night, but we think it was more that she was just a bit out of sorts with the anasthetic) After that she was totally back to normal, and having mad moments round the house. She nver wore a bucket as the wound didn't bother her, and she had her stitches out this week after 9 Days - oh and she still thinks the vets is brilliant and still drags me round the counter to say hi to girls.
In comparison, the owner of her sister got sick of waiting for her bitch to come into season and had her spayed at 8 or 9 months.
All depends on the dog I guess and how you feel about it, whatever you decide it will be right by your pup.
 
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