My little 5 month old, Maia, is getting spayed on Friday. I'm really nervous because she is very petite. She weighs 7.5lbs, but doesn't look like she weighs that much. When we had my daughter's chi fixed, he was a lot bigger size wise. My vet is wonderful, and I like the fact that he only does 2 surgeries a day. I can call and see how the surgery went later that morning, but I'm just so nervous because she's so little. I'm also worried because she's never been away from me before and she sleeps with me every night. I wish she could come home after the surgery, but she has to stay the night at the vet office so they can keep an eye on her after the surgery. I hope she doesn't think I'm leaving her there or abandoning her. At least I get to pick her up Saturday morning at 11am and I will be there exactly at that time!!!!

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Maia's Mom

5 months old is too early to be spayed! I think the rule of thumb is to be spayed after the 1st heat or after 6 months old. There are many problems that can arise if spayed to early like incontinence.

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Is there a reason why she's being spayed at 5 months? I think everyone is nervous before their pets spay/neuter, it's a scary experience. I felt a little better about Odie's spay, since I had just taken our pet rat to the same vet for a delicate surgery, and he wasn't even a pound!

All of my animals have been spayed or neutered when they were 5 months. My vet said that that is the earliest that they can get fixed. Plus, my boyfriends mother has Maia's brother, ( also 5 months) and he has been trying to " hump" her all the time. The vet said that this can bring on her coming into " heat". I just don't want her getting pregnant.

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Maia's Mom

Hope all goes well. I know you will miss her. I know here I have already been asked to get Holly spayed and she is only 11 weeks. Alot of vets where I am do spays at 8 weeks. My kitten was spayed at 8 weeks no problems.

Seven and a half pounds is not that little. A lot of the dogs on this site getting spayed are in the 2 to 3 pound range. My smallest so far was a little under 5 pounds. It's more scary and heartrenching for you, the dog bounces back so fast, it's amazing. You are doing the right thing getting her spayed before there's an accident. All mine go to a low cost spay/neuter clinic and come home the next day. I think it's better because they are awake, have already been fed and watered, and gone to the bathroom before they get home so that is something less for you to worry about. They are still sleepy, then the day after that, it's like nothing happeded. So, try to keep yourself busy while she is gone and she will be home before you know it.

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Thank you Jan for the wonderful siggy!

My vet recommended to wait until 6 1/2 or 7 months, but I got the impression that was as much to check and remove puppy teeth at the same time as for any health issues

Of course he had made the same recommendation for my male cat saying that earlier neuters can cause urinary tract issues. So maybe that is just when my vet prefers to do the surgeries.

I do know that any puppy or kitten that is adopted out through the shelters here are already altered before they are allowed to go to their new homes. And I have seen some kittens up for adoption at about 6 weeks, which is too young to leave their mother as far as I'm concerned.

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I had no idea that spaying before 6 months can cause incontinence. We bought a Maltese back in July. Long story short. After getting MUCH education on this forum, I believe the people we bought her from lied about her age and she was not as old as we were told--probably by at least 3 weeks. We were told she was 9 weeks when we got her, but looking back at her entire history I think she was probably 6 weeks (I know I'll be the first to say we might should have known better, but you don't know to beware of things sometime until you learn. I said all that to say--we had her spayed at 6 month because we thought that was the earliest you spayed and before they came into heat. Now she is incontinent when she is excited. Especially when we first come home. Is there anything we can do, or just put a diaper on her when we leave in anticipation for our return?

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"A dog wags its tail with its heart." Martin Buxbaum