I'm curious: How important is it that a spay happens halfway between seasons?  It is often said it should be that... but...

Sometimes it is more convenient/you are around to 'nurse' the dog more at another point which isn't exactly halfway...  And rescue centres spay everything which comes in, not knowing at what stage in their cycles they are.  A friend of mine just rescued a dog from Ireland which she wanted to spay because she already owned an older male dog - she had no idea where in the cycle the dog was and spayed her and seems fine.

So - is it that important, or is it just the ideal? 

How soon after a season would you feel comfortable spaying?

The reason for it being done then is the increased blood supply to the reproductive organs has died down and before it starts to increase again before the next season, this makes it safer for the dog and less complicated for the vet.

I doubt a couple of weeks out either way would be a problem but many think that once the season/whelping is out of the way lets get it sorted, that isn't the way to do it.

The reason I am so strict on it is really to benefit the bitch.  With no hormones raging, there is far less tying off for the vet to do.  I have always believed that, as this makes it an easier job for the vet, it's quicker, so less anaesthetic for my girls.

Although that has been 100% my motivation for it, prior to me understanding things fully, I had a poodle spayed back in the 70's.  I've often wondered if her hormones weren't settled down when the op was done, as she humped everything afterwards.

I spay 12 weeks after a season, or 12 weeks after whelping.

It really is important to get the timing right when spaying (unless it's a medical emergency such as a pyo when the bitch might well die if not operated on immediately). When the hormone levels are lowest (ie midway betwen cycles) the blood supply to the uterus is minimised meaning there's less chance of excessive bleeding and also the ovaries are more compact making their entire removal easier. The uterine stump is less friable as well, making suturing more secure. Also if there is any sign of phantom pregnancy then spaying at that time will prolong the symptoms.

Your friend was probably just lucky in that by chance she spayed at the right time, not that any time is okay.

Ok, thanks, that's good to know.  What happens to all these bitches that get spayed as soon as they are picked up by a rescue?  I never hear of any bad things happening during a spay because it was done at the wrong time - surely if this were the case, we'd be hearing horror stories often? 

Very few bitches are spayed 'as soon as' they're picked up by a rescue; it's more normal to wait until there's a home for them to go to because the operation uses up funds. And to be honest it's not high on the list of importance for a rescue. If a bitch has problems or dies during the surgery it's 'just one of those things - choose another one'. If a bitch has health problems in her new home how would the owners know it was down to her operation, because they don't know what she was like before.

Apologies for a daft question....

I'm assuming that you are timing the 12 weeks from the end of the season, rather than from when it starts?

Thanks!

Not a daft question at all - you're right, it's best to wait 12 weeks from the end, because there are often symptoms of phantom pregnancy earlier.

> it's more normal to wait until there's a home for them to go to because the operation uses up funds. And to be honest it's not high on the list of importance for a rescue.

The vast majority of the rescues I've seen comment on this subject (note: reputable, responsible rescues who care about each dog) will NOT wait - they neuter ASAP.  Some of them using foster homes will do it the day the dog comes in, so they can go directly into a home environment to recover.  From what I've seen it's also very high priority - too high IMO, but then I'm not in favour of blanket neutering as I don't think it actually makes any difference at all to the population problem (the reason given for always doing it and so quickly).