Spaying while in heat?

[Anne'n'Cam]

I was wondering if anyone knows whether you can spay a dog during her heat cycle? Are there any side effects to that? How much should I be expecting to pay?
Thanks for any info you might have.

[Ryan]

I can't tell you for sure for dogs, but I know that for cats you aren't supposed to spay when they are in heat. My vet in the states always told me that you should wait until at least one week after being in heat. I am pretty sure the same is for dogs, however I am not 100% certain. Also, for cost, I would expect anything around 150-200k here in Korea, give or take a little. Also depends on the age, size, and breed of the pooch. :) Cheers!

[annie]

Actually, you could technically sterilized a pet in heat. It is more risky and this is why some vets will simply refuse. Most of the vets who do it will charge you more as it is a little harder. My friend just did it for her cat and had to pay an extra 60,000W. For a small dog, the starting price is 150,000 W (if you have a rather cheap vet), and it will go up with the weight (but I know yours is VERY small :D )

[Karen]

Another member wrote about his experience with having a rescue dog spayed while in heat a few months ago (the thread got buried, though):

...The vet (and we) noticed some bruises on Libby below the surgical incision. He didn't know what they were.

My wife imagined the worst and started crying but the vet said if were serious internal belleding Libby would be long dead (he was probably better spoken, but I couldn't understand much because everything was going on Korean).

Anyway, the vet said he'd take libby home with him and watch ehr overnight and we went home. Then I learned that the vet had told my wife that there's more than normal blood flow when a dog is in heat and that it's better to wait. However owners can't handle dogs in heat so many times they don't wait.

My wife was blaming herself for not waiting but really if the surgery were unsafe the vet should have said so. I don't know exactly what he said because I wasn't there and I wouldn't have understood his Korean anyway, but I know my wife and if the vet had said that now was more dangerous than later I know she would have waited.

Anyway, the vet called tonight and thinks Libby will be fine. We're picking her up tomorrow morning now.

But it was quite a scare and it makes me think twice about asking a vet to spay a dog in heat.

The original thread is here: http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51

[Anne'n'Cam]

Thanks for info everyone. I don't want to put Saydi bear at any risk so I'll wait until she is no longer in heat.

[annie]

Yep, thanks Karen!
I know I wouldn't do it....I think you should indeed wait Anne...I believe the whole cycle is about a month (with about 10 days of bleeding).

[luvadog]

I worked with a vet when I was in college because I almost went that direction. Yes, the veins are larger and there is more blood flow so there's a risk. He didn't recommend it. I never got my cockapoo spayed and she got out a couple of times during the heat cycle. I found out at the vet school there is a "morning after" injection that prevents implantation (must be given within 72 hrs if I remember) so she had that and wasn't pregnant. But the (possible) side effect is breast cancer...which she had when she was 14. The normally strip the breasts to get it all but they only did a partial because of her age. She lived to be 16+ and died of other complications. She was partly bald from allergies, blind from cataracts and going deaf. But I loved her all the same.