Exact Answer: At least 12 weeks
A dog “in season” or a dog in “heat” is when a dog is fertile and ready to give birth to a pup. Dogs can reproduce as early as when they are just 6 months old and they are capable of reproduction after a gap of 6 to 7 months. A dog is fertile for a period of 16 to 18 days. Spaying is a procedure in which the uterus of a female dog is removed which removes its ability to give birth. Spaying has a lot of benefits and is said to make your dog healthier.
How Long After Season Can Dog Be Spayed?
If you spay a dog when it is heat, a lot of risks come with it. This is the reason; everyone waits before they can get their dog spayed. It is not likely to predict the time as to when a dog will be in season as it differs from one breed to another but the dog might show a lot of symptoms such as tilting her erect tail to one side and an overall change in behavior such as getting close to other male dogs much more than she will usually.
| Type of breed | When Can It Get Spayed? |
| Small Breed | 6 to 12 months |
| Medium Breed | 9 to 12 months (after a dog’s first season) |
| Large Breed | 12 months (after its first season) |
| Giant Breed | 12 to 18 months (after its first season) |
You should take your dog for spaying after at least 3 months after they have been “in season” if you want to avoid unwanted pregnancy. If your dog is 9 years or above, it is important to take it for spaying as it might contract a dangerous uterus infection if left otherwise. Dog owners do not let the dog get pregnant after they have turned 9 years old as they might not be able to give birth to healthy puppies. If your dog raises an alarm for false pregnancy which is caused by a hormonal imbalance, it is best to wait for 8 weeks before getting it spayed.
Why Should I Wait for So Long to Spay my Dog After Season?
Dogs might fall prey to a lot of unwanted risks and complications if they are not spayed. If dogs are not spayed, they might be affected by mammary cancer, later in life, or uterine infection. If you do not have any plans to breed a dog, it is important to spay it before it can experience its first heat. However, it is important to not spray your dog too early as that might in itself become a reason for your dog to contract infections. Removal of their sex hormones may result in many orthopedic complications such as ligament tears, hip dysplasia, and so on. A few breeds are at higher risk than the others. Early spaying might result in even anxiety disorders in dogs.
Not giving a dog, time after its season or its reproduction will cause a change so sudden in her hormones levels which would result in negative after-effects. If a dog is spayed when she is producing milk, it would enlarge her milk glands making it more difficult for her spay wounds to heal. You should talk to your vet about when your dog can be spayed. You either do it before your dog is ready for her first season or after 3 to 4 months after her fertility period is over. Doing it any time in between puts your dog at risk and pain.
Conclusion
About 50% of dogs are prone to cancer, uterine infections, and tumors. Spaying is the best way to protect your dogs from them. Studies say that if you wish to give utmost protection to your dog, you can spay it even before its first season but that will not be possible if you wish to breed your dog. Spaying male dogs are also as important as spaying female dogs as they are also prone to cancer. Puppies who are as old as 8 weeks can be spayed as long as the vet declares they are healthy. Keeping your dog hygienic after spaying is as important as spaying itself.
References
- https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1136/vr.b4798
- https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/vetn.2014.5.9.502
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