Moving and have some dog concerns

[Faerin]

Hey the gang and I are moving at the end of the month back to our beloved Vancouver Island which is great but I may be moving into a house where there is an unaltered male dog:nerves1. Ebony isn't quite old enough to get her surgery done so what are my options? Doggie diapers? I don't want to have an accident and end up having my baby get pregnant.

Has anyone used those doggie diapers before?

 

[LionsRawr]

I think the diapers and supervision are the best bet of keeping her from an oops litter.

Though usually if she isn't in heat he really shouldn't show too much interest in mounting her. I know plenty of people with intact male and femaledogs who never had an oops litter. Because the male showed no interest unless the female was in heat. In that case the female is then usually kept in a seperate part of the house until her heat is over.But again just to be safe I would put a pair of shorts or something (with a hole for her tail) on her.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

If she is not old enough to be spayed, she is probably not old enough to go into heat yet. Most females go into heat for the first time at about 6-8 months. If you can get her spayed before then, you won't have to worry. Basically, if she is under 6 months, you don't need to worry. Females can only get pregnant when they are in heat and there is a small window when they are fertile.

If she does go into heat before you can get her spayed, you need to keep her and the male separate. A crate in your bed room will work. When you need to take her out, make sure the male is not around and she is on leash. Never leave her unsupervised unless she is in a crate and can't get out and other dogs can't get in. The doggie diapers are more to contain the mess than to prevent breeding. As I don't think you are planing on keeping her intact, a pair of underwear with a pad will work. Bigger dogs can use boxer shorts and a pad.

You should do a bit of research on dog breeding so you know what to look out for and prevent it. Knowing when she can get pregnant can help you prevent it from happening. You could contact a breeder about how they keep the females in heat away from the males.

 

[Faerin]

Thanks Korr_and_Sophie.

I didn't think she could get pregnant so young but I needed to make sure. I've never had a dog this young before and they have all been spayed. She's going to be 6 months on the 19th of this month but I was told to wait for a bit longer since she's quite small. I may need to get her done soon after I move but I'll deal with that when I have to.

Thanks for the information and I'll definitely go check out breeding sites for more information.

Tara

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

It would probably be better to wait until you are settled before you get her spayed. I would get it done sooner rather than later.
You should get her medical recored from your vet before you move so you can give them to the new vet. You can also get the new vet to get them transfered, but they need your permission to do it.

When/if she does go into heat before you can get her spayed, she can get pregnant. If the male is bigger than she is, it can be very dangerous for her to get pregnant. If she is get pregnant, you can get an emergency spay done, but it is more expensive.

 

[Faerin]

My vet actually lives over there. I got ebony a few weeks before I moved here in may and she went for a general check up with my vet before we left. My family all live over on the island so we would always go to the vet when I went to go visit and get her shots done that way. That's one less thing to worry about thank god.

I think I'm going to talk to my vet when I get over there and see what she says. The male dog is a pomeranian so they are about the same size but I still don't want her to have puppies!

 

[LionsRawr]

Honestly I would not get her spayed before a year old. Coming from someone who volunteers at a spay and neuter clinic. It is not a good idea. If you look it up online you will find many studies against spaying or neutering a dog before a year old and the growth plates have developed.

It is different for shelters. But its still not good to spay/neuter a dog under one year because it causes problems down the road.



But of course its your personal decision.

 

[Faerin]

That's what I have heard as well but I need to take into consideration that she will come into heat while living with an unaltered male. I'll still talk to my vet and see what she says.

 

[missyscove]

Can I ask the obvious question here, why isn't the male neutered?

 

[Faerin]

I don't know I didn't ask the lady.

 

[LionsRawr]

I have friends who have male dogs that airn't neutered. I think as long as your responsible its okay. Of course these are dogs that are never left unsupervised outside ect.