#Middlebury #Spay #Neuter
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I received a puppy last fall from a friend whose dog had a surprise litter. Tara is a super-cute girl of unknown breed, very smart and growing fast. I haven’t taken her to the veterinarian yet, but I know she needs to be spayed. When will it be too late to get her fixed? – Jessica C., Asbury Park, New Jersey
DEAR JESSICA: It’s never too late to spay or neuter a pet, but the veterinarian will recommend that the procedure be done soon. Shelter pups are often neutered as young as eight weeks, but with dogs already in a home, vets sometimes prefer to wait a few months until they’ve developed more. This helps prevent potential problems of early spaying like urinary incontinence, hip dysplasia and even cancer when a dog is older.
You should take Tara into the vet as soon as possible anyway. She needs to start getting some key vaccinations that will keep her healthy as she grows up. She shouldn’t be around other puppies until she’s had her first few rounds of shots.
Some of those vaccinations are required by your city and state, and she will need to be licensed – all of which the vet can get you set up with. If you’re worried about the cost, check around with different veterinary practices to see if they have introductory specials for new pet owners that include a checkup, core vaccinations and the spaying procedure.
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© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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