When Should Goldendoodles Be Spayed? (Veterinarian Advice!)

Spaying your Goldendoodle is something that you may be considering for your dog.  This may be your first time owning a Goldendoodle and have a lot of questions about when to spay a Goldendoodle.  This article contains answers to mandy common questions about spaying your Goldendoodle, including the best Goldendoodle spaying age.

Goldendoodles who will be over 50 pounds should be spayed later, between 5 and 15 months.

• Less than 45 pounds: Should be spayed between 4 to 6 months of age
• Over 50lbs should wait until 5 to 15 months.

There are many great benefits to having your Goldendoodle spayed, and it is very impmalortant to know all the details before making this decision. 

Spaying a female Goldendoodle is a common procedure performed at a veterinary clinic. But there are many things that you should understand before having this procedure done, such as how the procedure will be performed, the risk, the cost of surgery and the recovery time.

When Should You have your Goldendoodle spayed or Neutered?

The most common age to spay or neuter your Goldendoodle is around six months of age.  Many different factors would influence when you should spay and neuter your pet. 

Large to giant breed dogs tend to mature later in life, and some people will wait until the dog is a few months older before spaying and neuter.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has recently changed its stance on when you should spay your Goldendoodle.  They recommend different ages for different size dogs.

• Smaller dogs under 45 pounds: Many veterinarians will advise that you should spay your Goldendoodle before their first heat cycle, while your dog’s first heat cycle can be anywhere between 5 and 10 months.  The reason that your veterinarian advises that your female dog be spayed before their ffeirst cycle is to reduce their risk of developing mammary cancer.  By spaying your dog early, you will decrease your chance of mammary cancer by about 90%. 

• Larger Dogs Over 50lbs: Some vets will advise larger dogs to wait until they are 5 to 15 months old.  Waiting until after their first heat cycle but before their second will still decrease the risk of mammary cancer and will also decrease the risk of cancer, bone, ligament, and joint problems.  It may also decrease the risk of urinary incontinence.  All of these are common problems seen in larger-breed dogs. 

So, in general, spaying a mini Goldendoodle should be done before their first heat cycle. The first heat cycle triggers a lot of hormones to be released in your Goldendoodle as they reach sexual maturity, increasing their chances of getting ovarian or uterine cancer. Spaying a standard Goldendoodle is best done after their first heat cycle.

Why should you spay your Goldendoodle?

There are many great benefits to having your Goldendoodle spayed.  These are some of the most common reasons. 

• Overpopulation: By spaying your Goldendoodle, you are helping decrease the number of unwanted litters and dogs in shelters. 

• Mammary cancer: By spaying your Goldendoodle early, you will decrease the chance of mammary cancer. You will decrease mammary cancer in your Goldendoodle by 90% if you spay your Goldendoodle before their first heat cycle. 

• Pyometra: A Pyometra is an infection in the uterus that can be prevented by spaying your Goldendoodle.  A pyometra is an infection in your Goldendoodle’s uterus.  This is a very common occurrencer in older intact female dogs.  These dogs can get very sick and need emergency surgery from this infection.  In some instances, this can even be fatal.  During your Goldendoodle’s spay, the uterus will be removed, and thus cannot get infected.

• Stop unwanted guests: By spaying your Goldendoodle, there will no longer be male dogs unexpectedly entering your yard trying to mate with your dog.  A male Goldendoodle can smell the pheromone released by a female dog up to a mile away.  If that male is intact, they will find a way to get over and fence to mate with your female dog. 

Before you spay your Goldendoodle, your veterinarian should have a complete health checkup.  This is to make sure that there are no underlying conditions that would cause your Goldendoodle not to have a successful surgery.

How much does it cost to spay a Goldendoodle?

The amount of money you’ll spend to have your Goldendoodle spayed will vary dramatically based on the clinic or veterinary practice that you have them spayed at, but in general, you can expect to pay as little as $50 or as much as $500 to spay your Goldendoodle.

Most people will end up paying between $100 and $200 on spaying costs for their Goldendoodles.

The reason for this wide variation in price is that many clinics have received grants and other endowments through public agencies to subsidize spaying and neutering costs in order to get more dogs spayed. In some instances, you may be able to find a reputable practice that even offers free spaying from time to time.

You’ll end up paying more if you go to a private practice that doesn’t receive any additional funding. Spaying requires a great deal of training and a lot of equipment to perform safely, so the price tag can add up quickly, especially if there are any special considerations for your Goldendoodle or if any complications arise while they are under anesthesia.

What aftercare is needed after surgery?

After your Goldendoodle’s surgery, there are certain things that you need to do to help them quickly recover.  These are:

• Some vet clinics will allow you to take your dog home the same day, whereas some want to keep your dog overnight.
• Keep your Goldendoodle inside for two weeks after surgery. Only allow them to go outside to potty and a very short walk when on a leash.
• Keep your Goldendoodle calm and quiet, and do not allow them to run and jump around. This might be hard considering how much Goldendoodles love running.
• Make sure that your Goldendoodle cannot lick their incision.  You may have to use a cone of shame.
• Look at the incision each day and let your vet know of any problems, smells, or discharge. If you notice spots and smells lingering on your furniture, check out our article on how to remove Goldendoodle smells around the house.
• Do not bath your Goldendoodle for 10 to 14 days after surgery
• Notify your vet immediately if your Goldendoodle is lethargic, not eating, vomiting, or has diarrhea.

If you notice any problems, make sure you let your veterinarian know right away if you do not follow all your veterinarian’s aftercare instructions, your Goldendoodle can have complications.

Make sure that your Goldendoodle receives their pain medication after the procedure.  This may only be needed for a day, but some dogs will need pain medication for a few days.

A good way to tell if your Goldendoodle is painful is to monitor their activity.  If your dog is not active, they are usually painful. Just because your dog wants to be very active, they should still be confined for 14 days post-surgery. 

What is the difference between Spaying and Neutering a Goldendoodle?

Spaying is removing the female reproductive organs, such as the ovaries and uterus. 

Neutering is commonly used for removing the testicles of a male dog but can also mean making your Goldendoodle gender-neutral. So, it can actually be used for both males and females. 

What is the difference between an ovariohysterectomy and an ovariectomy?

 Most veterinarians perform a procedure known as an ovariohysterectomy.  This is where both the uterus and ovaries of your Goldendoodle are removed. 

Some veterinarians will only remove the ovaries. This is a quicker procedure and is known as an ovariectomy.  Both surgeries are very effective in preventing unwanted litter. 

Is surgery risky?

No surgery is without risk.  Your veterinarian will examine your Goldendoodle before surgery.  Your Goldendoodle will be under general anesthesia and should be monitored during the entire procedure. 

During surgery, a veterinary technician will monitor your Goldendoodle the whole time.  Most of the time, veterinary surgeries have a whole team of people working on your Goldendoodle from pre-op to recovery to being discharged. 

Your vet will ask you not to feed your Goldendoodle after 10 pm the night before.  This helps prevent your Goldendoodle from vomiting during surgery from the anesthesia.  Make sure to follow these pre-op instructions for a successful surgery.

How much Does It Cost to Spay Your Goldendoodle?

The cost of spaying or neutering your Goldendoodle will all depend on where you live.  Vets who are in a bigger city will charge a little more than a vet who is in the country.

There are many other factors that may affect the cost.  Most veterinarians recommend that pre-operative bloodwork be run on your Goldendoodle before surgery. 

This will check liver and kidney function before surgery.  They will also give your Goldendoodle pre and post-op pain medications. These are all added expenses to the cost of surgery.

Vets highly recommend pre-op bloodwork even in very young Goldendoodles.  Your Goldendoodle could have been born with a congenital defect that could potentially cause severe to fatal results if not caught beforehand.

It is not very common, but it does happen. Some dogs just develop slower and may not handle the anesthesia well. If any abnormalities are seen on the bloodwork, then the veterinarian may adjust anesthesia accordingly or even use a different kind altogether.

For Goldendoodles that have a liver or kidney defect, or their lab values are not where they should be, then a different type of anesthesia should be used. 

Most anesthetic drugs are broken down in the liver and filtered out of the body by the kidneys.  If these organs are not functioning properly, then it is best to use an anesthetic drug that is metabolized by the lungs.  

There are also usually added costs for overweight Goldendoodles, dogs who are currently pregnant or dogs who are undergoing a heat cycle.  This is because it takes more time and is much more labor-intensive, too, especially if you are trying to save puppy lives. 

 There are low-cost clinics that can do the procedure at a discounted rate.  These non-profit organizations are usually funded by the state, and they do not have to charge as much for the procedure. 

Low-cost clinics may also have minimal monitoring equipment and usually will not do surgery on large breeds or overweight patients.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While you may just be about to get your Goldendoodle spayed or your dog may have just finished surgery, by following your veterinarians’ recommendations, your Goldendoodle will have a successful surgery. 

While not all surgery is without risk, having your Goldendoodle spayed is the best for your dog.  When you spay your dog, your dog will be much healthier and live a happy and long life.

The exact age to have this procedure done all depends on the size of your Goldendoodle.  Try to weigh the pros and cons of waiting vs. having their surgery done early.  

Discussed these with your vet, and they can help you decide when is the best time to spay your Goldendoodle.

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Summary

This article provides guidance on spaying Goldendoodles, a popular breed of dog.

• The best time to spay a female Goldendoodle depends on the expected adult weight of the dog.
• If less than 45 pounds, the Goldendoodle should be spayed between 4 to 6 months before their first heat cycle.
• For dogs over 50 pounds, it is advisable to wait until they are between 5 to 15 months old after their first heat cycle.
• Spaying can prevent overpopulation, reduce the risk of mammary cancer, prevent Pyometra, and stop unwanted visitors.
• The cost of spaying a Goldendoodle can vary between $50 and $500 depending on the veterinary practice. However, many clinics offer grants and other subsidies for spaying and neutering costs.