There are two methods to
prevent estrus, or «heat,» in a female dog: surgery and medical management using hormonal drugs.
Spaying your dog will
prevent estrus issues while protecting your dog against unwanted pregnancy.
It is highly recommended that you get your female dog spayed, not only to
prevent estrus and accidental pregnancy, but to protect her against breast cancer and diseases of the reproductive system.
Not exact matches
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals notes that vets can spay female puppies at 2 months of age, which means you can typically
prevent your puppy's first encounter with
estrus altogether.
For female cats, spaying at a young age will help
prevent mammary cancer, infection in the uterus,
estrus or heat cycles, marking behaviors and unwanted kittens.
Estrogen is the hormone released during the
estrus cycle has been reported as an important factor in the development of various ovarian, uterinal and cervical cat tumors, which can be
prevented by spaying cats when young; preferably before the first heat cycle.
If performed prior to the first heat (
estrus), almost totally
prevents breast cancer later in life.
This operation is indicated to avoid heat (
estrus) cycles,
prevent pregnancy, remove diseased or cancerous female reproductive organs and markedly decrease the risk of acquired diseases of the female reproductive system.
Essentially, these studies indicate that altering a pet before their first
estrus, or «heat» cycle, virtually
prevents what is otherwise the most common type of cancer in both dogs and cats, mammary cancer.
However, it's impossible to determine an exact date by which you can ensure your pet gets the greatest benefit of
preventing the first
estrus cycle; in one cat it may be four months, in another it's five or even six.