Timeline for spays? Planning ahead ...

[rhapsody]

My rescue and I have had disastrous experiences with a low cost spay/neuter clinic - my neuter got royally messed up, and the rescue lost two girls who never woke up after their spay. There are a couple other low-cost options, but the rescue has to take the rats in. Since I'm planning on adopting from a different source this time, its unfair of me to ask the rescue to help me out on this one.

That leaves me dependent on my primary vet for spays - not that I mind since he is beyond stellar with surgeries. However, its not going to be cheap. A bit problematic if I'm going to adopt a pair of baby girls. Spaying them at the same time is going to be around $700, and that would cut in to my emergency vet fund.

Not spaying girls is not an option for me - all my unspayed gals developed tumors. A couple sources says that between 3-6 months is the optimal time to get it done. So maybe if I get one girl done early, wait a couple months to recoup monies, then get the other girl done?

It'd feel kinda weird not getting them done at the same time. I wouldn't be putting the "later" girl at risk, would I?

 

[hopefloats]

I have had girls spayed at all ages. I had 7 done that was 17 months old. Only two developed tumors. The girl who had the tumor prior to her spay, is still tumor free. The girl I saved in March, was riddled with tumors she is at least 18 months old when I spayed her, she is doing fine now just old age is getting her, but not one of those tumors came back. My other girls have all been spayed around 3 to 6 months but it is never to late to spay because even if it doesnt help with the tumor, which it has from what I have seen, there is nothing worse than finding your old girl bleeding vaginally when she is getting up in age and cant be operated on. I prefer to spay them early on, but I will spay them at any age.

 

[jorats]

I share your wallet pain. I recently had two 12 months old girls done, cost me $675.
I spay my girls at any age and each time, it has been greatly beneficial but if we are talking from scratch... I'd say under 6 months old.
If i were you, I'd save the $700 before getting the girls. Then you are good to go when it's time.