New puppy: Vaccinations, spay, and hernia. What do I need to know?

Question

May get a small shitzu/poodle/chihuahua puppy (7wks). She has an umbilical hernia, hasn’t been spayed or had shots. Is it safe to have her around other dogs before she’s been vaccinated? How much does it cost to fix a hernia and should I do so or will it heal? How much does getting a dog spayed normally cost? My dogs have always been from shelters where they’re automatically vaccinated and spayed, so I have no clue what the prices are or at what age to do so (I think 8 weeks?). Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 1 month and 18 days old | 1.7 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there! She will need to have a check-up with your veterinarian and her first set of vaccines as soon as you get her. After that, it's fine for her to be around healthy vaccinated dogs, sign up for puppy kindergarten classes, etc. - but I would not take her dog parks or other high-traffic areas with lots of unknown dogs until she is completely finished with her vaccine series at 16+ weeks of age. Some umblical hernias are harmless and don't need to be fixed, while others do. Your veterinarian should be able to determine this at the time of her exam. If the hernia does need to be repaired, this can usually be done at the same time as her spay to avoid having to have two separate anesthetic procedures. Dogs are typically spayed at around 4-6 months of age. This can often be scheduled in conjunction with the pup's last set of vaccines, if you wish. Cost for a spay and hernia repair will vary widely depending on where you live and which specific vet clinic you go to, so I would suggest calling around to some local clinics in your area for prices if this is a concern.

New puppy: Vaccinations, spay, and hernia. What do I need to know?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Can I use human contact lens solution as eye drops for my mouse?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My newly adopted pet won't eat hay. What can I do to encourage it?

Why is my pet's swollen lump with green patches not getting better?

Why is my 5-week-old chick struggling to walk with splayed legs?

Dog licking paws, fur loss, and jaw wound: Could it be allergies?

Share