Yarrow's spay is booked and I'm a nervous wreck!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

My Yarrow's spay is booked for Feb. 19.  She'll be 23 weeks.  I'm a nervous wreck and have been reading over all the advice and recommendations. I wonder if there is any truth to the idea that they do not ever become fully emotionally mature if they are spayed too soon.  And is 23 weeks (5 months + 9 days) too soon?  I read that in The Monks of New Skete book and on veterinarian sites online.

Due to the fact that there's no dog park here for her to play with other dogs (What kind of a place has no dog park?!), and that our very senior dog is not able to run and play with her for more than 10 seconds, we're getting Yarrow a sister dog (collie) first weekend in March.  I'd like Yarrow to be healed before we surprise her with her baby sister.

I'm a worrier by nature (astrological moon baby).  Advice?

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

My vet told me that she'd be healed up and ready for the new puppy by the end of the month.  I know the woman with the puppies is going to Mexico second week of March, but I think maybe I should ask her if she'll keep the pup for us until March 8th.

[Julie and Max]

Deb, we've talked a lot about this, and I know you're worry. :(

Do they only shave girl legs? Max didn't have his leg shaved.

[Julie and Max]

Also I know they say 10 to 14 days, but I'm having a lot of trouble keeping Max from running and playing and it's day two. 

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

It's for the I.V.  I know the male surgery is much less invasive as it is in humans.  I don't think they need to bother with an I.V. for males.  Females get a complete hysterectomy.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

There is no truth to the idea that they don't become fully "emotionally mature" if they are spayed too soon.  My Guinness was neutered before we got him at 10 weeks and he has always been very "mature" for his age...although with dogs I'm not quite sure how you know this.  Really I don't think this is cause for you to be a nervous wreck...Yarrow will be just fine.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

I don't find that emotional maturity story scientifically viable either. I'm not a nervous wreck about her emotional development.  I guess it's more about dealing with this on my own - my significant other out of the country.

[Julie and Max]

Deb that little grey puppy is soooo adorable!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Sorry, I vanished for a while.  I had serious computer glitches which seem to be resolved now.  I'm just catching up on replies. 

The spay event has taken a couple of twists and turns.  I rebooked the procedure for today hoping to give her more time to heal before her papa gets home (he's been in Tucson for a month) and the arrival of Paisley.

BUT, this morning she broke free to go visit the lovely man next door and the next thing I knew she was chewing something!  I said, 'DROP IT!" but she swallowed.  When I got to the clinic with her they told me the risks and said it was entirely up to me.  Yarrow means far too much to me to take any risk at all.

Spay is now rebooked for Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 18.