What is the BEST age to spay a female dog?

Question

I've heard that you should spay ASAP, I've heard that you should wait until her first heat, but I'm wondering, dog's health in mind and assuming she will be ABSOLUTELY safe should the appropriate time come after her first heat, what is the right time?

There are reasons not to trust the answers of most, vets included, the most important is that most people are more concerned with controlling the over population than what will be best for the little b*tch. What's the right age to spay, dog's health in mind?

Answer 1

The best age is between 4-6 months, so you spay BEFORE your dog ever goes into heat (but after your pet has had all necessary vaccines). Spaying before the first heat cycle decreases the chance of later developing mammary tumors (breast cancer) by 97%. After the first heat the chance is decreased to around 80-85%, and after the 4th heat there is almost no decrease. I work for a veterinary practice that specializes in pediatric surgeries, and I can say without a doubt, that the pups under 6 months old go through surgery and bounce back better than those who are older. Your dog does not have to have their reproductive organs fully developed and functional before removal. There is absolutely no benefit to allowing your pet to reach sexual maturity before having them spayed/neutered.

Answer 2

The age most vets recommend is around 6 months. Its mainly just to make sure everything is developed properly before removing it all. You don't have t wait till after the first heat and it's actually harder trying to pick a time to it if you do. This is because vets dont' like to do it during or a few weeks after heat because everything is swollen and makes the surgery more difficult. Therefore, once she goes into heat and then after waiting a few weeks for the heat to be completly over and it being safe to do the surgery, you usually only have a few weeks until she starts to swell up again to get ready for the next heat. This makes it very hard to find a safe time to perform surgery. There also can be some behvioral changes if you wait too, but not usually. The best thing to do is talk with your vet and find out at what age he recommend and why.

Answer 3

For a female dog, about six months is best. If you spay her before her first heat it will reduce risks of cancer and other problems. Now for a male, I would say that sooner is not necessarily better. This is an observation I have been making, but I noticed that when a male is spayed at the earliest time they can they tend to not grow to their full potential. I have noticed this from experience. But I would say 6 months for your little "b*tch" Good Luck!

Answer 4

The earliest we will have a dog spayed is at 6 months. By this time their bodies have pretty much developed all they're going to and their adult hormones have had a chance to kick in.

Spaying earlier than this can be dangerous if the dog doesn't have all of its vaccinations, or if it's body isn't completely developed yet. Some folks say to wait untikl after the first heat, because once those hormones kick in they "tell" the body to stop growing; that the dog is now "mature".

Some dogs that are spayed earlier than at 6 months of age can grow up with slightly abnormally long legs (and the health problems that can go along with that) or wraithlike bodies because their hormones never had a chance to kick in and properly "shut off" the growth command. We had some male dogs who had this problem.... That's why we wait until the dogs are at least 6 months old.

Answer 5

Ideally she should be spayed between 4-6 months, BEFORE her first heat cycle. This will help reduce the chance of breast cancer later in life. Also the spay surgery once they have had one heat will be more involved. There will be greater blood supply to that region, and vets will usually charge more. Humane societies and other animal shelters will spay/neuter really young animals to make certain that they are fixed when they leave the shelter-nothing wrong with this if done properly. But aim to get it done before her first heat.

Answer 6

At 6 months of age. Dogs generally will have their 1st heat at 7-9 months of age, and EVERY heat they have makes them more likely to have mammary cancer when they get older.

In the old days, farm vets used to say it was best to let them have one heat - now we know better, but some people still repeat & believe that ancient misinformation.

Answer 7

You want to try to spay her before her first heat cycle. This prevents the hormones progesterone and estrogen from cycling through out her body. Some evidence is out there saying that preventing the flood of estrogen and progeterone from circulating the body decreases the chances of Mamary cancer and of course uterus and oviarian (because those are taken out completely - Oviarian Hysterectomy).

I would have to say that is the most important reason to spay and neuter your pets, to help prevent cancer. (Studies have shown homones have a corrilation to cancer growth and progression).

If she's already had her first heat, her cancer rate is now on the chart and the percentage of preventing mamary cancer is not a lot lower. (because the hormones have now circulated to the mamary glands). Its best to get them spayed befor they have another heat.

Answer 8

I would say between 5 and 6 months of age. That's when i've spayed all my female dogs.

Answer 9

About six months of age before first heat if possible, your vet should be able to tell you based on her size and breed when the best age should be.

Answer 10

My Bichonpoo will be 6 months old on the 21st of January I am taking her to be spade on the 18th of January - before her first heat. The vet says this prevents cancers and other diseases.