how young can a female pup get spayed?

Question

I have a 9 wk old pup is she to young to get spayed or should i wait a little longer.

Answer 1

While shelters are recommending younger and younger ages for altering dogs, studies are starting to show that pups spayed/neutered before 6 months don't develop the bone structure their littermates do (who weren't altered). Also, females spayed before 5 months are much more dog aggressive, males are much more timid than littermates who weren't altered.

Incontinence (dripping urine involuntarily) is also a big problem with very young spays.

While I admire the shelters for trying to curb the tremendous overpopulation problem by altering dogs before there is the slightest chance of reproducing, I don't think these people are taking the health of the individual dogs into consideration.

Talk with your vet and ask them for their input on when he/she is willing to spay your dog.

AND, last but definitely not least, thank you for being a responsible pet owner!

Answer 2

You can go ahead and spay now if you want, but be aware that some of the side-effects of spaying may be more pronounced in a very early spay. Young puppies recover from surgery very quickly, but research has shown that spaying before sexual maturity (usually 18 months - 2 years of age) can result in increased incidents of spay incontinence, an increase in certain health conditions, and some potential problems with skeletal structure since the sex hormones help close the growth plates and tell the pup when to stop growing. There is evidence pointing to an increase in hip displasia an ACL injuries in dogs spayed/neutered early as well. (This may be a greater concern in some breeds than in others, and may be more of a concern in a working or agility dog than in a pampered pet.) Studies also indicate that female pups show more inclination to be dog aggressive and males more inclination to either aggression or shyness when spayed/neutered early. Spaying/neutering cuts down on some risks and increases others. You need to decide what you are comfortable with.

Some people advocate early spay/neuter at a very young age, while others prefer to wait until later. If you don't know if you can keep her away from intact male dogs, or if you just can't handle the idea of her going into season and possibly dripping blood in your house, you may want to spay her now or in the next few months. If you want to let her grow up a bit first, that's fine too. Do some research and make your decision accordingly.

Answer 3

It totally depends on your vet. Some of them want to wait until the puppies hormones have fully developed before they spay them which means they wait until the pup has had her first heat.

Others do it between 4 months and 6 months.

I have recently heard that some are doing it before they leave the breeders homes, before they are 12 weeks old.

I would have to think on this myself if I had a young one who needed to be spayed. Actually I do. She is 17 weeks old and only a pound and a half. My husband doesn't want her spayed because she is so little that there is a big risk of putting her to sleep for the surgery.

Answer 4

You can spay as early as 8 weeks, as long as the pup is in good health, and good weight. I believe most vets who do pediatric spay and neuter want the pup to weigh at least 2 pounds.

Here's an excellent website that talks about early spay/ neuter myths, and debunks them with medical journals.
http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/PedSpayNeuter.htm

I'm a big fan of pediatric spay/ neuter, but some vets aren't comfortable with it yet because it's not the way they were taught, and the organs are so small to work with for the procedure. But, after training via a video from UC Davis, many are more comfortable with the procedure.

Early spay/ neuter is also recommended by HSUS, ASPCA, American Veterinary Medical Assoc, AHA and many more. It's not just for overpopulation reasons, it's for a better health.

If you can't find a vet that is willing to spay this early, by 4 months or 6 months is also fine. But, it's best to spay before the first heat. Congrats on your new pup, and for being such a responsible pet owner to care for her health and well being!

Purrs and woofs,
~Danielle

Answer 5

if it were me, I would wait util about 6 motnhs of age. Most rescues spay and neuter as young as 8 weeks to make SURE its done and there isnt another litter of unwanted pups born.

But a puppy is more delicate, and the risks of being under anesthesia is higher. there is now also some information from studies that shows dogs neutered at under 1 year grow taller than thier counterparts who were not neutered. this os not necessarily a good thing. Lots of people who intend to compete in sports with a dog, in things like agility etc , will wait until a dog is a year old.

But, for the average pet owner, the 6 month mark usually avoids a dog breeding and is plenty of time to get the job done with little risk to the dog.

Thats clear as mud now isnt it?

Candice

Answer 6

It's perfectly fine to spay her now, as long as you find a good vet who has spayed pups as young as yours before. A lot of vets don't do it until they are 6 months old or older but if you don't want to wait, you don't have to.

Answer 7

Wait a little longer. Usually vets suggest spaying at 6 months of age, but I have heard of it being done as early as 4 months.

Answer 8

Nope as long as your vet is experienced in spaying young puppies, it's perfectly fine to have her spayed now. We get our puppies spayed/neutered at between 8 weeks of age, before they go to their new homes at 10 weeks.

Answer 9

No, she is at a perfect age to get altered. The younger the pup, the better. But, I would not recommend getting it done any younger than 8 weeks old. Good luck!!

Answer 10

My Vet refuses to spay until they are 5 months old. I don't remember what his reasoning for this was, but apparently according to the other answers, there are Vets that will..Check with your Vet and find out his or her suggestion.