What age should you get females fixed?

Question

I have a female red nose pit. She is about 6months old. She hasn't had her 1st period yet, but i dont know whether i should wait until she has it or just go ahead and do it. Thanks.

Answer 1

Most Vets require the pups to be at least 3 months of age or older before they will spay or neuter. Since she is almost 6 months, just call your vet and make the appointment.

Answer 2

Some vets won't let you fix your pup till 6 months and some till closer to a year. But as far as age after that there is no cut off date. What you need to do is call the vet that you want to use and just ask them at what age will they fix a female puppie.
Keep in mind that a female is a more "serious" surgery compared to a male, just like in human females and males. (In humans the males is in and out and the woman is in the hospital for 2-4 days.)
Make sure you pick a vet that you trust and is very good. There are some vet offices who do not do a good job and have a higher rate of animal deaths than others.
So just make sure you know how the vet works.

Answer 3

Thank you Beth! i am kind of amazed at how many people don't know everything about spaying / neutering their pets and just do it. I mean it is a surgery and an important one at that. If your dog is NOT at risk of getting pregnant/getting another dog pregnant than it is better to wait until they have finished growing.
Spaying a large / medium sized breed before they are fully grown (about 12-18 month) can have side effects. I am all for spaying and neutering and i think it should be done 100% if you are not going to breed your dog (and you shouldn't unless you are a reputable breeder) but it should be done at approporiate age.
Here is a snipped from one of the articles i came across in my research
On the positive side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common
malignant tumors in female dogs
• nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female
dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
• reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
• removes the very small risk (
0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
On the negative side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a
common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis
• increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by
a factor of >5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
• triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6-2, a common health problem in dogs with many
associated health problems
• causes urinary “spay incontinence” in 4-20% of female dogs
• increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4
• increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs
spayed before puberty
• doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors
• increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
• increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

Answer 4

My vet recommends 6 months for all breeds of dogs, regardless of size. If your dog goes into heat, there is always the chance she could have an unwanted pregnancy, and the heat cycle is really a mess! My dogs were both spayed before they went into heat.

Answer 5

he he, well by the title of your post I had a different answer...now I see you are talking about puppies ;-).

It is best to get females spayed from 6 months to 1 year, preferably before their first heat. Be careful when to decide to do it cos pups also need hormones to grow that are no longer produced once they are spayed.

Answer 6

Do it before she goes into heat. She will then always have a puppy's "mind". W/o the hormone flood she will never want to be anything but lowdog on the totem pole. That is a very good thing.

Answer 7

After they have their vaccinations. My vet wanted to do it before or about 6 months of age. He didn't want her to have her first heat. If you spay before the first heat it reduces the risk of developing female problems later in life.
Good job on getting her spayed!!

Answer 8

You want to spay before the first litter - so before 6 months old if possible. This gives you the most benefits:
- No heat cycles, therefore males will not be attracted
- Less desire to roam
- Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives

Answer 9

I have had all my pups spayed/neuthered at 4 months of age. Some vets do it sooner. Some require the pup to be 6 months.

Answer 10

I asked my vet the same question when I took my pup in for her first shots and he said around 4 months. I always heard it was best to get it done before her first time in heat.