What age to spay?

[BabyElephant]

Me again, I just have another little question about getting Poppy spayed. I am definitely getting her done but the question is when.

All the other vets in our area say she should have a first season before getting spayed. The vet I registered with (a short drive away but worth it I think because they have better facilities) say that she can be spayed at 6 months (before her first season).

Then, my mother in law says that letting her have a litter would reduce her chances of getting bad arthritis later in life - she is a labrador retriever.

I don't know what to do for the best. I know what is was like when the cat had her first season (she drove my dad mad) and I would worry about taking her for a walk whilst she is in season. I don't really want her to have a litter as I don't know the first about birthing puppies and would worry terribly about finding them good homes. I think the vets I'm registered with should be giving good advice as they are the animal hospital for the county that I live in. But I just want to do what's best for Poppy - any advice anyone?

[Dax]

Spay at 6 months. The risks associated with heats and litters are not worth any of the rumored benefits. They heal faster when they are younger - don't develop bad manners (shreding, nesting, etc).

[smehta1]

On the topic of spaying, our breeder recommended to do it between 5 and 6 months because many of the girls from the previous litters had matured a bit early. Is it safe to spay at 5 months?

[goombaya]

Yes it is safe to spay at 5 months.

[Moo]

Yes, there are no risks in spaying earlier.

[smehta1]

Thanks Goombaya and Moo!

[weimlover0816]

Spay at 5 or 6 months, no question. Letting your girl have a first litter should not even be an option, as you would not want to breed on the first heat anyway (right??)... so she would have to go through at least 2 heats, plus a pregancy. Not fun. Also, my vet infromed me that spaying a female dog before her first heat GREATLY reduces her chance of breast cancer. If you wait until after the first heat, their chances increase, some breeds by 80%.

[Dawn]

That's what we were told by several vets as well. Even allowing one heat increases risk of breast cancer by 70%-95% depending on the breed.

[BabyElephant]

Thanks for the advice, I'll get her booked in as soon as she is old enough (she's only 11 weeks at the moment).

Weimlover0816 - as I said I don't know the first about pregnancies etc so wouldn't have even known not to breed on first heat. It's not something I wanted to do anyway - I just want what's best for Poppy.

[erdog3]

Any one that tells you to wait until after the first heat, or allow her to have at least one litter is talking through their a***. It's all wivestales.
Vets are now able to perform the operation earlier, and earlier, not later.
If you do not intend to breed at all then get her done by 6 months, labs do tend to have their first season a little later than that, around 8-9 months of age.
After my recent epesiode with Ellie, get her done before that first heat, I was dead set scared on Sat. night. I thought I may lose her.
Also my experience with my labs is these darn phantom pregnancies that increase the risk of pyometra (thanks for the info Dax), Sophie was plagued with them through her entire breeding life, she is now spayed, and it looks like Ell's is gonna be too.
GET HER SPAYED BEFORE HER FIRST HEAT.