Best Age to have a female puppy spayed

[Miss Ellie]

I would like to hear your thoughts on the best age to have a female pup spayed?  I have read so many articles and can honestly say I more now confused than ever.  I want to make the best decision and am hoping to get advice from others who have already been through this. Until recently I had always heard that it was best to do this around 6-7 months old...but the vet we are going to now does not want to do it until around 14 months of age. Please help!

[Miss Ellie]

Thanks Vicki!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

If it was me, I'd wait until the growth plates are closed. As Karen said, the smaller the dog, the quicker their skeletal growth is complete. 14 months seems a bit long.  My dog was expected to mature at about 40 lbs. (ended up at 50 lbs.) so my vet suggested to have it done at 8 months to a year. Unfortunately, he was already neutered by the breeder at 6 weeks. This is an ongoing debate but if I had had the choice, I would have waited until 8 months.

[Miss Ellie]

 I really appreciate you taking the time Cheryl to respond to my question and letting me know your thoughts:)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Enzo is 5 months.  And was spayed a week ago today.  Interesting, as our Vet and very good friend who is a Vet, highly suggested earlier, rather than later.   In fact, our Vet charged more, once they were over 6 months! 

[Miss Ellie]

Thanks Ro...I appreciate your help!  Yes, this particular vet is worried about growth plates specifically and says it is actually healthier for them to go through their first heat...this goes against everything that I have ever read except for a couple of holistic vet articles read recently.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

As everything, I swear, they do their best to keep us confused!  I had 3 different Vets tell me earlier...1 to wait to through their 1st heat.   Maybe do a poll and call a few Vets in your area?  Which is basically what I did.  Good luck in your decision!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

The reasoning behind the early Spay, according to the 3 Vets who were pro "early" was Spaying greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer, especially if your dog is spayed before her first estrous cycle, and also eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

This was the reasoning my vet gave, and we ended up having Lucy spayed at 5 mos.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Ro, I've heard that.  But there is also evidence that early spay/neutering increases the possibility of osteoscarcoma (bone cancer) and mild dysplasia and other skeletal issues. It makes sense to me as hormones help to regulate the dog's bone growth.  And when I say early spay or neuter, I'm talking about a pup that's less than 3 months old. 

[Stella]

The current opinion is that you should wait until they are done growing. There is beginning to be some evidence that dogs that are spayed/ neutered early (before they stop growing) continue to grow longer than one that has not had the surgery. They need testosterone from the sex organs to close their growth plates. So, if they have been spayed or neutered earlier, it takes longer for them to stop growing. These dogs end up with longer 'long bones', so longer legs in proportion to the rest of the body, which is likely contributing to the increasing numbers of dogs blowing their CCL in the knee, and other joint problems.