What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

James Allsop — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:34:33 GMT

6 months here also with exception for giant breeds. also heard of very early neuter policies (2months) but not brave enough to try it myself.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

p.j. — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:02:18 GMT

Similar to the US, Australian RSPCA implemented an early neuter policy and have been 'following' incidence of possible long term complications, to my knowledge this large study group has produced no significant increase in urinary problems compared to later neutered bitches

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:19:56 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

I am generally happy to spay at 6mnths for the benefit re mammary tumours, although with some bigger breeds (retirevers, rotties etc) I would still advise letting them have a season. I'll generally discuss with the client as there may be other factors eg male dog in house, previous experience of USMI or mammary tumours. Unfortunately due to the lack of a definite practice protocol or staff training I've sometimes had situations like the client who had a dog and bitch from same litter and wanted both neutered at 6mnths. When she rang nearer the time the receptionist refused to book the bitch in as she hadn't had a season. Angry owner arrived on the day with the dog - luckily she hadn't fed the bitch that day so she was able to go back and get her - but it shouldn't happen...

[/quote]

It is to save time and confusion that we go for the 3 months after first season for all dogs. If they want to pay for a consult and discuss it then that's all well and good, but most people ring up and ask the receptionist and then book the bitch in. If we insisted that they came in for a consult first then I can see it putting some people off. I am happy to discuss it with owners if they want and will do them at other times, although I do like to keep things as simple as possible!

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Utlendigur — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:25:17 GMT

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Kate Dawes — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:39:40 GMT

we spay at 6mths old, we do check bitches on the morning of the op though and will advise delaying til after 1st season in any that don't look mature enough especially if they are of the breeds that are more prone to USMI.

In my previous practice we advised spaying after 1st season, but in my experience surgery is generally easier at 6m

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Jean-Paul Schmidt — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:36:23 GMT

Sorry for the late response, if this is still up for debate my comment was just that there was an interesting review in the VetRecord last week that covered most of the points in this discussion in detail and gave a really good impression of how our vets respond to this question. Hope this helps.

JP Schmidt

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:07:48 GMT

I advise at 6 months old. That is when I did my own bitch. But the nurses check conformation on admittance and will advise leaving until after 1st season where the vulva hasn't fully developed.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Rob Loxley — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:04:03 GMT

We should be clear what we mean by pre-oestrus: 2 months or 6 months old? Especially when considering USMI risk.

For a good review of the topic: http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/10.2460/javma.231.11.1665

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Malcolm Ness — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:24:33 GMT

My reading of the published evidence (and there is an awful lot out there now) is that preoestrus speying is best. The major risk (numerical and severity) is related to mammary tumour, the next is unwanted pregnancy. The former is massively reduced by pre-oestrus spaying the latter is prevented. USMI is incommon and not predictably prevented by a single oestrus. Many centres, esp in US are now doing very early neutering to good effect - pups bounce back really quickly and it is putting some of the rehoming centres out of business.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Hanna Bennett — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:52:18 GMT

We routinely spey at six months before the first season, mostly to prevent mammary tumours - the evidence is incontrovertible! Would not say we have a high incidence of USMI in these dogs as they get older, or UTI post spey (I assume this is the timing you mean for this). Castrations may get left a little older but it is so much easier speying immature bitches, makes the op less traumatic for them too I find.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

sophia guymer — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:02:25 GMT

[quote user="Andre Escudeiro-Vieites"]

What are your practices' policies?

[/quote]

Three months after first season.

Do always tell them about the possibility of doing it before the first season and why we would or not do that. O can choose. But as a rule, after the first season.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:02:23 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Why not just check it the morning of the spay and send it away if not mature enough?

[/quote]

The reason is mainly that some people make special arrangements, like having a day off the the day of the operation, and they can be quite disappointed if you send the bitch home. In my opinion I would sort that out explaining at booking that she will be checked before the operation and this could be cancelled if necessary

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Rob Reid — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:23:58 GMT

We are along the same lines as you Michael, although we are happy to just wait 2 months post-season rather than 3. I too have speyed in-season bitches and have never really had a problem either intra- or post-op, just makes the surgery a bit more interesting!! If we have someone who comes in requesting a pre-season spey, we will do it however, provided they are made aware of the risks and the dog is fairly well developed.

I can think of several cases I have seen of dogs who have been speyed pre-season and now have real urinary issues. Like Michael, I think speying after the first season gives you a good compromise between the mammary tumour and incontinence risks.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:33:42 GMT

[quote user="Andre Escudeiro-Vieites"] Recently one of the vets has decided to check every bitch a few days before spaying (arround 6 months of age) to check for signs on slow development.[/quote]

Why not just check it the morning of the spay and send it away if not mature enough?

[quote user="Andre Escudeiro-Vieites"]What are your practices' policies?[/quote]

We spay 3 months after first season [or 3 months after a season, if presented older]. Feel it is the best compromise between maturity of the dog, and risks of mammary tumours and urinary incontinence. Have a number of spayed female dogs under treatment for incontinence but they are mixed breeds and sizes here ( a Westie is the smallest a Lab the biggest).

Have spayed bitches at other times (including week after a season as she had been mated). We would do them at other times if there was a particular reason.

Re: What is the best age to spay a bitch?

Jacquin Mitchell — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:56:12 GMT

I'm very interested in this atm as I have a 5 month old bitch who will be speyed at some point.

I've always had my bitches done at 6 months before without any problems, but am considering leaving this one until after she's had her first heat.

She's a lurcher, going to be greyhound sized and is very puppyish in her behavior with other dogs but very confident once she becomes accustomed to things.

Will be following this with interest as , although I don't do spays myself, I often advise clients when to spay on the basis of temperament, as well as physical maturity.

Jacq