When to spay a dog?

[Memoriesmemories]

Hello, I have a beautiful Jack Tzu who is approaching 7 months old. Hasn't had a season yet. We don't want puppies from her so want to get her spayed. Do you have any advice on when is the best time? I have conflicting advice from 2 separate vets. One says before the first season and one says 3 months after the first season. Confused as to what is best?!
Any advice please?

[wombandovaries]

Hello, let her have her first season as the risk of spay incontinence is much higher if you spay pre first season. Waiting for 3 months after it will ensure she is as hormonally balanced as possible.

[Memoriesmemories]

@wombandovaries thank you, that's what I initially worried about. She's still tiny and I'm so worried about her having it done too young.

[wombandovaries]

No problem

[Elmo311]

I'm sure your vet has probably mentioned that the risk of mammary tumours is also a consideration? That's why some will spay before the first season.
It's largely up to you though!

[Snowberry4]

We were told to let her have 1 season and then spay :) x

[MoaningMinniee]

Advice for many years has been after first season plus a few weeks, although as mentioned above there is some evidence of benefits from earlier, hence conflicting advice from different vets.

[Memoriesmemories]

Thanks all, tricky! Will have another talk to the vet. Perhaps waiting until she's had her first season would be best, I don't know.

[slalomsuki]

We've had 2 dogs spayed recently. First one was 3 months after first season and it certainly calmed her down. The second we got at 6 months old and spayed at 1 year but she hadn't had a season with us. We hung on and hung on waiting for it to arrive but we had to go ahead as they were both going to a doggy hotel while we went in holiday and we couldn't take the risk of unwanted pups. Vet thought that as she was a small dog she may have had a season just before she came to us and that may even have been the reason she was re-homed

[Span1elsRock]

We had our sprocker puppy spayed at 6 months. Our other dog is entire, so we took both in for a chat with the vet about whether to neuter one, which one or both. Vet felt that as our older dog had never shown any sign of sexual behaviour or aggression and as he'd been attacked a couple of times by another male dog, it was risky to neuter him in case it made him even more nervous around other males, so we had the puppy spayed.

She was absolutely fine and recovered really quickly. There is some evidence about them being less prone to mammary cancers if they are spayed early, and our vet was very positive about it.

[gingerninja99]

My dog was spayed at 6/7months several years ago. She got spay incontinence due to not being mature enough. 3 years she needed to have hormone drops before she stopped 'dripping constantly' so I would definitely let the pup have its first season to help reduce that risk.
She is now the ripe old age of 15 but the dripping tap of pee seems to be rearing it's ugly head again

[katmunchkin]

There is a thought that getting them spayed 'locks' them in to the physically and emotionally maturity that they are currently in - as in do it before they have finished growing and they won't grow much more, and do it whilst they are still a crazy puppy and they'll never grow out of it. Not sure how true this is