When to get bitch spayed

[kreamkrackers]

My lovely black lab is almost 5 months and we want to get her spayed. I've been told to wait for her first season through friends but we read somewhere about it being better at reducing female cancers by getting them done before their first season. Which is best?

When I asked the receptionist at the vets she said after 6 months which would mean she might have to have that first season.

We were advised to wait until after her first season with our black lab. She was well over a year when we had her done.

my vet ssaid 3 months after first season, as they can be more sure that the blood supply to womb is at low ebb and therefore minimise risk during surgery.

just been looking it up on a few sites myself and found some recommend it before first season and some between first and second but not straight after first. It's so confusing. Why did your vet recommend your's be done after the first season?

From what I can gather it's better after because it stops incontinence which our dog although fully house trained from 14 weeks still gets excitment wees

For getting a dog done before it's because of the risks of cancer.

I don't mind if she needs a season or two but I need to know which is best for her.

recommends between 1st and second season

recommends before 1st season

Thanks in advance for the help with this

mine said after the first season but I think you have to wait a couple of months afterwards

it used to be after the bitch had 1 litter but they changed that after so many pups were being drowned/abandoned. id take the advice of your vet they probably know what they are talking about

We have always had ours done after first season

DH (who is a vet)- his practice now advise before 1st season. The main reason is due to risk of mammary tumours - with each season the dog has, the risk is increased. The incontinence issue (ie after the 1st season) is advised more in docked breeds (Dobermanns, Cockers etc). Really does no harm to be done before 1st season.
HTH xxx

Thanks for tha caspercat. Will be trying to get Peppa booked in ASAP now, I'd much rather have a cancer free dog

Hi. I am a vet too and I would totally agree with caspercat's DH, except for the bit about docked breeds (shouldn't be any of those now anyway, but that's a different story!). However, the practice I currently work in has a policy of waiting until three months after the first season. I think you will get different answers from different vets so if you have reached your own decision you may need to ask around a little.