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What Age Should a Female Dog Be Spayed?

Deciding to spay or neuter your dog is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a pet parent. If you own a female dog, you may be wondering when the best age is to have them spayed. Neutering your dog will impact their future behavior and can improve their health outcomes.

 

But when should you neuter your female dog? Most vets and behavioralists recommend waiting until your dog is at least 6 months old. However, larger breeds are usually recommended to wait until at least 12 months. Allowing your dog to go through one heat cycle can reduce future health risks and help their development.

 

At the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection, we offer affordable spay surgeries in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. We’ve provided low-cost spay and neutering services for over 700,000 pets in North Texas. This guide offers in-depth advice on what age you should spay a female dog at, the aftercare involved, and the behavioral changes to expect.

 

What is Spaying?

Spaying a female dog (also known as neutering) is a preventative procedure to stop pregnancies, including phantom pregnancies. It can also reduce the risk of your dog developing certain health complications, including cancer. Spaying is a surgical procedure carried out by a vet, who will remove some or all your dog’s reproductive organs.

 

What Age Should a Female Dog Be Spayed?

There are two different fields of thought on the best age for neutering a female dog. Traditionally, vets have recommended that your dog is spayed before its first season or 12 weeks after it’s been in heat. Today, many vets are now aiming to spay dogs within at least four months of the end of their last cycle. This approach can be tricky as it requires you to identify your dog’s heat cycle.

 

Some dog behaviorists have recommended against the traditional approach as puppies require their hormones to properly mature into an adult dog. Many now suggest waiting three months after a cycle or as close as possible to the next cycle to book your dog’s spaying.

 

Should You Spay Before Their First Season?

You’ll want to wait until your dog is at least 6 months old before considering spaying. It’s recommended to wait until your dog is older if they’re a larger breed. Research shows that spaying a larger dog before they’re 6 months can lead to a higher risk of future orthopedic issues with the risks significantly reduced after 12 months. Each heat cycle that your dog goes through increases their risk of pyometra and breast cancer.

 

There’s no exact way of knowing when your dog will go into her first heat, but it can be helpful to know her family history to try and predict this. Most dogs can benefit from going through one heat season, especially larger breeds, highly active dogs, and breeds prone to joint issues and incontinence problems. One season allows their joints and vulva to develop better.

 

The exception would be if your female dog is in an environment with another female dog of the same age or breed and if there are already signs of tension. The higher hormone levels a dog has during their season may result in aggression between your dogs, so spaying before the first season could prevent this.

 

Dog Spaying Surgery

When you choose to spay your dog, there are different surgery options to consider. You can remove the ovaries and leave the uterus or vice versa. Alternatively, you can choose to have a full ovariohysterectomy and remove both the uterus and ovaries.

 

Your vet will provide advice on caring for your dog before their surgery. Most will recommend not giving them food from the night before their surgery. Typically, your dog will be given medication to make them sleepy before being put under a full anesthetic for surgery.

 

Spaying surgeries are usually performed with an incision made at the belly, which is then closed with internal dissolvable stitches and surgical glue or external stitches. Keyhole surgery is a newer option but is not widely accessible. After surgery, your dog will be taken to a recovery area until the anesthetic wears off. You can expect to be reunited with your dog later that day.

 

Aftercare for Dog Spaying

Once your dog is back home, you’ll want to keep them in a calm environment, avoiding loud noise. Avoid having your dog move too much for the first day. You can take them outside on a lead to relieve themselves, preventing them from walking too much.

 

You’ll want to keep an eye on your dog to prevent them from licking their stitches to avoid infection. Your dog will likely be sent home with a doughnut collar to prevent wound irritation. You can expect to take your dog back to the clinic for a post-surgery check-up a few days afterward. After 10 days, you can put your dog back onto their regular routine.

 

Behavioral and Nutritional Needs After Spaying

Spaying your dog removes the hormones that can result in increased aggression and reactivity during heat. However, it won’t remove any existing negative behavior that your dog may be presenting outside of heat, which may require the help of a dog behavioralist or trainer.

 

It’s worth noting that spaying will also change your dog’s nutritional needs. It’s common for dogs to gain weight in the weeks and months after their spaying surgery due to changes in their metabolism. Your vet may recommend adjusting your dog’s food intake and most dog food brands offer specially formulated food for spayed dogs to ensure they meet their nutritional needs.

 

Book an Affordable Spay Appointment for Your Dog

Spaying your female dog has extensive health benefits, including reducing their risk of breast cancer and preventing uterine infection. It can also help reduce animal overpopulation and minimize mating-related behavior from dogs by removing their heat cycles.

 

Are you planning to spay your dog? Schedule an appointment or get a quote today. Do you have a question about neutering your female dog? Call our team at 940-566-5551 or use our chatbot for more information.

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