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At what age should I spay my female puppy to avoid future problems?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed | 1 month and 22 days old | 7 lbs

How old should my female puppy be before I get her spayed? I've been looking into it and it seems like there could be some mental issues if she's spayed too young.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 6th, 2017

I'm not aware of any increase in mental issues in female dogs when they are spayed early. Animal shelters all over the country spay 8 week old puppies all the time and the puppies adopted out can certainly grow into well adjusted, wonderful dogs. There is some evidence that waiting until a large breed dog has reached its adult size can be helpful for avoiding joint issues, but there is also an increased risk for mammary tumors if a female dog goes through even one heat cycle. I recommend spaying around 6-9 months for many of my patients, but you should talk to your veterinarian about their preferred timing.

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    Answered By Dr. Macartney, BVet Med, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    It is recommended to spay between 5 and 8 months of age to reduce the risk of mammary tumours and a condition called pyrometra. Some owners prefer to allow their female dogs to go through one season before spaying. This is also acceptable, however, every season your dog experiences she is more likely to have these conditions then if she was spayed beforehand. Therefore, there is no perfect answer. I would advise before her first heat, or if you prefer to let her develop slightly more but still have some protection from these conditions after her first. Hope that is helpful!

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