What age is best to spay young female?

[JimH]

Our little Lilly who is 13 weeks (tried to download picture, but file too large it said)and at 12 weeks weighed 1.8 lbs so will approximately weigh 3.5 lbs or so when grown according to charts. We decided since she will not be large enough to breed we want to spay her. I have read that if you spay before first heat period it is best as to prevent some certain types of female targeted cancer.
I am interested to hear from forum on this subject. Thank you, this forum is awesome for gleaning information about Yorkies. She is our first Yorkie, have 4 other larger breeds and they all love her as much as we do. She is a "pistol" for sure!!! Already running the show! My in-laws have raised nothing but Yorkies the past 10 years and have had them for almost 20 years, so they have been super help in giving us tips and we have been around their yorkies all along. They currently have four and they are quite the "pack" for sure!

[Lovetodream88]

I would do it around 6 months and I would also have any baby teeth that have not come out pulled at that time as well.

[chachi]

I got my girl spayed right at 6 mos so she wouldnt come into heat. I got my male who was 1 month older neutered the same day

[bjh]

You will get a wide variety of opinions on this subject. There are more things to consider than just age. Because of the small size of your female, I personally feel it would be best to wait until she is a little older but it is best to discuss this with your vet. My recommendation would be to have her spay between her 1st and 2nd heat. Most females come in heat when they are between 7 months and 1 year of age. Of course if you have a intact male in the house that could create problems so you would have to consider that fact also.

Here is a very interesting article that explains the pros and cons of early spaying or neutering.
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

Of course there are risks no matter what age you have your girl spayed but I strongly feel it is safer if they are a bit older. Best of luck to you.

[BlueBelle]

There has been some discussion about waiting until the "bone plates" are complete. I have no idea what that means OR how you would know this. I image an exray.

[CouversMom]

Usually 6 months is best if they are big enough to be spayed/neutered. I waited until my female was 8 months and 3.5 pounds to spay her, and luckily she did not go into heat before that. I think this is something you could talk to your vet about and find out what they think.

[Ahis_Mama]

Originally Posted by bjh

You will get a wide variety of opinions on this subject. There are more things to consider than just age. Because of the small size of your female, I personally feel it would be best to wait until she is a little older but it is best to discuss this with your vet. My recommendation would be to have her spay between her 1st and 2nd heat. Most females come in heat when they are between 7 months and 1 year of age. Of course if you have a intact male in the house that could create problems so you would have to consider that fact also.

Here is a very interesting article that explains the pros and cons of early spaying or neutering.
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

Of course there are risks no matter what age you have your girl spayed but I strongly feel it is safer if they are a bit older. Best of luck to you.

This was recommended by my vet also. Ahi has had her 1st heat in March and will be spayed the first week of June. I also felt more comfortable having it done after she turned 1. Ahi was also 1 1/2lbs. at 12 weeks old. She currently weighs 4lbs. 3oz. She has waddling issues.

[nanahas3]

Our little Kyra is tiny and our vet suggested waiting also. I also was told by people here about the growth plates in these little ones so I am choosing to wait on hers.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by BlueBelle

There has been some discussion about waiting until the "bone plates" are complete. I have no idea what that means OR how you would know this. I image an exray.

There is no guess work. Your vet can take a lateral view of the tibia and see if that growth plate has closed' this is the last growth plate to close.

There are many valid structural and in the end overall health reasons to spay after growth plates have closed.

[JimH]

In past I have always spayed females at one yr of age and after their 1st heat, all being larger breed females. Due to her tiny size I might just do the same. You know you talk about spaying and how the health thing being the best to spay. I have raised finely bred show quality dogs most of my adult life and I shouldn't even say this, but have not had any issues late in life. Currently our Aussie is going on 13 still intact and healthy even after being run over both hips and having BOTH hips removed completely at age 5 and broken hind leg as well. She runs to this day at 12 1/2 and is very healthy except overweight, it did take her jumping ability away though. Our 12 yr old German Wirehair Female is still intact as well and perfectly healthy, no cancer yet anyway. GWH was bred but didn't concieve as male was 11 at time. Aussie had one litter before injury. Our Dobie female age 8 is intact too, show stock, but have never bred her and won't at this point. It gets kind of crazy around here when they come in heat, but they don't last long only about a week or so and out setup is good to handle any of that stuff anyway.
No intact males on premises and I will wait until 1 yr old with Lilly probably due to size and my vet is a "good one" and he will know if I should wait. Thanks so much for all your thoughts on this. We will see how big she is at 6 months first. Thanks again!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by JimH

In past I have always spayed females at one yr of age and after their 1st heat, all being larger breed females. Due to her tiny size I might just do the same. You know you talk about spaying and how the health thing being the best to spay. I have raised finely bred show quality dogs most of my adult life and I shouldn't even say this, but have not had any issues late in life. Currently our Aussie is going on 13 still intact and healthy even after being run over both hips and having BOTH hips removed completely at age 5 and broken hind leg as well. She runs to this day at 12 1/2 and is very healthy except overweight, it did take her jumping ability away though. Our 12 yr old German Wirehair Female is still intact as well and perfectly healthy, no cancer yet anyway. GWH was bred but didn't concieve as male was 11 at time. Aussie had one litter before injury. Our Dobie female age 8 is intact too, show stock, but have never bred her and won't at this point. It gets kind of crazy around here when they come in heat, but they don't last long only about a week or so and out setup is good to handle any of that stuff anyway.
No intact males on premises and I will wait until 1 yr old with Lilly probably due to size and my vet is a "good one" and he will know if I should wait. Thanks so much for all your thoughts on this. We will see how big she is at 6 months first. Thanks again!

I thought the heat lasted for a month?

[Katharine]

My Vet told me my yorkie girl has to be 4 lbs before he will spay her, she is only 4months old. Is this to young or is waiting just for her weight ok

thanks

[Yorkiedaze]

My Jilli Ann turned 9 months last Sunday the 13th and isn't spayed due to her being very underweight and needing further test on her liver. I was worried about the same thing, her having some kind of problem from not being spayed and possibly coming in heat, but the specialist she sees said not to worry about it because rarely has she seen any dog with problems stemming from not being spayed. Look at all the dogs that are being shown. They are not spayed and are healthy, even after breeding a couple of times.

[107barney]

While there are varying opinions on when it is best to spay your dog, there are no conclusive studies that say when spaying is best. The research does show however that spaying a female before a first heat prevents the development of mammary gland tumors. I go with facts that are based on research and science and not speculation so that means I would spay my dog before a first heat.

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by 107barney

While there are varying opinions on when it is best to spay your dog, there are no conclusive studies that say when spaying is best. The research does show however that spaying a female before a first heat prevents the development of mammary gland tumors. I go with facts that are based on research and science and not speculation so that means I would spay my dog before a first heat.

I agree and have had both my girls done at 6 months! All the girls I (not Yorkies) I had spayed early, they all lived ripe old ages and died of old age..I'm not changing my thinking!