I am new to the forum and a first time trainer. I have a 5 month old black female and have been kicking around the idea of getting her spayed. I do not want to be one of the "backyard breeders", which I have found that this tends to give the breed a bad rap and have heard a ton of different views from the vet, kennel, and friends. I have yet to dive into the research on the subject but I am under the impression that if you get through one heat cycle it will allow all of her organs to develop. This assumption may be wrong, but any input on the subject would be greatly appreciated!
My feeling, based on research I have read, is that dogs shouldn't be neutered until they are about 12-14 months old. This allows them to reach physical maturity.
For Labs in the midwest, that would most likely be before a heat cycle. Many people are not prepared for the issues involved in dealing with a female in heat--there is no real advantage to completing a heat cycle, unless your dog has an inverted vulva that a cycle will correct.
Unless the dog has a inverted vulva, Then you should wait until after the heat cycle for the vulva to pop out and become normal or the female could have UTIs the rest of her life......
For Males they recommend neutering later, testosterone is needed for proper development-growth. However I have never seen any research that says a female benefits from a heat cycle, it may in fact make her more prone to certain cancers later on. Unless in the case of an inverted vulva, then you should wait, the vet should check for this, many do not.
If an accidental litter is a genuine concern, I'd lean towards getting her spayed. OTOH, if she gets UTIs, has an innie vulva, you wait. Other reasons to wait: The estrogens from the heat cycle will help her growth plates fuse, reducing risk of joint issues. The spay-neuter heath pros and cons seem horribly understudied, the above are some reviews of what research there is.
In fact, many are turning away from spay/neuter at all. You may certainly do so but, people are asking "what are the health advantages?" The truth is, there may be very few if any.
If you must spay/neuter, wait until full adult growth is achieved or nearly so.
That's what I recommend for females. 18 mos for males. Of course so many vets convince them otherwise, but at least it's in writing.
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