In the United States, most dogs are spayed between 5 and 8 months of age. Dogs should be spayed BEFORE they have their first heat. To try to control pet overpopulation, many humane shelters have started to spay/neuter all animals before they are adopted. This means they are spaying/neutering animals at a younger age, even 6-14 weeks of age. Many veterinarians in private practice have started early spaying/neutering as well.

While technically a cat or dog can be spayed/neutered at any age, it is best to perform the surgery while the animal is young and healthy to reduce anesthetic and surgical risks.

If your dog was not previously licensed you will need to get an Unaltered Dog Permit. The cost is $50. This provision of the ordinance will become effective April 5, 2007. We strongly recommend that you spay or neuter your dog if you are not a breeder, or involved in other activities that would dissuade you from doing so. If you are in your own yard with your puppy or dog the animals should either be confined in a secure enclosure or accompanied by the owner and under his/her direct control.

There is no statistical difference between spaying bitches before or after their first season. However spaying them soon after 6 months of age dramatically reduces the occurrence of mammary cancers & womb infections later in life. If they have started their seasons then half way between seasons is the best time.

We recommend that the pet be at least 5 months of age. It is not necessary or recommended to allow females to experience an estrus cycle. Spaying and neutering at the age of 5 months greatly reduces the chances of any medical or behavioral problems such as mammary tumors, testicular tumors, inappropriate urination and aggression.

We recommend that all mixed breed pets be spayed. Purebred animals that are not being used for breeding or for show should also be spayed. Spaying a female dog or cat involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. The primary benefit to spaying your pet is to eliminate their ability to have puppies or kittens.

PennHIP has studied the efficacy of this method from the eight weeks up to three years of age. The PennHIP method can be reliably performed on a dog as young as 16 weeks old. Passive hip laxity at 16 weeks correlates highly with later hip laxity. In other words, a dog's hip laxity at 16 weeks will be much the same at one year, two years or even three years. The accuracy of laxity measurements for German Shepherd Dogs less than 16 weeks of age is not high enough to be of clinical use.

Any dog over the age of 7 months must be spayed or neutered. The main reason is that intact dogs are at greater risk of injury from other dogs. In a social environment, intact males are often viewed as threats by other dominant dogs. Intact females, whether in heat or not, may be picked on by other female dogs and male dogs will view her as an intact female and treat her as such.

Neutering dogs varies. Generally, we advise neutering dogs anywhere between six months and one year of age. Please ask us about your pet.

Females, regardless of cat or dog, are spayed while males, again regardless of cat or dog, are neutered.

Spaying offers several advantages. The female's heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of vaginal bleeding. This can be quite annoying if your dog is kept indoors. Male dogs are attracted from blocks away and, in fact, seem to come out of the woodwork. They seem to go over, around, and through many doors or fences. Your dog will have a heat period about every six months. Spaying removes the uterus and the ovaries, and heat periods no longer occur.

There has been much controversy over the age of spaying (female) and neutering (male). Generally, as soon as the vaccination series is completed approximately at 4 months of age it is recommended to spay or neuter. It is always recommended to spay/neuter your pet before sexual maturity as this decreases the incidence of mammary cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and many other diseases. Dr.

We recommend against spaying a dog that is in heat but it can be done. During this time the ovaries and uterus are swollen and filled with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhage. We prefer to wait until about 4 weeks after your dog goes out of heat to perform surgery. We can spay cats that are in heat. What is a neuter and what are the benefits? Neutering is the surgical removal of both testicles.

Your pet can be spayed or neutered as early as 4 months of age. Although, our preferred age for spaying or neutering is 5 months.