When is the best time to spay a lab?  My vet says 5 and a half months - i think that is very young.  I know there are pros and cons, dont know when is best

I would say leave her until she has had hre first season, and given herself a bit more time to mature. Vets always advise spaying young, but the body doesn't have time to mature & let the hormones settle, so if you can manage, I would wait until she has had her first season. I have a friend at Guide dogs & they try and leave them until after their first season. If she doesn't come in by about 12-14months then its probably a better time to spay her.

Hi Lab Lover,

I'd definitely recommend that she has at least one season, preferably two in a breed of that size if she has her first season before 1 year, and should not be neutered until around 12 weeks after her season has finished.  Hormones in dogs, as with humans, have a significant impant on their physical and mental maturity.

regards, Teri :)

We had the same advice from the vets with Molly & we had her spayed at just over 6 months....

thanks for your reples.  I was thinking after her first season as we dont want to breed from her.  Did everything go ok with Molly?