what are your views on spaying a healthy bitch before she has had her first season, i was asked this question and have always before answered that they would never truly grow up etc but the woman said her 2 year old bitch had been spayed before her first season and seems to always be showing phantom signs
any ideas?

Spaying is a very individual thing for all bitches.

I prefer a bitch to be spayed after first season. A couple of my pups who I advised the owners not to spay until then, had them done before first season, ( they didn't want the mess of a season and the vet did not care either way and some even encouraged it) they are fine with no ill affects at all, certainly no phantoms, and no more immature than ones spayed later. (Bitches mature much faster than dogs anyway, dogs are more prone to stay immature.)

All bitches will react differently some may have a risk of becoming incontinant with early spays.
Later spays can cause some bitches to become more prone to mammory cancers coming into play,

It is luck of the draw really as to which dogs will have problems and which won't, the majority seem fine either way.

Today most vets will recommend after first season, which personally I agree with.

Early neutering affects growth and development, it delays the closing of the growth plates and thus can impact on height etc.  If it is just a pet dog then this may not be an issue, if it is a performance dog it could be.  Sex Hormones control more than sex..................

My bitches are not spayed until they are 2 I would not spay earlier than 18 months myself.

i totally agree

We have always advised our owners not to spay until after the first season and if they can, wait until after the second. With male dogs, leaving it till 9 months if needs be, but not to if not necessary.:-) This is also for growth and growing up mentally.