Is 6 months too early to spay?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I have an appointment Wednesday to leave my 6 month Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Ella, overnight to be spayed. My vet had told me last time to make an appt. soon for the spaying. Now, as usual, I am getting nervous as I read online that some think 6 months is too early, and that the bone plates need to grow until 18 months before spaying. If I'm going to cancel, I'd better do it soon. What has been anyone's experience with this? Thanks so much.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Marie Kovalinsky on October 15, 2013 at 5:25pm

Thanks for that info, Jane. Very helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Marcie on October 15, 2013 at 6:55pm

Becca had her first heat at seven months. She had just come out of heat when I picked her up from her breeder at eight months. I had her spayed within a few months of getting her. I didn't want to chance another heat. My yard isn't fenced, and it would be difficult to deal with the male dogs in the neighborhood.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on October 15, 2013 at 8:04pm

Absolutely not. You're pushing it now getting it in before the first heat cycle.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Marie Kovalinsky on October 16, 2013 at 11:28am

Thanks- so reassuring to know I am not doing it too early. She went in this morning, will pick her up tomorrow, and am waiting to hear how it went, this afternoon.

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Permalink Reply by Julia on October 15, 2013 at 9:45pm

Thanks for the info. The realities of life for shelter dogs are different. An earlier spay can mean getting out of the shelter, since letting an intact dog go can feed a puppy mill, or just a puppy boomerang of more "oops" pups coming back to us. Younger girls often go on a spay contract, but I always worried about getting them back for their surgery in time. I feel better now knowing the time frame.

Those bunnies, on the other hand......

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on October 18, 2013 at 1:15am

I have read speculation that early neutering/spaying might result in less robust growth -- sex testosterone and estrogen being anabolic steroids -- perhaps more likelihood of CCL injury, stuff like that -- but this may be just speculation and rumor.

There may be downsides to early or late neutering/spaying -- but how do you really tell without careful, expensive study?

What do the vets and the professionals say?

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Permalink Reply by Susan Marie Kovalinsky on October 18, 2013 at 4:56pm

The problem is, John, the vet studies have been contradictory: Some advise against early neutering /spaying for the reasons you state, and others say the opposite. Its quite upsetting to not be able to fully know which route to take . Well, my girl is home from her spaying; let's hope I did the right thing.