Neutering before first season

Vet suggested we get our bitch neutered preferably before her first season.
Just wondered what you staffy owners thoughts were.
Thanks

Hi Mike, I agree on getting her spayed but it would be best for her if you wait until she's older. 18 months is a good age as she has matured properly, mentally & physically. I know the vets want to do them as early as possible but it would be better for her if you wait a while

Thanks for the reply.
It does worry me a bit that she is so young going through quite a big operation...just a puppy, not matured

Dogs & bitches should, ideally, be allowed to mature mentally & physically before neutering. Your vet has unwanted pregnancies & mammary tumours at the forefront of his professional advice, but mammary tumours are rare in young bitches.

Providing you are careful & don't allow her near males when she's in season I would wait until she's at least 18 months or even 2 years before getting her spayed.

Vets always tell you the health concerns about NOT neutering but never tell you the health concerns that follow neutering. It's worth looking them up.

If it’s any help, Nifty was spayed after her first season, Opium was spayed before.
For Opium, one of the reasons was a clause in the purchase contract so she was spayed at 6 months old. I think Nifty was a year old when she was spayed, she had her first season at 8 months.

Nifty’s first season was a nightmare for us all, I was cleaning the house and blankets 4 times a day for 3 weeks. One month after her season, Nifty then went through the beginning of a phantom pregnancy. For her, the spaying was a blessing.

For Opium, I wouldn’t be able to say if it has impacted her physically or mentally but 6 months was the minimum age for me.

Age of spaying is a very controversial subject so I think you need to do your research and then decide with respect to your situation and beliefs.
I personally have no regrets as to when my girls were done. If I could have spared Nifty her phantom pregnancy, I would in a heartbeat.

Thank you very much for the input, we will have to give it a good deal of thought...
She is coming up to 4 months old now

I would not do it before 6 months old but my vet told me to wait minimum 2 months after the season for reproductive system + hormones to settle down before spaying.

Done a lot of reading and it does appear that Vetenarians and Animal welfare organisations promote dog neutering in an attempt to control unwanted dog population.
While it has to be agreed upon that neutering does lower the risk of testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, mammary cancer It does come at a price.
Increased risk of tumours of the heart.
Increased risk of bone cancer.
Abormal bone growth, muscle mass etc.
Female life span.
Risk of urinary incontinence.
Increases the risk of disease.
Lymphoma.
Hemangiosarcoma.
A lot of the information gathered is from a respected source, veterinary.gov web source.
A lot to consider when evaluating should I or should I not neuter and at what age.

Just one word of warning.
As much as I agree that there are pros and cons of spaying and you have listed a certain list of cons, do also take the equivalence to any medicine you have at home. An aspirin has positive effects but there is also a long list of side effects. 

What I’m saying is that I don’t believe there is one right answer to the question but just keep an open mind on all sources of information you find.

Totally agree, what I will say though is there does appear to be a change in thinking among researchers surrounding the subject of neutering.
Personally I am still unsure as to when or if to neuter.
Thinking possibly between 1st and 2nd season but still on the fence yet, reading and listening to people's experience and opinions.
Research is great but so is experience.

Listening to your experiences with nifty and opium has helped in my decision .
Thanks for the input

Oh gosh, what a responsibility

I believe it's a relatively big operation but one done routinely but cannot help but worry lol.

You’ve added a photo to your avatar.
Your girl is so pretty ! 
What is her name ?

She is called Mabel...
Bundle of fun lol.
Your girl's look fine specimens, nicely proportioned

Mabel - pretty name, pretty girl.
Thank you for the compliments on my girls, there are a few photos of them here
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t68278-photos-please