You’re a new pet owner and want to be responsible for helping control the pet population. Since you already know that your new furry family member will not be used for any breeding purposes, he or she will need to get fixed.

But when should you get them fixed? To find some answers, you do what every second person in the northern hemisphere does and asks Google. What you see is a myriad of different opinions and scientific data suggesting to get them fixed at 6 months of age to up to 2 years of age. What do you do now?

The answer up to you, the love pet parent. With some educated guidance from your veterinarian.

Spay or Neuter at 6-9 months of age

Spaying –Studies have shown that spaying a female before her first heat cycle can almost eliminate her chances of developing mammary cancer. It is worth noting that 90% of mammary tumors found in females are benign. Spaying this early has been associated with preventing uterine infections in both cats and dogs.

Neutering – Getting a jump on neutering your male canine will help you get a jump on curbing undesirable behaviors like humping, roaming around for females, marking territory, and aggressiveness. Your canine will also be less likely to develop testicular cancer.

Spay or Neuter at 12-18 months of age

Spaying - Waiting until your female has gone through her first heat cycle (once she has hit puberty) has become the recommended time frame for most female dogs. Studies have shown that spaying after puberty will decrease:

• Hip dysplasia
• Torn ligaments
• Bone cancer
• Urinary incontinence

While letting your female go through her first heat cycle is messy, letting those hormones run through her system can be a very good thing.

Side note, an Ovary Sparring Spay is an excellent option for females. The procedure allows them to retain normal amounts of hormones but does not experience bleeding

Every breed is different, so it’s best to work closely with a veterinarian to determine when is the right time is to spay your girl.

Neutering – Recent research over the past few decades has shown that letting your male reach puberty before neutering is an excellent thing for most breeds. Studies suggest that when a male’s body has received the reproductive hormones and a significant boost of testosterone at puberty, they have a decreased chance of developing:

• Cardiac tumors
• Bone cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Abnormal bone growth and development
• ACL ruptures
• Hip dysplasia
• Urinary incontinence
• Hypothyroidism
• Behavioral issues such as noise phobias, fearful

Another point to consider is certain breeds like Pitt Bulls who get bigger heads and broader shoulders after they’ve gone through puberty. Individuals who want to show their dogs in competition will want to take this into consideration.

Making the decision to spay or neuter your pet can come with some worry and confusion. After all, you want what’s best for your dog and may worry about the effects of an operation like spaying or neutering. But when it comes to spaying and neutering, there are a plethora of good reasons to go forward. There are, of course, health benefits and convenience issues that often convince dog owners to spay or neuter, but you may be unaware of the behavioral reasons to consider spaying and neutering, as well.

The valid concerns of pet overpopulation have prompted frequent and aggressive spay and neuter campaigns on local and national levels. These are well-intended: without responsible pet ownership and spaying/neutering, many pets end up in foster care or shelters—even increasing the rates of dogs and cats who are euthanized needlessly.

When it comes to spaying your female dog, you probably have plenty of questions. For some pet owners, spaying is an overwhelming decision they know they’ll have to make at some point, but put off because the research seems daunting.

Here’s everything you need to know about spaying your dog, including when you should do it and what the best method is.