Spaying your Lab at the right time is imperative to get the desired results of the procedure. The general rule of thumb is to get your Labrador spayed before her first heat cycle. The exact age can vary from one dog to another because it depends upon the development of your canine. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to talk to your vet to get an exact timeline. Keep reading to know about the right age to spay a Labrador and learn the benefits of spaying.
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At What Age Should Labs be Spayed?
Experts believe that a Labrador should be spayed between the age of 9 and 15 months. This is the time when your pup has just reached puberty and spaying her won’t carry many risks. You should never rush the process and spay your pooch too early because it can lead to many health problems. Similarly, leaving your dog intact for too long can give way to several complications.
Should I Spay My Lab Before Her First Heat?
It’s highly recommended to spay your Lab before her first heat because it reduces the chances of many health problems, including mammary tumors. Once a female Lab has gone through her first heat, she becomes highly vulnerable to these tumors. According to an estimate, a Lab that is spayed after a few heats have a 25% chance of developing mammary tumors.
How Long Should a Labrador Puppy Rest After Being Spayed?
Spaying your Labrador puppy is a major surgery and will require substantial aftercare. The vet will give you detailed instructions, and you must follow them strictly to ensure a smooth recovery. A Labrador puppy that has undergone spaying might be completely inactive for the first 2-3 days.
After that, they might start to move around but the wound will need a rest of several weeks to heal completely. During this period, the owners should be extremely vigilant and make sure that their pooch stays safe. Labs are known for being curious and can get themselves into trouble if you are not super alert.
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Do Labradors Calm Down After Being Spayed?
Yes, it does. The behavioral issues of the dog are one of the primary reasons why owners decide to spay their Labradors. If your pup is showing aggression and indulging in inappropriate urination, spaying can be quite helpful in solving the problem.
Although male Labs are more likely to exhibit this behavior, some female Labs can also create these issues. Spaying your female Labrador will also eliminate the problem of howling and bleeding during your pup’s heat.
Other Benefits of Spaying Labradors
Managing behavioral issues is not the only objective of spaying Labradors. It can also solve some other issues that can be quite troublesome for the dog and owner. The following are a couple of other reasons that can urge you to spay your Labrador.
Reduces Health Risks
Many experts regard spaying as an effective remedy to maintain the good health of your pup. Not only will it keep your dog healthy, but it can also increase the lifespan of your Labrador. According to an estimate, spaying can increase the lifespan of male Labs by 13.8% while this number increases to 26.3% in the case of female Labs.
Spaying reduces the risk of several types of cancers, like testicular, mammary, and uterine cancers. Similarly, it reduces the probability of many dangerous medical conditions, like Pyometra. This life-threatening uterine infection is specific to Labs and can be quite uncomfortable for your canine friend.
Controls Population
If you have an unsprayed female Labrador, you can have new puppies even if you don’t want them. A female Labrador can have up to 70 puppies during their lifetime. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to get your pooch spayed if you don’t want her to get pregnant.
Spaying a dog is considered a better alternative because it’s less expensive and less hectic. A female Lab can have up to 12 pups in a litter. This means that taking care of newborn puppies and their mother can be an extremely challenging task. That’s the reason why many breeders ask owners to sign a form that they will spay their puppy.
Even if you are planning to have some puppies, you should make a proper plan with your vet and stick to it. Once your Labrador has gone through the planned litters, it’s time to spay her.
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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.