Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their dog’s health and well-being.

Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned dog lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola offers insights that will keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Have a question? Send it in here!

The Question

“Hi Dr. Paola,

Our 6-month-old female English Labrador, Stella, weighs almost 60 lbs. Her breeder recommended spaying between 1 year and 18 months because of concern that the growth plates are still open. Our vet recommends spaying her before her first heat cycle because of fewer complications from the surgery and other issues that can surface from letting her go too long before being spayed.

There are many factors to consider, including cancers, tumors, healing time, bone structure/health, hormones — and then something popped across my computer screen about laparoscopic spaying that sounded like waiting wouldn’t be a problem, but likely an expensive option if I could find one close by.

All to say, I’m concerned. We’ve had American Labs with various grades of the above issues, and of course we don’t want these to surface. Also, we are in our 70s, and Stella likely is the last large dog we’ll have, and we want to do what’s right for this baby given her size and breed. Can you provide guidance?”

— Donna

Dr. Paola’s Answer

Hi Donna,

Stella’s size at six months, approaching 60 pounds, puts her firmly in the large breed category, and that makes this decision more nuanced than a simple “spay early” recommendation. Both your breeder and your veterinarian are working from legitimate concerns, but they are focusing on different risks. Given your family’s experience with Labradors and orthopedic problems, I think it is especially important to consider Stella’s skeletal development when deciding when to spay her.

The concern about growth plates is legitimate. Estrogen contributes to normal growth plate closure, so removing the ovaries before skeletal maturity can prolong growth plate activity and alter the proportions of the developing bones. In large breed dogs, this is particularly relevant because their skeletons mature considerably later than those of small breeds. Think of Stella’s skeleton as a house still being framed — the structure may look nearly finished from the outside, but some of the most important work is still happening inside. Studies in Labrador Retrievers have found increased rates of certain joint disorders in dogs spayed at younger ages, although the evidence does not mean that every early spayed Labrador will develop orthopedic disease, nor does it establish that waiting causes cancer.

Your veterinarian’s concern about allowing heat cycles is also valid. Spaying before the first estrus provides the greatest reduction in mammary tumor risk, and that protective effect decreases as the number of estrous cycles increases. However, allowing Stella to mature for additional months does not mean accepting an inevitable cancer problem. For a large-breed female, a reasonable compromise is often to allow additional skeletal maturation and plan the procedure around 12 to 14 months — typically 2–3 months after the first heat — depending on her individual growth, orthopedic health, household circumstances, and your veterinarian’s assessment. I would be more comfortable with that individualized approach than choosing either six months or 18 months as an absolute rule. Preventing accidental breeding during this period is extremely important.

Laparoscopic ovariectomy is certainly worth investigating if it is available to you. It is a surgical approach that removes the ovaries through small incisions and generally results in less tissue trauma and a more comfortable recovery, but it does not change the hormonal consequences of removing the ovaries — so it does not make early spaying equivalent to waiting for maturity. It is best thought of as choosing a gentler surgical route, not as a solution to the timing question. For Stella, I would discuss a plan centered around allowing more growth, closely monitoring her orthopedic development, preventing pregnancy, and considering laparoscopic surgery when the timing is appropriate.

Given her size, breed, and your previous experience with Labradors, I think your instinct to slow down and make this a thoughtful decision is entirely appropriate. One additional point worth mentioning: spayed females are often more prone to becoming overweight due to the effects of hormones on metabolism. Given that Stella is already quite a large girl, it would be worth confirming that her current weight is appropriate for her body size. Your vet can help assess this, or you can use body condition scoring to determine whether any dietary adjustments might be needed.

Best wishes,

— Dr. Paola