The spaying of bitches is recommended by the BSAVA for the following reasons:

· Unwanted pups are prevented; this removes the problems associated with finding homes or increasing the stray population.
· No false pregnancy; this is very common in bitches, and can occur after each season. It may result in distress to the bitch and anguish to the owner. A bitch undergoing a false pregnancy may produce milk, lose her appetite and become quite aggressive.
· Pyometra and other uterine diseases are avoided; unspayed bitches can develop pyometra late in life, which then requires life saving surgery. Spaying a healthy bitch does not involve the risks of spaying an older bitch with toxaemia from the pyometra.
· Reduced risk of mammary tumours; the relative risk of mammary tumours increases progressively with each successive season. Bitches spayed before the second season have a lower prevalence of mammary tumours than entire bitches.
· No Oestrus; oestrus (season or "heat") occurs about every 6 months in entire bitches. During this time bitches have to be kept away from other dogs and walked under close supervision.

There are some reservations about spaying, but most are not justified when examined more closely. Spaying may predispose to weight increase, but dietary management can control this. Urinary incontinence can be associated with spaying, but whether that bears any relationship to the age at which the bitch was spayed is unknown. Spaying is irreversible, and a decision to spay a young bitch may be postponed by controlling her oestrus with drugs under veterinary direction. The BSAVA believes the benefits of spaying a bitch outweigh any potential risks that are involved with the procedure.

Approval:  BSAVA Council as Policy Statement No. 24 (Spaying of bitches) 1999.
Recent update: May 2006