When To Spay A Golden Retriever [Is Spaying The Right Choice?]

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[UPDATED March 2022]

Deciding when to spay a Golden Retriever is an important decision to make, and one that should not be taken lightly.

Choosing to spay your female will ensure that you don’t end up with an unwanted litter of puppies.

But, recent studies show that spaying a Golden Retriever too early can have detrimental effects on their health.

So, at what age should you spay a female Golden Retriever?

Find out the answer to this commonly asked question, as well as the pros and cons of spaying.

Plus, discover if spaying is the right choice for your pup.

When To Spay A Golden Retriever?

According to new research published in 2020 from a 10-year study by UC Davis, Golden Retrievers should not be spayed until they are 1 year of age or older. Leaving a female intact is the best option to avoid certain cancers, however, that is not always the most practical choice for dog owners. Therefore, if spaying is a must, it is best to wait until after your female’s first heat. Spaying a Golden Retriever any earlier than that can have detrimental effects on their health.

For decades vets have always recommended spaying your dog around 6 months or earlier, but recent studies have shown that early spaying and neutering, especially in large breeds can cause health issues later on.

Spaying early affects your puppy’s bone growth and increases the risk of developing hip dysplasia.

Spaying a female Golden Retriever at any age increases the occurrence of certain cancers.

Studies now suggest waiting later to spay, or possibly leaving your dog intact.

Leaving your dog intact is not everyone’s best option, the other option is an ovary-sparing spay, which we will discuss later on in this article.

Take a look at the chart below. It shows the study results from the University of California (UC Davis). This study was published in 2013.

As you can see in the chart above, the incidence of Hemangiosarcoma and Mast Cell Tumours are more pronounced in females that were neutered late.

Hip Dysplasia, CCL, and Lymphosarcoma are more pronounced in females neutered early.

The right time to spay your Golden Retriever is a tough decision to make, and it is important to note that each dog is individual and one recommendation is not appropriate for all dogs.

You can read the recent study results published in 2020 from frontiers in Veterinary Science, be sure to scroll down to Golden Retrievers.

What Is Spaying?

Spaying is the common term used to describe a surgical procedure to sterilize a female dog. The medical term is called an ovariohysterectomy.

Some vets are now also doing an ovariectomy spay, and the newest procedure is an ovary-sparing spay.

Let’s look at the different types of spay that you can choose for your Golden Retriever below:

Ovariohysterectomy

Spaying your female is a very invasive surgery. An ovariohysterectomy is a traditional method of spaying.

It involves removing the ovaries and the uterus which will prevent your dog from getting pregnant as well as having any heat cycles.

Ovariectomy

An ovariectomy is a less invasive spay surgery where only the ovaries are removed. It is often referred to as a laparoscopic spay.

With this type of spay, the incisions are tiny, the surgery time is shorter and your dog recovers faster.

Traditional spays involving ovary and uterus removal have been performed for decades in the US and Canada. In Europe, the traditional method of spaying has always been to just remove the ovaries.

This technique has become a popular choice in the last few years in the US and Canada because it can be performed using a laparoscope.

Laparoscopic spays are not performed by every vet because of the specialized equipment needed, and some vets are not trained in this procedure.

Laparoscopic spays are more expensive than traditional spays, and not all dogs are candidates for this type of spay.

Ovary Sparing Spay

An ovary-sparing spay (OSS) involves the removal of the uterus and cervix, and either one or both of the ovaries are left intact.

By keeping the ovaries intact, the sex hormones are maintained which are essential for your dog’s growth and development.

Studies and research have shown that in large dogs such as Golden Retrievers, the health benefits of keeping the ovaries intact may outweigh the health risks.

There is no chance of your dog becoming pregnant, but your dog will still go into heat and display heat cycle behaviour. Most dogs have little to no discharge during their heat cycles.

You will still need to confine your female from male dogs during her heat cycle because there is a risk of injury from mating.

The health risks involved in (OSS) are stump pyometra, which only occurs if not ALL of the uterus is removed, and there is an increased risk of mammary tumours.

The surgery time and recovery time may be longer than traditional spays because the incision is larger.

Many vets are not knowledgeable in this type of spay and finding a vet that is able to perform this procedure properly may be difficult.

Is Spaying The Right Choice For Your Golden Retriever?

Spaying your dog used to be the right choice and the responsible thing to do.

However, with so many controversies going on and new findings related to the health and well-being of your dog, is it still the right choice?

The answer used to be simple, if you didn’t plan on breeding your dog then you got your dog spayed, or neutered. [Be sure to check out my article on neutering a Golden Retriever.]

For decades dog owners who didn’t spay or neuter their dogs were presumed lazy and irresponsible.

But, with new medical findings, the decision to spay or when to spay isn’t so clear, and the social stigma surrounding un-spayed dogs is changing.

Spaying and neutering your dog is still the most popular choice in the US and Canada because it is the most effective way to prevent pet overpopulation and any unwanted behaviours.

It is interesting to note that in Europe spaying and neutering your dog is not a common procedure, and in some countries such as Norway and Sweden it is heavily frowned upon.

What is even more interesting is that Europe doesn’t have the overpopulation of pets problem that the US does.

For the majority of dog owners, spaying is still the best option in regards to the dog’s health and well-being as well as for the dog owner.

Pros Of Spaying A Female Golden Retriever

1. Prevents Pregnancy

Some dogs have complications while they are pregnant or giving birth. Your female dog could die trying to give birth or could suffer from infections later on resulting in death.

2. Prevents False Pregnancy

A few weeks after a heat cycle some female dogs show symptoms of being pregnant such as lactating, nursing, and acting motherly towards their stuffed toys, without actually producing puppies.

An imbalance of hormones is what causes this, and it can affect your dog’s metabolism and cause health issues.

3. No Unwanted Puppies

There will be no accidental pregnancies and unwanted puppies.

You will be helping to control the pet population. There are so many homeless dogs that end up on the street and in shelters. Too many of them are euthanized every single day!

4. No Heat Cycles To Deal With

Your female Golden should have her first heat before being spayed, which typically occurs around the age of 10-14 months.

Heat cycles are messy and last about 3 weeks. Your floors will get messy, and you will have to contain your female dog.

Females in heat can be smelled from a far distance, and male dogs will do anything to get near your dog.

5. Reduced Risk Of Certain Types Of Cancers

When the ovaries and uterus are removed your dog will not get cancer in these organs. The risk of mammary cancer is also reduced if your dog is spayed before the age of 2-2.5 years old.

6. Spaying Prevents Pyometra

Pyometra is a deadly infection of the uterus.

Unspayed females are at risk for developing this infection (nearly 1 in 4 dogs).

The only cure for pyometra is an emergency spay surgery, which is dangerous for middle-aged or older dogs who already have the infection.

Cons Of Spaying A Female Golden Retriever

Most of the cons listed below have been founded by the study that was done by the University of California (UC Davis).

The study results were published in 2013, and it was headed by Dr. Benjamin Hart. New study results have since been released, which I have updated in the appropriate sections below.

1. Your Dog Is More Likely To Be Overweight/Obese

A 2019 study based on data from the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, indicates that Golden Retrievers who are spayed/neutered are 50 to 100% more likely to become overweight or obese.

The age at the time of spay didn’t matter, whether spayed at 6 months or 6 years old, the weight gain was consistent.

Spaying your dog changes your dog’s hormones and metabolism. Owners make the mistake of feeding their dog the same amount of food as before being spayed.

Monitoring your dog’s food intake and adjusting the amount of food you feed based on their activity level will help keep your dog at a healthy weight. Providing plenty of physical activity will prevent obesity.

2. Increased Risk Of Hemangiosarcoma

Hemangiosarcoma is a deadly type of cancer that affects Golden Retrievers.

Spayed females are 2x more likely to develop Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen, and 5x more likely to develop Hemangiosarcoma of the heart, as compared to non-spayed females.

3. Triple The Risk Of Hypothyroidism

Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds that have a higher risk of hypothyroidism, and studies show that spayed females are 3x more at risk of developing this disease compared to un-spayed females.

4. Risk Of Having A Bad Reaction To Required Anesthesia

Spaying is a major surgery that requires anesthesia.

It is estimated that 1 in 100,000 animals will have some sort of reaction to anesthesia. This can include a bad reaction, infection, mild swelling, etc.

Most of the reactions are minor, and the risk of dying from anesthesia is less than 1%.

5. Increased Risk Of Hip Dysplasia & Torn Ligaments

If you spay your Golden Retriever before the age of 6 months there is an increased risk of your dog developing hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and torn ligaments.

The same 2019 study indicates that the risk of developing non-traumatic orthopedic injuries is 300% greater if your Golden is spayed before 6 months of age.

Your dog’s reproductive hormones are needed for the closure of bone growth plates.

Growth plates do not begin to close until around 6 months of age, and spaying your dog early makes your dog more vulnerable.

6. Increased Risk Of Osteosarcoma

Early spaying will increase your dog’s risk of developing osteosarcoma, a deadly bone cancer that commonly affects large breed dogs.

7. Urinary Incontinence

It is estimated that about 20% of female dogs will develop urinary incontinence within 3 years of being spayed.

Dogs who are spayed before 3 months of age have a greater risk, and dogs who are spayed before their first heat have a lower risk.

Spaying your dog too early, before the bladder has fully developed can cause weak bladder muscles to leak later on during the dog’s life.

While urinary incontinence can be a risk, the good news is that this study has shown that no cases of urinary incontinence were reported in females spayed at any age. The study results were based on 374 female Golden Retrievers.

8. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Spaying your dog too early before her “lady parts” are fully developed may cause recurrent UTIs.

Hormones are needed to develop your dog’s external genitalia, and spaying too early may result in an abnormal/recessed vulva.

A recessed vulva has folds of skin that trap moisture and bacteria and leads to recurring UTIs.

Recessed vulvas are common in spayed dogs, but even more common in females spayed before 6 months of age.

When Is The Best Time To Spay/Neuter Your Dog?

This video by Dr. Sue, who is a cancer vet, offers some really great insight into the pros and cons of spaying. Plus, she explains her decision on why she waited to spay her female at the age of 2.

Final Thoughts On When To Spay A Golden Retriever

Spaying a Golden Retriever is still the most popular choice among dog owners. As we have learned, according to guidelines, a spay should be done at the age of 1 year, after the first heat cycle.

Your Golden needs her reproductive hormones in order for her bones, joints and internal organs to fully develop.

A traditional spay is no longer your only choice. An ovary-sparing spay allows your Golden to keep her ovaries intact. The benefits of this type of spay have been shown to outweigh the risks.

Choosing not to spay your Golden has its pros and cons as well. The risk of developing certain cancers is reduced, however, your female will be at risk for developing a deadly infection of the uterus, called pyometra.

It’s a decision that should not be taken lightly. The right time to spay your Golden should be discussed with your vet, as there is no one size fits all method.

Cancer and other diseases are always a risk associated with this breed, and there are no guarantees.

My Personal Experience

My Golden Retriever Ellie was spayed when she was 6-7 months old, before her first heat cycle.

This was recommended by my vet, as was the case for many other dog owners.

At the time I knew next to nothing about the health effects of early spaying or the possibility of waiting until later.

If I had to choose again, spaying would still be my first option. However, I would wait until after the first heat cycle.

**This article is intended to be informational only. I am by no means a medical professional, and this article is not intended to offer medical advice to your dog.

How About You?

What are your thoughts about spaying and neutering? When did you decide to spay/neuter your Golden Retriever?

Share your thoughts and comments below. I would love to hear from you.