- Howard Beach Animal Clinic recommends spay/neuter at 6 months or later. This allows time for puppies or kittens to have all vaccine boosters completed before their surgery. There are exceptions when an animal can be spayed/neutered earlier:
- Castration if both testicles have descended and there is another reason for the animal to undergo anesthesia
- Spay if a female has already had her first heat. Wait until she is done spotting before bringing her in for spay (a spay done while an animal is in heat is a more costly and complicated surgery). See the section on mammary cancer to see why spaying before the first or second heat is beneficial to your female animal.
