Spaying , or ovariohysterectomy, is commonly performed at around six months of age; before the first heat cycle. This is a major abdominal day surgery requiring a general anesthetic.
The benefits of spaying at a young age include preventing inadvertent pregnancies, preventing uterine, ovarian and mammary tumors, preventing uterine infections (pyometra), eliminating inconvienent heat cycles, and reducing certain hormonal related behavioural problems.