Interestingly though, different breeds and different sized dogs mature at different ages, which means that early spay/neuter may not be bad for all dogs. The wide margin of maturation of dogs varies considerably, as toy breed dogs mature sexually as early as six to nine months of age whereas large and giant breeds may mature as late as 16-18 months of age. The end conclusion is that generally, the larger breeds had possibly more to risk in future health conditions in than small or toy breeds of dogs due to early spaying or neutering since they mature at a later age.
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This near-routine practice was a result of veterinarians and the animal shelter community working together to reduce the number of unwanted animals that would be euthanized. Currently, Statista estimates that 6.5 million animals enter U.S. animal shelters each year. Of that number, it’s estimated that 1.5 million are euthanized. Although euthanasia has decreased over the last decade or so, there remains a very strong case for routine spay/neuter of pet cats and dogs.
Spaying and neutering pets remains an important part of the effort to reduce the number of unwanted animals and unnecessary euthanasia in this country. When considering whether to spay or neuter your dog, with today’s information about the possible effects of age at the time of surgery on their future health, it is ideal to have a detailed discussion with your veterinarian to determine what is best for your dog.
Often, the spay and neuter take place at a very young age for pets, at four to six months. However, studies have shown that this may not be the best age to spay or neuter your dog. The relationship between sex hormones and canine health was not well-considered and understood decades ago when the early spay/neuter campaigns were started. Today, we are discovering that possibly some of those decisions may have affected the health of some dogs.
The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering an Older Dog
Spaying and neutering dogs isn’t just about population control, and it isn’t something just done to puppies, either. Many people are not aware that when spaying or neutering is done before disease develops, these surgeries can prevent several forms of cancers as well as pyometras (uterine infections), prostatic disease, prostatic enlargement and a variety of different behavior problems.
Although veterinarians usually prefer to spay and neuter dogs when they are young, neutering or spaying older dogs, or any age dog for that matter, can be done with some careful planning. The benefits for senior dogs differ from those experienced by puppies, but many good reasons exist for doing it, including to prevent some cancers and infection. Unfortunately, I have also had to perform these surgeries on senior dogs on an emergency basis after a health problem has emerged.
Spaying or Neutering an Older Dog: The Surgery Process
What happens to the senior dog after admission for an elective spay or neuter? First, a veterinary technician checks over the history of the patient and takes the vital signs prior to any procedures or medications. Older patients routinely should have a blood panel done prior to surgery to look for underlying problems that may affect either the animal’s ability to metabolize anesthesia or to properly clot his blood during the procedure. Generally, this blood sample is drawn and processed by the veterinary technician shortly prior to surgery.
At this point, the veterinarian closely examines the dog to ensure everything appears normal. If the lab work and exam are both satisfactory, at this point the dog usually receives a pre-operative sedative.
In my practice, we administer something called “balanced anesthesia.” This is a combination of very small doses of multiple different medications. The approach helps us obtain all of the advantages of these drugs without the side effects that might be involved at higher doses. It is a very safe way to get the job done comfortably and with a minimum of unwanted adverse effects.
Once the dog is thoroughly sedated, an area is shaved on a foreleg and prepared for an IV catheter. This catheter allows the veterinarian to administer fluids to help maintain blood pressure, administer additional sedatives and anesthetics as needed, and allow immediate venous access if an emergency occurs. Although we like to place catheters in all of our surgical patients, they are critical in senior patients, who tend to have a slightly harder time maintaining their blood pressure while sleeping. These IV fluids also help to “flush” the drugs through the system and into the urine.
The now happily snoozing dog will have a breathing tube (also known as an endotracheal tube) placed through the oral cavity and into the windpipe. This allows the veterinarian to administer a continuous flow of oxygen to the patient, but also allows the delivery of gas anesthetics, which may be required during the procedure at varying amounts. Using the breathing tube, the veterinary team can fine-tune the plane of anesthesia (how deep or how light the patient sleeps). The patient is now prepped for surgery. The girls are shaved between the end of the rib cage and the pelvic bone; and the boys are shaved in the area from the penis to the scrotum. The shaved spot is cleaned with an antiseptic, and the patient is moved into the surgical suite.
For spaying older dogs, the veterinarian removes the ovaries and the uterus through a single incision near the dog’s belly button. For neutering an older dog, both testicles are removed through a single incision located between the base of the penis and the scrotum. Most veterinarians use a dissolving suture so there is no need to have sutures removed post-operatively. If something unusual or unexpected is discovered during surgery (for example, a tumor that was not diagnosed until the time of surgery), the incision may be larger than usual, and skin sutures or staples may be needed.
When Is It Too Late To Neuter A Dog?
It is hard to find a vet today that would recommend anything but early dog neutering, certainly before they are sexually mature, often around six months of age. The reasons given are always the same, to prevent unwanted babies and long-term health benefits, including a reduction in cancer.
However, unlike the appendix where it’s absence is not noticed in daily routine, the reproductive (or sex) organs play a whole host of hormonal roles that stretch far beyond the manufacturing of babies. Like dry food, parasite control, annual boosting and casual steroid shots, these things are not without consequence for the patient and rarely are the consequences ever discussed with the owner. People should be able to make decisions based on all the facts available, not just some of them. So here they are. Best grab a cup of tea for this one!