Is it too late to spay an old dog?
Now at 8 ½ years old, a dog is less likely to get pregnant. Certainly older dogs can still get pregnant but she also a house dog, so shes probably unlikely coming into contact with entire male dogs. This factor is less of a risk and less of a consideration with this particular Chihuahua.
Theres also less benefit for a reduction in mammary tumors in older female dogs. We tend to believe that if were spaying a female dog before their first season we get about a 99.5% reduction in the risk of mammary tumors. If were spaying before the second season, its about a 95% reduction, and before the third season about a 75% reduction.
Now spaying later than this means there doesnt seem to be such a big difference in the risk of a dog developing breast cancer. Having said that though, there does seem to be an increased survival if a dog has been spayed within two years of mammary masses developing. That is being spayed up to 2 years before the mammary tumors developed
Mammary cancer is really pretty common in entire old dogs, and about 50% of those that do occur are nasty, malignant tumors. This means they can spread to other parts of the body and they can ultimately be fatal. Benign tumors are not always harmless, and can grow very big, causing severe problems as well.
Given that the two-year survival from mammary cancer is better if a dog has been spayed within the last two years means that there’s still going to be a potential benefit I think in spaying this particular dog from a breast cancer survival aspect.
Now moving onto pyometra, or an infection of the uterus, one in four female dogs will develop pyometra by the time they get to ten years of age if they remain entire. While this condition does have about a 95% survival rate if its treated appropriately, it does require expensive emergency surgery in the majority of cases.
Now some cases of pyometra can be managed medically, but these are really the minority of cases where this is preferable. Emergency surgery generally gives us the best outcome and is the preferred treatment and either way, both are still kind of severe interventions and theyre expensive treatments that carry some risk as well.
So those are really the benefits of spaying and I think they highlights the fact that in an older dog, there still is going to be a benefit to getting them spayed at this age and even later. Pyometra is that common and its much better to have an elective surgery when a pet is otherwise healthy than to wait until theyre really sick. Theres also going to be a big cost difference there as well, which is maybe something to consider depending on your financial circumstances.
Is it safe to spay a 10 year old dog?
A dog is never too old to be spayed. It’s always best to get your dog spayed, even in old age, rather than never spaying them. Even if your dog has already had many litters, it’s never too late to get them spayed. In older dogs, the main concern is no longer reducing the overpopulation of dogs.
Should an Older Dog Be Spayed?
The decision of when to spay a dog who is fully grown is much more flexible. There is no medical reason why an adult dog in good health shouldnt be spayed. Since dogs can get cancer at any age, even senior dogs can benefit from a spaying procedure. As long as a dog doesnt have any health issues that would make it dangerous to use anesthesia or undergo a surgical procedure, no dog is too old to be spayed, says Chewy.
The ASPCA points out, however, that older dogs might have a slightly higher risk of complications following the surgery. In any case, your veterinarian will likely want to conduct a physical exam and blood tests to make sure your dog is healthy enough for the procedure.
Spaying is a common procedure among female dogs, but keep in mind that it is surgery. While it is true that you may be able to take your pup in for surgery in the morning and pick her up later that afternoon or evening, but some veterinarians may keep her overnight to monitor for bleeding and ensure she remains quiet after surgery. When you drop your dog off you may be asked to sign consent forms for surgery, pain medication and a preoperative screening and blood test if she has not already had one.
When you pick her up later that day, she may still be groggy from the anesthesia. Your vet will provide you with a set of instructions for post-operative care, and this is a good time to ask questions about her recovery and what you can expect. Be sure to bring a carrier or a soft blanket to help make her ride home more comfortable. You can also give her a toy to cuddle, but refrain from giving her any treats until after the anesthesia has completely worn off.
Its important to closely follow the instructions your vet provides for post-operative care. Your vet will most likely give your pup something for her pain before she leaves the clinic. Because she is likely to be sore for a while as she recovers, your vet might also prescribe pain medication that you can give her at home. If not, be sure to ask your vet what to do for her pain before leaving the office. Under no circumstances should you give her over-the-counter medication intended for humans without first consulting your vet.
Youll also be informed whether you will need to bring your pup back in for stitch removal once shes healed or if the stitches will dissolve on their own. Your dog will need to be kept from vigorous activity or play for about a week to 10 days, and she might have to wear a cone to prevent her from licking or chewing the incision while it heals. Many dogs find these plastic collars uncomfortable, so she might do better with one of the newer, inflatable versions that can be purchased at pet supply stores.
Spaying an Older Dog – is it Safe and are there Benefits? – Dog Health Vet Advice
A reader just adopted a 7-year-old dog from her local shelter, and was concerned about having her spayed at that age. First, I want to thank her for adopting a senior pet! Second, here’s my answer:
Q: I just adopted a 7-year-old dog from the shelter, and they require me to have her spayed. Is that safe for a dog her age?
A: Every dog is an individual, of course, but in general a healthy 7-year-old dog should not have a problem undergoing spay surgery. There are good reasons to spay your new dog. She is still capable of bearing puppies at her age, and she is at risk for a serious and sometimes fatal uterine infection called pyometra, which can affect older unspayed females.
Take her to your veterinarian for a thorough physical. Before any surgery, it’s important to perform blood work and possibly a urinalysis to ensure that the dog doesn’t have any underlying health issues that could cause problems during surgery.
If you’ve had a puppy who was spayed, you probably remember how quickly she bounced back after surgery. Older dogs may take a little longer to recover, so be sure she has plenty of opportunity to rest and has good pain medications on board. Some veterinarians were taught to withhold pain relief after surgery to keep the dog quiet, but we know now that pets who receive pain relief before, during and after surgery recover more quickly.
During surgery, your dog should have an IV catheter with fluids to help maintain blood pressure, hydration and body temperature, as well as to give emergency drugs rapidly, if necessary, and to help flush the anesthesia from the body afterward. Blood oxygen and blood pressure monitoring equipment are important, too.
I know it probably worries you to have your dog undergo surgery, but as long as she gets a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, she should come through it with no problems.
Read more, including on caring for a pet with cancer, in this week’s Pet Connection!