Have a look at the terminology that is commonly used: The female surgery is usually called a spay , the medical name is ovariohysterectomy. Let's take a look at the individual issues for which we have data: Cancer Cancer is a leading worry for anyone who has furry family members. Mammary gland tumours the pet equivalent of breast cancer are the most common cancer in female dogs and are often malignant spread aggressively.
In the US, where most pets are spayed, the rate of mammary cancer is 3. It has been well established that spaying has the greatest benefit for prevention of mammary cancer if done before the first heat risk of mammary cancer is 0. So with mammary cancer spaying is protective and the earlier the better. Other female cancers : ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer are all rare or uncommon and are all prevented by spaying.
The age of spaying likely doesn't matter a lot as long as the surgery is performed before the cancer has a chance to develop. Neutering prevents this cancer as long as the surgery is performed before the cancer develops.
Prostate cancer is rare in dogs. Neutering has been shown to slightly increase the risk of prostate cancer but the age of neutering likely does not impact whether or not it develops. In fact, in one study, neutered dogs tended to be older when the prostate cancer was diagnosed.
Risk of prostate cancer also differs among breeds. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that has been studied in association with spaying and neutering with a wide variety of results.
One study showed more cases of lymphoma in intact males, neutered males and spayed females than in intact females. Studies in German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers showed no increased risk of lymphoma in neutered males or spayed females. A study in Golden Retrievers showed no increased risk of lymphoma with spaying at any age, but found an increased risk in males neutered before 1 year of age.
Mast cell tumours have a varying prognosis depending on tumour grade and location. Breed of dog plays a role in risk, regardless of spay or neuter status. There have been studies that indicate that spayed females may have a higher risk than intact females, but the age of spaying was not taken into consideration.
Hemangiosarcoma is a serious cancer of dogs. Neutering of males of all breeds studied does not increase risk of this cancer, other than one study in Vizslas in which males that were neutered after 1 year of age were at increased risk.
Studies in female Vizslas and Golden Retrievers showed increased risk for hemangiosarcoma when spayed after 1 year of age. Golden Retrievers spayed when more than 1 year old were 4x more likely to develop this cancer than intact females and females spayed before 6 months of age.
Another, follow-up study in Golden Retrievers of both sexes showed no increased risk at all with spaying. Spaying and neutering does not cause increased risk for this type of cancer in Labrador Retrievers or German Shepherds. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in dogs.
Large and giant breed dogs have increased risk of this type of cancer. One study that did not look at age of spaying and neutering found increased risk in both males and females over their intact counterparts.
A study in Rottweilers showed increased risk for both sexes if they were spayed or neutered before 1 year of age. A study in German Shepherds showed no increased risk with neutering regardless of age. Orthopedic Problems Orthopedic diseases such as Cranial Cruciate Ligament CCL or ACL injuries and hip dysplasia are not inherently life threatening but they can have significant impact on quality of life and can have financial implications if surgical repair is required.
Hip dysplasia : Genetics is the biggest factor in whether or not a dog develops hip dysplasia. Studies in Golden Retrievers showed a slightly increased risk in males neutered before 1 year of age and a slight increased risk for Boxers with no relation to what age they were spayed or neutered. There is no relationship between spaying and neutering and hip dysplasia in German Shepherds.
Cranial cruciate ligament injuries are very common. These injuries have been linked with trauma, aging, obesity, the shape of the leg, the angle of the stifle joint and degeneration of the ligament. Studies have shown an increased risk of CCL injuries in spayed and neutered dogs, but the incidence varied widely among breeds.
One study that looked at Golden Retrievers found an increased risk with spaying, but the age at time of spaying didn't matter. A study in German Shepherds found that those spayed and neutered before 1 year of age had an increased risk over intact males and females but did not compare for those spayed and neutered at over 1 year of age. So we are unsure if waiting to spay and neuter when dogs are a little older i. Behavioural Problems Spaying and neutering can help prevent or eliminate some behaviours including roaming, hormonal aggression, urine marking and mounting behaviour in males.
Male issues - Prostatitis and Prostatic Enlargement Neutering males reduces the risk of prostate enlargement, prostatic cysts and infections. Female issues - Pyometra, Pregnancy, Urinary Incontinence Pyometra is a potentially life threatening infection of the uterus that is fairly common in intact females.
Obesity Most studies show that weight gain occurs after spaying and neutering. Anesthesia and Surgery Complications Spaying and neutering are elective surgical procedures and the risk of anesthetic and surgical complications must be considered along with the other risks and benefits of the procedures.
A note on pediatric spays and neuters: This is when spaying or neutering is done at a very young age - as young as 2 or 3 months of age. What it all boils down to: The risks and benefits associated with age of spaying and neutering is an area that is continuing to evolve and as new information becomes available current recommendations will be revisited and reassessed.
Since dogs can get cancer at any age, even senior dogs can benefit from a spaying procedure. As long as a dog doesn't 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. It's 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. You'll also be informed whether you will need to bring your pup back in for stitch removal once she's 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. While determining when to spay a dog you should be aware of the time it may take your pup to recover. Rare but possible issues that could arise after the surgery include excessive pain, torn stitches or an infection.
PetHelpful advises watching out for the following signs:. Contact your vet right away if you notice any of these signs or if the incision doesn't appear to be improving. Bleeding, pale gums, excessive panting and crying could all indicate an emergency, and in the case of these signs, your dog should be seen by a vet as quickly as possible.
As long as you follow the vet's instructions and prevent your pup from moving too much or bothering her incision, these complications are unlikely.
Even so, it's a good idea to have a plan in place to handle emergencies during the clinic's off hours, especially if you don't live in an area where a hour emergency clinic is available.
When to spay a dog is really the least of your considerations. As long as your pup is at least 4 months old and healthy, any time is a good time to have her spayed. However, spaying is surgery, and your vet knows better than anyone whether your dog is up to handling such a procedure.
With you and your vet as a support team, your dog will most likely heal quickly and be back to her old self in no time. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. While this may be true, there are certain instances where your dog may become a burden, that you no longer want to deal with. One of the most common problems that dog owners experience is that of unwanted pregnancy. If you own a female dog, the responsibility of taking care of the puppies will likely fall on you since your dog will be the one carrying the newborns.
Spaying your female dog will remove her uterus and ovaries, rendering her incapable of having babies even in the event of sporadic intercourse. Before spaying your dog, you need to take into consideration several factors.
To ensure that you get optimal results from the spaying procedure, continue reading to find out everything you need to know. In general, the best age to spay your female dog is about six months of age. You can also spay your female dog at four months of age, as this will reduce her exposure to developing breast cancer quite significantly.
If you have an adult female dog, you can spay her at any time because there are no developing organs or other hormonal systems that can become impacted by the surgery. Some veterinarians will keep your dog overnight to ensure they have enough time to recover properly.
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