Benefits include lower cancer risk and a longer life.
The reason she hasn’t been spayed is that when Covid happened, it was hard to get that treatment done, and we adopted her when she was almost one.
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She can’t have uterine cancer unless she has a uterus. Her body will no longer be constantly ramping up and down in temperature, which will undoubtedly benefit her health. She’ll also be less inclined to take off when you least expect it and find her love of the night, despite the risk.
I sincerely recommend that you have her fixed.
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Spaying can be beneficial at any age. You should ask a veterinarian if she is healthy enough for surgery.
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No uterus means no pyometra. Fewer years of hormones = decreased cancer risk. Absolutely spay. Thank you for thinking about your dog’s health. Your veterinarian is the first to ask, but if they are unavailable to answer inquiries, yes. You completely eliminate the possibility of developing pyometra, uterine, or ovarian cancer. You are also less likely to get breast cancer.
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My first dog was spayed after her first season, and she was quite unwell as a result. She had a large wound (she was a cavalier) that stretched basically from the bottom of her ribcage down her abdomen. Years later, I got a rescue pup, but I vowed she would never go through what I had. When she was 7, she developed pyometra, had an emergency spay, and I was lucky she lived (she was a much larger dog, and her wound was only about 2"). I will never take this risk again. All of my girls are now spayed a few months following the first season.
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Pyometra is scary and worth a spay.
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No heat, no chance for uterine cancer, less likely to take off after other dogs.
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Even if there are no additional benefits, preventing pyometra is worthwhile. The closed kind is very awful, and because there is no disgusting discharge, you won’t realize anything is wrong until your dog is nearly dead.
My mother-in-law’s dog did not respond to their calls and was strolling slowly after dinner when they sensed something was wrong. She was septic by the time their vet opened in the morning, so she underwent emergency surgery and spent a week in hospital. The majority of canines die before they reach that threshold.
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@FinnWagstaff I have two shelties that were not spayed. My dog died at the age of 11, immediately after visiting the veterinarian. Her sister got it two years later, and we believe that is what my 11-year-old had. It was the most terrifying experience ever.
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Yes, it’s best to wait till they’re fully grown. Too many people get it done at a young age, which is unhealthy.
However, it is not as black and white as some may believe. It entirely eliminates the risk of some malignancies and pyometra (which is a serious disorder that requires an emergency spay if it occurs), but it raises the risk of other conditions and can cause weight gain, among other things, due to hormonal changes. Talk to your vet about it and decide what’s best for your dog.
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Pyometra is one of the biggest risks so preventing that alone will bring peace of mind
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The main reason to spaying a female is to avoid Pyometra. It is a swift killer. My cousin’s female bulldog contracted it, and she spent thousands of dollars to rescue her, only to lose her a few months later due to complications.
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I personally don’t like to have dogs sterilized until they are fully mature around 2 years old as far as health benefits I don’t think it matters much either way the only reason I spay my females is to prevent unwanted puppies.
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The risk of cancer increases with each heat cycle. So the earlier the better.
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Yes, do it. I hear about pyometras (infected uteruses) from my veterinarian pals, and…yeah. Even if it only stopped that. Worth it. It’s really awful to lose a dog to it.
To clarify, pyo affects approximately 25% of unspayed dogs over time. It kills almost everyone who is not treated for it. With therapy, the prognosis is excellent, but it is costly and unpleasant. You can choose between the cost of a spay now/in the near future and a 25% possibility of a vet bill in the low thousands at some point in the future. I would not roll that dice. Save for a spay and get it done as soon as possible. She will gain much. 