Is My Dog Too Old To Spay?
As pet owners, we want to ensure our furry friends are healthy, happy, and comfortable. One aspect of pet care that often comes up is the decision to spay or neuter our pets. Understanding the benefits of spaying and neutering and the potential risks of not doing so is essential.
At Coronado Pet Hospital, we provide dog neutering and spaying in Bernalillo. Our compassionate medical staff ensures every decision made for your furry loved ones is the best for their needs.
Here, we’ll discuss what spaying is and its benefits while answering the question: Is my dog too old to be spayed?
What is spaying?
Spaying is the surgical procedure in which a female dog’s ovaries and uterus are removed, making her unable to reproduce. This procedure is commonly performed on dogs 6 months and older, depending on the dog’s health, breed, and lifestyle.
What are the benefits of spaying?
As pet parents, the last thing we want to do is to put our furry loved ones through unnecessary pain and discomfort. While watching our dogs undergo these surgeries can cause concern and worry, knowing the benefits of dog neutering and spaying in Bernalillo is essential.
Reducing Homeless Dog Populations
Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing a lost or homeless dog roaming the streets of Bernalillo. Stray dogs are in danger of being killed or injured by cars, other dogs, or wildlife. They may also suffer from heat, cold, or hunger.
The shelters can only accommodate so many pets, and they may have to make some tough decisions if they become overcrowded.
Dog neutering and spaying in Bernalillo help reduce homeless dog populations by ensuring fewer unwanted puppies and dogs end up on the streets and in shelters.
Reducing Certain Health Risks
Neutering and spaying dogs reduces the risk of them developing certain cancers. For female dogs, spaying reduces the chances of developing mammary tumors.
Another health risk that spaying eliminates is the chance of developing pyometra. This is an infection of the uterus, which can be fatal for many dogs. Pyometra can occur even in elderly dogs and those with a very low-risk lifestyle.
One last benefit to spaying dogs is that it can sometimes help reduce hormone-driven behaviors. Female dogs are more prone to roam while in heat to find a mate. This might cause her to run away into a world where she could get hurt or lost. Unspayed females may also urine mark to attract males.
While spaying can possibly reduce hormone-based behaviors, your dog may still exhibit these behaviors, but they won’t be hormone related at that point. This means that your dog may still perform the same behaviors in a given situation.
For example, if a gate is left open, she may still run off because she’s learned to expect a specific outcome that is desirable to her, which is being able to roam freely.
Is it safe to spay an older dog?
While spaying can be done at any age, it’s essential to consider your dog’s overall health before scheduling the procedure. There is some evidence that pediatric spays (performed when a dog is less than 6 months old) can contribute to urinary incontinence later in life.
Bones and joints of large-breed dogs may benefit from retaining the full effect of their hormones until they are fully mature. On the other hand, it’s also important to note that spaying an older dog may not have the same preventative benefits as spaying a younger dog.
For example, the risk of developing mammary tumors decreases the earlier the procedure is performed.
If your dog is older or has underlying health conditions, additional testing may be required to ensure she can safely undergo the surgery.
Overall, it’s often safer to perform a spay surgery on an older dog in overall good health than emergency surgery on a dog of any age suffering from a life-threatening pyometra infection.
Looking for dog neutering and spaying in Bernalillo?
At Coronado Pet Hospital, we’ve been providing high-quality medicine and care to Bernalillo’s pets since 2007. We’re a collaborative and compassionate team that will always give you all the information you need to make the best decisions for your pet.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for dog neutering and spaying in Bernalillo!