Is my dog too old to spay?
Age has very little to do with being a good candidate for anesthesia and surgery. However, many health problems that can increase risks are common in older patients. Additionally, older patients tend to heal more slowly and require a somewhat longer convalescence after a major procedure. This is actually an age group that requires more anesthetic and surgical procedures than young animals. There are certainly many health benefits to spaying (ovariohysterectomy) dogs and cats when they are young. The risk of unwanted pregnancy is eliminated. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem. Our shelters are overflowing with unwanted dogs and cats. Additionally, about 70% of canine pregnancies result in the death of the mother and/or at least one of the puppies. The risks for mammary (breast) cancer are reduced to near zero if the spay procedure takes place before about a year of age. The risks gradually increase and there is no benefit for mammary cancer prevention to spay a dog or cat after 2 year
