Is It Too Late to Spay My Dog?

One of the most common questions dog parents have is, “When is it too late to spay a dog?” Delaying spaying a female dog can increase the chances of unwanted pregnancies, tumors, and life-threatening infections. As a vet who also specializes in spaying and neutering dogs, I’m making this guide to help you decide the right time to spay your pet.

When Is It Too Late to Spay a Dog?

As long as your pet is healthy, there is no age limit for spaying your dog. While the traditional age for spaying is six to nine months, canines as young as five months can also undergo the procedure. Even if there are some risks with senior pets, the benefits of spaying still outweigh a few risks.

With advanced techniques and safer anesthetic drugs, spaying is safe in most dogs regardless of age. At Care Animal Hospital, bloodwork is required to check if the kidney and liver can tolerate the anesthesia. 

Best Age to Spay a Dog

Spaying involves removing a female dog’s uterus and both ovaries. As a result, the dog won’t have heat cycles, and consequently, will lose the ability to reproduce. So, what’s the best age to spay your dog?

In my professional opinion, it’s never too late to get your dog spayed, as long as she’s healthy. While the ideal age is five to nine months, adult and senior canines can still benefit from spaying. You can consult my vet clinic to determine the best time to spay your pet, especially if she has unique medical conditions.

1. Puppy to Adolescent Age

Being accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, my clinic considers AAHA’s recommendation that it’s best to spay dogs at five months of age before their first heat naturally occurs.

I will do a general checkup on your pet first to determine if there’s something you need to consider before doing the procedure.

2. Adult Age

Getting your dog fixed as an adult, aged one to seven years old, can still provide significant health benefits and contribute to their well-being. Even though the risk reduction for certain cancers may not be as dramatic as with early-age spaying, having your adult dog spayed can still lower the risk of tumors and unwanted pregnancies. 

Additionally, spaying an adult dog can help eliminate behavioral issues related to heat cycles and reduce the pet overpopulation problem.

3. Senior Age

Spaying a senior dog aged seven years and older can still offer health benefits by removing the reproductive organs that can be potential sources of disease. Even in their later years, canines can experience a longer lifespan and improved quality of life after being spayed.

There may be slightly higher anesthetic risks for older pets. Despite that, many veterinarians find that the benefits of spaying can still outweigh these concerns for healthy senior pets.

What to Consider Before Spaying Your Dog?

Before you make the decision to spay your dog, it’s important that you consider a few things like their size, weight, and breed.

Spaying Based on a Dog’s Size and Weight

Your dog’s size is not a major factor when it comes to getting spayed. Vets are capable of spaying different sized pets. Size only impacts the procedure in terms of the length of stitching. 

If you have concerns about weight, the minimum requirement is two pounds. This means pets should be around five to eight weeks of age. However, there are some risks involved with anesthesia, especially if your pet hasn’t even started vaccinations.

Spaying While in Heat

There’s a myth that says female dogs should experience one cycle before spaying. Some people also think there’s no use for spaying if their pets reach sexual maturity or their first menstruation.

Veterinarians typically do not recommend spaying while a dog is in heat. More blood will flow to the uterus during the surgery, which may result in complications. In this situation, you might need to wait two to three months after your pet’s cycle.

Spaying Large Breed Dogs

The timing of spaying can vary significantly based on breed size, with an older dog potentially requiring different considerations than small dogs.

• Toy breeds mature fastest, around six to nine months.
• Medium to large breeds typically mature at 12 months.
• Giant breeds may take up to 18 months to reach sexual maturity.

Most vets recommend waiting until full maturity to get larger breeds spayed or neutered.

Risks of Spaying an Older Female Dog

While spaying offers many benefits, it’s important to be aware of potential complications. These may be more pronounced in older dogs compared to those spayed at a younger age.

• Higher anesthesia risks compared to younger dogs.
• Potential for slower wound healing and recovery time.
• Increased chance of surgical complications due to age-related health issues, like joint disorders.
• Slightly increased risk of urinary incontinence post-surgery.
• Possible hormonal imbalances affecting coat quality and metabolism.

What Are the Benefits of Spaying Pets at Any Age?

While every surgical procedure carries some level of risk, the long-term health benefits of spaying typically far outweigh these potential complications for most pets. Spaying offers substantial advantages that contribute to a dog’s health and longevity.

1. Avoid Unwanted Pregnancy

Female canines that remain unspayed will experience breeding season or “heat” for several weeks once or twice a year. When this happens, a male dog can get very attracted to them, which may result in canine visitors in your yard. The endgame — a litter of unplanned puppies. 

When you don’t have the time, energy, and resources, having a litter can be exhausting. In fact, it will be more expensive to care for the puppies than to get your dog spayed. Spaying is the ultimate birth control for female and male dogs.

Since spaying involves the surgical removal of the whole female reproductive tract, there will be no way for your pet to get pregnant.

2. Control Overpopulation

An estimated 70 million homeless dogs and cats struggle to survive in the United States, partly because of people’s failure to spay or neuter their pets.

Spaying and neutering can manage this overpopulation crisis. This balances the number of available homes and companion animals.

3. Prevent Pyometra

Pyometra is an infection of the uterus where the organ becomes a big balloon full of puss. Unspayed female pets may develop the disease by the time they reach 10 years of age. While dogs with pyometra have a 97% survival rate if treated appropriately, it requires expensive and risky surgery. 

As intact female pets age, the hormones that fluctuate during heat change the uterus. This results in a thicker womb with excess tissue. Such changes make pets prone to developing the infection, as well as a poor chance of fighting off the condition. 

By removing the uterus and ovaries, you can also cut the hormonal stimulation that causes the cycles and uterine changes. Besides, it’s safer to spay a healthy pet than a sick one with an abnormal uterus.

4. Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer is common in senior pets, with about 50% resulting in malignant tumors. Unfortunately, the tumors can spread to other parts of the body, making the disease fatal. 

Mammary tumors develop due to spikes in female hormones or estrogens that happen during a dog’s cycle. Spaying provides a 99.5% reduction in the risk of mammary tumors before the first cycle.

Related Questions

What Happens if You Wait Too Long to Spay or Neuter a Dog?

Waiting too long for spaying or neutering can lead to increased health risks, including certain cancers (like testicular cancers) and reproductive issues in pets. Additionally, delaying a spay or neuter surgery may result in unwanted litter and contribute to the overpopulation of other animals in shelters.

Is Seven Years Too Old to Spay or Neuter a Dog?

Seven years is not too old for a spay or neuter surgery, as healthy pets can safely undergo the procedure at any age. However, an older dog may have been exposed to sex hormones for longer. This may potentially increase certain health risks, so a thorough pre-surgery health check is important before spaying or neutering older dogs.

How Late Is Too Late to Spay or Neuter a Dog?

It’s never truly too late to have a dog spayed or neutered, as long as the pet is healthy enough for surgery. However, the delayed decision of spaying or neutering pets may lead to an increased risk of certain health issues and unwanted behaviors associated with intact pets.

Conclusion

By getting your dog spayed or neutered regardless of age, you can prevent unwanted litters and protect your pet’s reproductive organs, effectively lowering the risk of medical issues. My veterinary team can help plan the right time to get your pet spayed or neutered to promote your dog’s long-term health and well-being.