Can my 5-year-old dog be spayed safely? Is she too old for surgery?

Spaying her may not significantly decrease her risk of developing mammary gland tumors at this age, but it would definitely prevent a pyometra in the future. If her blood work is normal and her physical exam is "clear", she should be spayed. Your vet can tailor an anesthetic protocol taking Miny's age into consideration.

Yes - you can and should if you don’t plan to breed Rosie! There is not an increased risk for complications with anesthesia. If she is in heat there is an increased risk for bleeding but most veterinarians recommend waiting until after the heat cycle to spay.

Thanks for using PetCoach. I do recommend spaying even for adult or older dogs. The primary reason is the risk of pyometra, a fatal uterine infection. Every time she goes into heat she is at risk. Here is more info, so you know what to watch for if you opt not to spay her https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951481 As she is a littler older, there are things you can do to make surgery a bit safer. Even if not required by her veterinarian, a full exam and bloodwork should be performed prior to surgery. This helps to assess if there are any diseases that may affect her under anesthesia or her ability to heal. She should receive IV fluids during her surgery. Here is more info on spay https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951464 Even at this point in her life, Cookie can benefit from spay surgery.

Only her vet can determine if it's safe to spay Lucky or not. There are senior dogs that can have surgery safely, but heart problems add an additional risk. Speak to her vet about the risks. I hope this helps.

I know how stressful surgery can be. It is true that spaying your pets will prevent any future pyometra event. This is key to your pets health moving forward. I think that the pros outweigh the cons when you are considering spaying your fur babies. As long as their bloodwork looks good, your vet is experienced spaying older pets, and your vet has a safe senior protocol to use for the pre-anesthetic drugs (i.e. Midazolam + Butorphanol), then they will have minimal risks involved with surgery. Best wishes with your fur babies moving forward and I hope that their surgeries go as planned with no complications. Take care!

Keisha is so cute! Yes, it's absolutely fine to have her spayed now (removing the uterus). It's recommended to do it around six months of age, as it should be done before a dog goes into heat for the first time. Dogs can go into heat anytime after six months of age. It is safe to spay her, and I would have it done.

Just as in people, anesthetic procedures are not without risk. However, if she is deemed healthy and will be adequately monitored during the procedure, the risk is minimized. She should have a full blood panel performed beforehand to make sure she is healthy to undergo the procedure. Your vet should also do a good physical exam to ensure she does not have a heart murmur or other health concerns. Wishing you both the best!