A new family dog or cat will get lots of attention and treats; however, some of the most important attention you can give to your new friend is good preventative veterinary medical care.  The new animal should be spayed or neutered in a timely manner.  You do not want more animals than you can responsibly care for.

Believe it or not though there are many other very important reasons to spay your dog or cat besides preventing unwanted pregnancies.  If you are considering breeding your pet, you should be aware that you are putting your pet at risk for certain serious medical conditions totally unrelated to the pregnancy itself.  For example, since a spay surgery removes both ovaries and the uterus, the chances of the cat or dog developing ovarian and uterine cancer are reduced; however, in the unspayed state these cancers can develop and are almost always malignant.  Such malignancy is very difficult and expensive to treat.

Both female dogs and cats are also at risk of developing mammary cancer when not spayed.  If a female dog is spayed before her first heat, she has almost no chance of developing this cancer.  When spayed between the first and second heat, the risk increases to 7%; and, if spayed after the second heat, there is a 25% probability of developing mammary cancer.  Even if the female has passed her second heat and/or developed the tumors, she should still be spayed, since removing the ovaries removes the source of estrogen that causes the tumors to spread.  This form of cancer is also very likely to be malignant with dire consequences.

In addition to the cancer risks, in unspayed female dogs there is a very strong possibility that when the dog becomes middle-aged or older, it will develop pyometra.  The risk is so high; it should be considered a probability associated with the aging of that pet.

Pyometra is an infection of the uterus that usually occurs about six weeks after the end of the heat cycle of the female.  During heat, the uterine immune function is suppressed, thereby allowing bacteria to enter the uterus and cause the infection.  Once infected, the uterus will be swollen and filled with pus and toxins.  Without treatment, the dog will die.  The dog must be spayed quickly to be saved.  The signs of pyometra include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, excessive thirst and a noticeable vaginal discharge.  If the owner waits to see if the pet will get better before seeking treatment, the dog will likely die.

The heat cycle in an unspayed female dog or cat does not cease as it ages.  There is no animal equivalent of human menopause.  Therefore, the risks I discuss in this article will continue for the life of the pet if left unspayed.  While early spaying is best, spaying later in your pet’s life will also help to mitigate these consequences.

If you have an unspayed dog or cat, please feel free to stop in for a tour of our facility, Dr. Doolittle’s Animal Hospital.  We have state-of-the-art equipment and use the latest surgical, anesthetic and pain management procedures.  We will be glad to explain the surgery and recovery process and answer any questions you may have.