Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates - Why Spay Your Dog Web Page

BBVA Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates

230 Main Street * Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 * Tel: 508-759-2521 * Fax: 508-759-6782

WHY SPAY YOUR DOG?

A spay procedure involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and the uterus of a female dog. This is major abdominal surgery and requires careful care and attention by our surgical staff.

· Reduce risk of breast cancer

A dog allowed to have one heat cycle has a 50% increased chance of developing breast cancer compared to a dog that has been spayed before the first heat. If the same dog is allowed to have two heat cycles, her chances of breast cancer increase to 90% compared to a dog that has been spayed before the first heat. “Letting her have one cycle” or “letting her have one litter.” does NOT increase a dog’s overall health.

· “Spay them now or spay them later”

This is the adage in veterinary medicine that describes what happens to a dog if she is not spayed. Pathologically, uterus undergoes a phenomenon called cystic endometrial hyperplasia. This is a thickening of the lining of the uterus that can worsen at each heat cycle as an unsprayed female dog ages. This thichening predisposes an older female to a condition called PYOMETRA, which literally means “pus in the uterus.” Pyometra is a dangerous condition that requires emergency surgery, which is a spay procedure, to treat. Without surgery, the affected dog will die. With surgery, the chances of survival are 50% as TOXIC SHOCK also occurs as a sequel to this disease. Why wait to spay your dog in an emergency situation when her chances of survival are markedly smaller compared to a healthy pet spayed at 6 months of age?

· Prevent three weeks of heat cycle bleeding and pregnancy

This is the reason that most owners elect to spay their dogs. As you can see from above, the health risks of not spaying a dog are far worse than the obvious reasons of convenience. Most dogs will cycle twice per year (some breeds once, some breeds four times!) and bleed from the vulva for three weeks. This is called heat and is the time that a female dog can become pregnant with puppies.

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