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Spaying a 5 year old Shih Tzu female?

This forum is for dog lovers seeking everyday advice and suggestions on health-related issues. Remember, however, that advice on a public forum simply can't be a substitute for proper medical attention. Only your vet can say assuredly what is best for your dog.

  


Member Since
12/30/2012		 
 
Barked: Sun Dec 30, '12 10:15am PST 
Hello smile

I've been browsing the internet for answers for the past hour without finding a definite one, so I thought I'd try my luck here.

I have a 5 year old Shih Tzu female. We wanted to have babies with her so we didn't get her spayed, but have now decided against having babies.

I read that the health risk of cancer isn't reduced when spaying her at 5 years old, but the risk of a uterus infection is removed or at least reduced.

The question is ....is it still safe to have her spayed at this age? She's about 5 years and 6-7 months old right now. Or is there an elevated surgery risk?

Thank you very much for any advice and have a happy new year!

snoopy
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Sarah,- CW-SR,- CW-G1, CGC

Million Dollar- Mutt		 
 
Barked: Sun Dec 30, '12 11:29am PST 
As long as she is healthy five years old is definitely not too old to have her spayed. The rescue I am with routinely spays dogs that age and older, with no issues. Good luck and thank you for deciding not to breed her!
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Bridgit

don't hate me- because I'm- beautiful
 
 
Barked: Sun Dec 30, '12 12:58pm PST 
5 is still relatively young for a small dog. Absolutely get her spayed, it will prolong her life.
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Ch. Ali, CGC

We don't do- doodles!!
 
 
Barked: Sun Dec 30, '12 3:53pm PST 
I spay ALL my breeding girls as soon as their breeding/showing career is over, usually around 6 or 7. I've never had any issues with any of them. Have her teeth checked prior to the spay since it is also a great time to have a dental done if she needs one. Several of my rescue toy poodles have needed dentals and we did both during the spay surgery.
Not only will you only need to put them under once, it will also cost considerably less if they are both done at the same time.
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Seela

Beauty and the- Beast		 
 
Barked: Tue Jan 1, '13 8:48pm PST 
I would certainly get her spayed. I just about lost my GSD when she was four due to pyometra (infection). I did not have her spayed earlier as I was still competing and showing her. My recent rescue dog was near seven yrs when I had her spayed and certainly had no problems. As long as she is healthy there should not be any problems with surgery and you would not have to worry about her having health problems later in her life.
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Turner

Canadian- Champion, CGN		 
 
Barked: Tue Jan 1, '13 11:50pm PST 
Is she healthy otherwise? We recently got a Sheltie fixed who is I think also 5 years old (she had already had 4 litters). The surgery went fine, and she recovered well. She had no health problems other than being slightly overweight.

If you want to be sure, talk to the vet first. I just got my male 7 year old male Sheltie neutered on December 21st, and since he is my baby I was worried about surgery at his age (I think I even made a post here somewhere asking questions, like you have!). I talked to the vet about it and asked a bunch of questions, and was reassured. I paid for the best care for him, including IV fluids and all that because I really wanted to make sure everything went very well for him. (and everything did and he hasn't even noticed anything has happened to him)

The spay surgery is of course a completely different surgery, much more complicated, but your vet should still be able to answer any questions and address and concerns you will have. Like I said though, I don't think she will have a problem at all unless she has any previous health problems.

Good luck!
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