Will spaying make my dog dependent or increase her cancer risk?

Question

She's scared of her being too dependant and stuff. She says how my cousin's dog wasn't spayed and lived a long life but her dog had cancer and died. Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Female | unspayed | 3 years and 6 months old | 4 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Being spayed doesn't make a dog dependent. In addition, not being spayed doesn't guarantee a long life. Dogs who haven't been spayed are prone to cancer just like dogs who are spayed. In facts, dogs who are spayed before their first heat are at a significant less risk over developing mammary cancer than dogs who are spayed after the first heat (0.8% vs 8%) and after their second heat (0.8% vs 25%). In Bella's case, however, she would still have a 25% chance of developing mammary cancer because if she is spayed, she will have had at least two heats. In my professional opinion, it's best to have a dog spayed if you aren't going to breed her. It prevents her from developing a pyometra, it keeps her from accidentally getting pregnant, it eliminates the often annoying behaviors that occur when a dog's in heat, it saves you from dealing with male dogs who want to mate with Bella, and it eliminates the mess and small from a dog in heat.

Will spaying make my dog dependent or increase her cancer risk?

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