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Should I spay my dog? Addressing common spaying myths and concerns.

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 9 years and 2 months old | 4 lbs

Precious is suppose to get spayed Wednesday but I’m afraid. Are these true? I don’t want her to get pyometra but I also don’t want her to get hemangiosarcoma. I also want to keep her around as long as I can & as healthy as she can be. Maybe most of these are for larger breeds? Or ones spayed before puberty? It’s really freaking me out

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 12th, 2018

I'm not sure where you have gotten this information, but most of these things are completely untrue and fear mongering statements. While you can see an increase in urinary incontinence in spayed dogs, that usually happens in older dogs who have been spayed earlier in life. I've always spayed my dogs, and never had any of these things happen to them. In addition, I see no scientific references to back up these claims. Spaying Precious is a good option for her, you do not want her to get a pyometra. The people who write these things typically have no veterinary training at all, and everything they said is anecdotal evidence with no scientific evidence to back it up. You are making the right decision to have her spayed. Don't pay attention to random facts you find on the internet. I hope this helps!

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Precious is suppose to get spayed next week & im literally already having an anxiety attack. I dont want abything to happen to her. I know it will prevent pyometra but what about what it can cause? I know she wont gain weight because shes very active
Hello. I can understand your anxiety, & there are some studies to suggest that some breeds are better off being neutered after a year or so of age, but for the most part, there is no danger & there is no greater likelihood of advanced disease in these animals. I always remind people that many women need to have hysterectomies for various medical reasons, & while the vast majority of these surgeries happen after puberty, there is no known significant increase in cancer, Alzheimer's, endocrine disease, etc. in these women. You will be hard-pressed to find any veterinarian who has been in practice longer than 20 years who will say there has been an uptick in medical problems in neutered animals. Pets are living longer & healthier lives because of this, & while we are still not making a huge dent in the pet overpopulation program & the number of puppies & kittens euthanized each year, we are trying. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My 8yo Golden had a falsepregnancy w milk. Cabergoline has resolved it now. I hear conflicting opinions about spaying. She has never mated. Some say not spaying would cause pseudopregnancy recurrence+dangerous conditions like Mammary T. But UCDavis s
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Lav. I've heard many owners quote the UC Davis study, and there are a number of things wrong with the study. Check out this article on it: https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/deconstructing-spayneuter-debate Not spaying her can cause a pseudopregnancy reoccurrence, but it doesn't increase her risk of mammary tumors. That's already going to be 25% because she's had more than two heats. Keep in mind, 50% of mammary tumors in dogs are malignant. She is eight years old, so she is already at a higher risk of developing cancer simply because she is an older dog. She is also at risk of a pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment. The treatment for a pyometra is spaying the dog, which is an emergency during a pyometra and can cost many thousands of dollars. In all honesty, it's best to spay her. It will keep her from developing a pyometra as well as a pseudopregnancy, and it will k
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Is the increased risk for hemangiosarcoma after spaying only for large breed dogs? I don’t want to risk precious getting it & it’s really scary
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer seen most often in large breed dogs like German Shepherds, Golden retrievers, labs and large mix breeds. I do not think all the evidence is there to say that spaying or neutering CAUSES cancer. I think spaying Precious is a personal decision for you. Everything in life comes with risk, you need to weigh which risks you are willing to take. Ultimately it is absolutely fine if you do not want to spay her as long as the risk of an infected uterus is a risk you can accept. However small it is. Have a great weekend!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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I'm getting concern about getting my pup spay or not. Chihuahua are not prone to cancer, from what I read and she's not agressive, we live in an apartment not surround by other dogs. Why should I put her throught that amoung of stress an pain?
It's not true that Chihuahuas are not prone to cancer, every dog has the chance of developing cancer. The problem with keeping Peanut unspayed is it will increase her chances of getting mammary tumors, 50% of which are malignant, and she will be at risk of developing a pyometra. A pyometra is an infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment. When a dog develops a pyometra, it requires an emergency spay which can cost thousands. If you spay her now, it would only be a couple of hundred dollars. As I said above, if you keep her upspayed, you will actually be increasing her risk of cancer. A dog who is spayed before her first heat has a 0.8% chance of developing mammary tumors. One who is spayed after her first heat has an 8% chance, while a dog who is spayed after her second and any subsequent heats has a 25% chance. You can see that's quite an increase in risk. It's best for her health to have her spayed, and I strongly urge you to get it done. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Does spaying actually increase the risk of developing hemangiosarcoma? Or decrease lifespan? I know the risk of a small breed getting it is relatively low & id like to keep it that way. Also, i would like her to have a longer & healthy life as well.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I only treat cancer cases and unfortunately see a fair amount of dogs with hemangiosarcoma. The evidence that hemangiosarcoma is more prevalent in spayed dogs is rather weak and likely a result of how the studies were performed. I would recommend you proceed with the spay mostly because it decreases the risk of mammary cancer and prevents pyometra. Good luck and have a great day!
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Mum and I have been discussing a lot about spaying our tiny little angel. Mum's against it since her friends told her not to and I don't know. Help me
There is absolutely no reason not to spay your pet, unless of course you are purposefully wanting to breed Bella. Spaying pets early (before their 1st heat cycle), reduces the chance of mammary cancer to less than 3%, which is a huge deal. There is no decrease seen after the 3rd heat cycle. However spaying Bella will still prevent her from ever having a spontaneous infected uterus or Pyometra event int he future. Which is an emergency situation that would require immediate surgery if Bella ever developed this. And considering that a Pyometra event is much more common in small breed dogs like the Maltese, this is reason enough to highly consider spaying her.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Hi My dog’s breed is bichon frise, she is 7 Month old and she has not been spay yet , I'm so scared of anesthesia and her doctor told me if you don’t spay her , she may be ill in the future , What should I do?
While any anesthesia carries a risk, spaying is generally a very safe procedure. The risks of anesthesia increase as a dog ages (I'm specifically referencing senior dogs like 10 years and older), but there are few risks for a young and healthy puppy. Your vet is right she could be ill in the future if you don't spay her. Not spaying her leaves her at risk of developing a pyometra in the future. This is an infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment, and spaying the dog is part of the treatment of a pyometra. That surgery is high risk due to the severity of the illness in the dog from the infection, and it costs thousands to perform. In addition, dogs who are spayed are at an increased risk of developing mammary tumors. Of these mammary tumors, 50% of them are malignant. For her health, it is best to spay her now. I would speak with your vet about getting it done. I hope this helps!
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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.
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Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Hello :D My female pitbull is almost 8years old, she is not spayed, and always does 'false pregnancy' Lately, she has a swallen tit, the vet says he can feel a tumor, and his plan was : i spay her next week and 1 month after he removes the tumor. Is
Yes, it is most likely mammary (breast) cancer. Very common to happen in dogs that are not spayed. That is why we recommended spaying dogs early in life. 1. I suggest you find a vet that will do both surgeries at once. There is no sense in doing two surgeries a month apart. They can both be done safely at the same time in most cases. She may be one of those cases that the mass is extensive and that is why your vet does not want to do them at the same time. I don't know since I have not examined her myself but in most cases I would do both surgeries together. Just my opinion. 2. You need to get her spayed, even at 8 years old. If you don't, then she may end up with more mammary tumors or a pyometra or she may pass away. Yes, a blood test before the spay is indicated absolutely. 3. It should not change her much. If you don't do it then she can certainly die just like a person with breast cancer so you really have no option but to have it done. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Hello, my dog is gonna be 8 years next month , she has been healthy and never had any problems. She never had puppies but she hasnt been spayed either. Someone sugested me that I should do it now to reduce the chances to have cancer. What do you sug
Hello and thanks for using Boop by Petco! The more heat cycles a dog goes through the more likely they are to develop mammary (breast cancer). At Fifi's age there may be less of a reduction in risk by spaying her now but it is still probably worth spaying her. By spaying Fido you will also eliminate the risk that she develops a life threatening uterine infection called a pyometra. That in itself is enough to warrant spaying at this time. Best regards to you and Fifi!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

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