Expert: Jennifer Walker - 1/18/2012

Question
I have a 9 year old boxer that I am getting different feedback on related to spaying her.  Her cycles are usually twice a year around Feb/Mar and Sept/Oct.  However, in Dec she had a short cycle for about 3 days that was heavier than normal.  I have her scheduled for spaying on Thurs.  The vet that is performing the procedure has advised me they will do blood work first and if any concerns from the blood work they will not proceed.  They say the routinely perform this procedure on older dogs 9 years and above.  I have also discussed this with the previous vet and they have told me the same.  However, a local vet has advised me if she was his dog, due to the risks he would not do it this late in life.  Talking with my boss who is a dog advocate and involved in the Humane Society has advised me the same.  She said it would be like giving a 72 year old woman a hysterectomy.  I just want to do what is best for Miss Libbie and do not want to risk losing her or something going wrong.  I just do not know what to do.

Answer
Hi Angie,

Unfortunately there's no easy answer to your question -- there are risks and benefits to both approaches, and so much depends on the individual dog!

Every season your bitch has increases her risk of pyometra, a uterine infection which can be life-threatening. That said, many bitches remain intact their entire lives and never develop pyometra. Spaying will reduce that risk and will eliminate the risk of ovarian or uterine tumors. At 9 years old she's probably received the optimum protective hormonal effects (recent research in Rotties showed that bitches left intact until at least 6 years of age had a 302ncreased lifespan, and other research has shown increased risks of certain cancers and other health problems in spayed bitches, but most were spayed by a year old). Many breeders do spay their older bitches when they're retired from the whelping box, and most have no problems with it.

Most importantly, though, how "old-acting" is your bitch? Some 9 year olds look and act like they're 4, while others are more like 14. If she's in good physical health, active, "spry", etc., then the risks are probably minimized. Spaying has become a rather routine surgery -- most vets have ample experience with it.  I would definitely have the bloodwork done to be sure there's nothing lurking under the surface, and I would insist on one of the "modern" anesthetics -- isoflurane or sevoflurane. It should, but unfortunately does not always, go without saying that Acepromazine (a common pre-anesthetic) should never be used in a Boxer. Some Boxers have had problems with the ketamine/Valium protocol, as well. Sevoflurane does not require a pre-anesthetic; I'm not sure about isoflurane. Laser surgery can minimize pain and increase recovery time, but not all vets use lasers and IMO it's probably better to use a vet you trust.

If you have a store nearby that sells homeopathic remedies, Dr. Don Hamilton has a surgical combination he recommends. Put three pellets of Arnica Montana 30C and three pellets of Hypericum perforatum 30C in an amber glass dropper bottle; add 5-7 drops of Rescue Remedy. Fill the bottle to the 'shoulders' with spring water and let the pellets dissolve. Just before surgery, shake well and give your bitch a dropper full -- give another dropper as immediately after surgery as you can. (If your vet will give it for you, that's ideal, but many vets will refuse.) Give a dropper every hour for the first several hours, then every two hours, then every four, etc., tapering off depending on how she's acting (if she seems to have pain, give more frequently; if she's acting normally, you can taper it off). With homeopathic remedies (and RR is a flower essence), at this dosage there will be no ill-effects; the worst that can happen is nothing. I use this protocol for puppies who have ear crops, bitches with c-sections, etc. My theory is, it can't hurt, and might help. Arnica has been shown in studies to minimize post-surgical bleeding and bruising; Hypericum is meant to minimize pain; and Rescue Remedy is an all-around tonic for shock and trauma.

I'm sorry I can't give you a straight "yes" or "no" answer, but hopefully you've got enough information to make the decision that is best for your bitch. Good luck!!