Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirlonde  Thanks so much! Not to derail the thread...but I'm curious about how this affects the cancer chances for a dog. I have read that if they never have a heat, the chances that they'll get cancer are reduced dramatically. I don't have the slightest clue about when a female has her first heat....but I was trying to avoid that by having her spayed at 6 months. I'm not sure which risk is the more dangerous!
-C |
If yo get her spayed before she ever comes into heat, you will eliminate her chance of ever getting mammary cancer. If you get her spayed after her first heat, the risk rises to 8%. After her second heat the risk rises to 25%. Since approximately 80% of mammary tumors are cancerous, spaying early is a significant health benefit.