Question

Is there a problem with spaying a dog that’s several years old?

Answer

While spaying or neutering pets before they reach adulthood is best for them, you can certainly have them spayed as adults. They’ll still experience the benefits of being altered, including lower chances of reproductive tract diseases, less behavioral problems and no unwanted puppies and kittens.

As with any surgery, your dog should have some basic bloodwork performed beforehand to rule out any conditions that could make anesthesia dangerous. With these tests, the risks associated with routine surgeries like spays and neuters are small, even in older pets.

For more information, see Neutering Your Pet.