Spaying for prevention of tumors, etc.

[JustJenna]

After reading another thread about pyometra, I started looking into spaying as a preventative against tumors and other health complications in females.  I read that spaying reduces the incidence of tumors dramatically.  I just saw another article that also indicates that spaying earlier in life rather than later might also prevent tumors later on.  I was just wondering what people's experiences are here.

I would be nervous to submit my girls to unnecessary surgery, but it sounds like the benefits outweigh the risks to a big degree.

Do people here spay to prevent against complications, or is it done largely to prevent pregnancy?  Any opinions?
Thanks! 

[Scubbs]

To me personally, it's a necessary surgery, not an elective one.  It seems like there's a new post almost daily about an intact girl with vaginal bleeding, or developing a mammary tumor.  All of my girls are spayed, and as long as you trust your vet and they have done the surgery before with success, I say go for it!  Taking preventative measures to keep your rats healthy is a really great thing    It's better to have them undergo a routine surgery, rather than an emergency one that they might not come out of. 

[KoalaLou2]

I think if you have the means to do the surgery then it is a definite must.  There are so many benefits and you never have to worry about accidental litters if you fall in love with a male and adopt him.  I will always spay any girl I get, but I would also get it done before adopting so its affordable (like through Mainely Rat Rescue).  I think its something you should do as long as your girls are approved for the surgery (healthwise).  If they are already over two then I wouldn't.

[Leonakitty]

Of the three girls I've had spayed, none have had any mammary tumors.
One developed an inoperable chest mass and one, who I just lost, got a tumor on the uterine stump that was left after her spay.  This is pretty rare, from what I've read, we just "lucked out" and were one of the ones to get nailed with it. Sigh. My other spayed girl is 26 months and has never had any signs of tumors. 

My two unspayed girls also didn't develop mammary tumors, though Frannie got hit with PT.  Mattie would present with small, round, fatty growths under her arms that shrank in size on a reduce sugar diet.  She died of old age at about 30 months.

Even with Sophie's uterine stump troubles, I'd still always want spayed ladies. It would have been worse for her if she'd had pyometra at her age and had to have a emergency spay while already sick.  I'd rather err on the side of surgery while they are young, healthy, and can handle the surgery and anesthesia best.

I've had the bad luck to get some more odd things with two of my gals, but the vast majority of rats at our house do just fine.
All Mandy's girls are spayed, too, and she's had one mammary tumor... and that was in a very overweight girl.
Judging by the prevalence of pyometra and mammary tumors I've seen here, I'd say our spayed girls are definitely beating the odds on those more common concerns. 

[Addicted2Rats]

I agree with the other posters.  Spaying is an excellent health benefit -- not only does it reduce/prevent mammary tumors but it also lengthens the life-span.  I've only got boys now but if I ever got a girl, I'd have her spayed right away.

Deb

[JustJenna]

Thanks for the advice, everyone.  I think that I'm going to look into it this week.  As soon as the youngest is old enough, I'll have them both done together.  they're only a month or so apart in age, so that should be good for both.