A further question on spaying and the older rat....

[debbugz]

On a post before, a question was raised about spaying rats and a correlated decrease in mammary tumors on the girls.  How old can the rat be and still gain some benefit from the surgery?? I currently have girls that are a year and a year and a half. If I get them spayed now, will they still benefit or are they too old?? Thanks!!

[jp]

Well...my girl Caitlin was over 2 when her first tumors popped up.  They came on so fast!  First the vet spayed Caiti.  Then she removed the tumors.  Caiti was tumor free for 6 months.  Then she had 2 more pop up.  They were much much smaller than the first ones and were VERY slow growing.  In the end she ended up having a pituitary tumor and had to be put to sleep.  My vet and I feel that the spay helped keep more tumors from popping up in those 6 months and helped to keep those next ones small.  Again I would discuss it with your vet, but spaying your older girls may help.