Hello Everyone.
I have a female dog. Her names Coffee and shes 10 years old now. We never got her spayed. Our family didn't really know about the health benefits that came along with being spayed until recently someone explained to me that female dogs can develop an infection called pyometra which is a build of puss and blood in the uterus, which eventually spreads to the rest of the body and causes female dogs to die. I feel awful and so do my parents for having not having her spayed sooner. She is in great health and when I recently took her to get her shots the vet told me that it was going to be a risky procedure at her age to undergo a surgery, but he also reminded me that it'd be even more risky not having her spayed because each time she goes through a heat cycle it could lead to the illness. He recommended me to look around and take her to a regular pet hospital even though I told him that we were on a budget and I was going to look into a low cost spay/neuter clinic. The vet I spoke with recommended this because of her age she needs more attention and care. I want to know what you think about this. I did call a pet hospital not too far from my house and tomorrow I will be taking her to get examined and maybe have some blood work done. I hope the vet that I will see tmw will make his best judgement on whether or not she could withstand such a procedure. Shes really is my best friend and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her. I think that getting her spayed is the right thing to do.. only thing is I would really really guilty if something happened to her along the process. 

Now with some breeds 10 would be too old but with other no problem at all, as we do not know which breed we are not in a position to advise. For example 10 years for a Irish Wolfhound is a good age but for a dachshund it is quite young.

My dog is a german shepherd mix. I believe shes part chow part german shepherd.

I'd be inclined to leave her alone.  My girl is old and never spayed.  she goes through her seasons with no issues.  You would know if she contracted this as it is very smelly and the dog would give you an indication.  its not automatic that she will get it.  There can be more health issues associated with spaying to outway the possiblility.

If its right for your girl then go ahead with it but there is no need to have a routine spaying.

>You would know if she contracted this as it is very smelly and the dog would give you an indication. 

Only an open pyo is smelly - with a closed pyo there can be no indication that the bitch is ill until she's nearly dead. It's safer to operate on a healthy dog than a sick one.

if you have her spayed she will still die of something else, so i would leave her alone aswell, as you say shes in great health.

> It's safer to operate on a healthy dog than a sick one.

Totally agree.  A workmate recently had a very ill Lab bitch due to pyo.  She had never had a litter, and the workmate always intended to get round to spaying.  Instead she had a £900 bill for emergency surgery.

Even at 10 years old, I would prefer to have a bitch spayed while healthy.

M ex husband had an unspayed bitch and I was often telling him to get her done as she was getting older. When she was about 9 she developed pyo and nearly died -and the operation ended up being far more expensive and dangerous than it would have been otherwise. I get my bitches spayed at 8 years of age as routine. Like others have said, I'd rather operate on a fit and healthy 8 year old, than a 12 year old with pyometra.