Spaying an elder doe

Question
Hi, I would like a second opinion on this.
I have  a doe that is 6 years old, she is a mixed breed and weighs 6 pounds.I juste recently learned about the high risk of uterine cancer that is why I never got her spayed ( I thought it would not matter since she had another female friend and I had absolutely no intention of breeding her ). She is in good condition overall ( nice teeth said the vet ) apart from an eye infection that I am treating right now ( Baytril ).The vet said that she has a mass in her uterus and could operate her. Now, I know the chances of complications is rather high, but since it is impossible to know how long she will live with or without the operation I am at lost as what should be done.Right now, she is a rather happy camper that eats, sleeps and poops normally.
I welcome any advice you may have.
Naomi

Answer
UPDATE

Hi, I have a couple vets in Montreal here:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/Vet_CA-QU.html

FIRST VET OFFICE for Rabbits

Dr. Lupu
Dr. Beaulieu
Dr. Herbert
Hopital Veterinaire pour Oiseaux et Animaux Exotiques
(Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital)
6090 Sherbrooke street West
Montreal, Quebec H4A 1Y1
Canada
(514) 486-5258
Recommended by: Kathleen Logan
Comments: There are 3 vets, all speak english and french, all are female (not that it matters to me but it may to some). I have had dealings with all 3 but the last one only once. All seem good, very friendly. Dr. Lupu performed a tooth abcess removal for one of my bunnies and the follow-up care was very good. We had to go back several times to check her progress and they didn't charge me much for all those return visits. They are quite reasonable and very nice to deal with. I especially appreciate their 2 receptionists Richard and Bonnie who are very knowledgeable about the animals and are very helpful over the phone. The rest of their staff seem nice too.
Submitted: 11/00


SECOND VET OFFICE for Rabbits

Dre. M. Pilotte
Dre. M. Tremblay
Dre. M.-J. Hamel
Hopital Veterinaire pour Oiseaux et Animaux Exotiques
Rive-Sud
5435 Chemin Chambly
St. Hubert, Quebec J3Y 3P2
Canada
(450) 443-1461
Submitted: 11/00


END UPDATE



Hi,

several factors here.

For a house rabbit, 6 years old is just the tip of an older bunny, given they can live 10-12 years with good care and diet.  So it isn't as terrible in terms of years as you might think.

For an unspayed rabbit, 6 years is generally the max limit.  Because ofthe whole uterine cancer rate issue.  Given the vet sees a potential problem in there it could be a number of things, maybe more than one thing going in in there.  So you already know she's got some abnormal things already there, and they probably are not good.

Third, her quality of life as it is.  It sounds like she's otherwise healthy, hopefully not overweight, and probably not if the vet says she looks good and he's a good rabbit vet.  If she is still going strong and loves life and you and everything, she hasn't given up on life yet, so I'd factor that in the decision.

Fourth, do you have a really good rabbit vet, not just a 'vet' tellign you this?  Would you trust the vet to operate on her?  Do you know what anesthetic is used for rabbits, what his/her success rates are for spays, how regular are these performed, what post-op items will she get for you to care for her after (needs post op antibiotics, pain meds (metacam), and a future check-up to see how she's healing), and are there other HRS recommended vets around you that you might feel better at least asking?  Would this vet feel confident he could not lose her on the table? www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html  to check for other rabbit vets around you.

My gut would be to have her spayed if she's otherwise healthy, because it appears things are going south in her uterus and it will spread to other organs.  Uterine cancer is a painful death as far as the ways of dying (none are wonderful) go.  If you do nothing this is her last year, probably.  I'd give her a shot, but the key is a good rabbit vet to do it.  She's not very old, she's in the middle area of her life.  She could have a lot of good years left.  

Get the problem out now before it is untreatable.  It's worth it.  And you will be watching her closely during reovery.  The most important thing is her eating and drinking normally.  Second is giving her her medication at the same time every day, and give her all the doses in the right amounts, until nothing is left.  If you get a refill on the antibiotics, get them and use them until they are gone.  Next important is watching the incision area and if it opens.  If she opens it by chewing there's probably an infection there and the vet will need to deal with that.  You need to keep her in cage for a week after so she can't run or jump hard and pop stitches.  The vet may use surgical glue or dissolving stitches.