Thousands of female dogs are spayed yearly. It's a very very safe procedure, especially with today's technology. Just tell your mom that she is much better off spaying now than later. The benefits far outweigh the negatives, and it's never good to procrastinate!

Ask your vet to test for environmental allergies. If she's licking her paws, the skin between her toes will probably be red. Your vet should be able to wipe a slide on the irritated skin and be able to detect if it's a bacterial issue. If it is, it suggests an environmental allergy because allergies overwork the immune system and allow naturally occurring bacteria to flourish. Other tell-tale signs of allergies are hot spots, smelly ears, flaky skin and bad coat, and hairless and irritated patches. If your vet doesn't know how to test for these things (some don't), you may be better off finding a veterinary dermatologist. The money is well worth it because the dermatologist will give you a definitive answer!