Vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs: comparison of health and behavior outcomes with gonadectomized and sexually intact dogs
- Thread starter skinnydipper
- Start date
SilverLinings
Well-Known Member
That's really interesting, thank you for posting @skinnydipper.
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Very interesting, thanks for posting. Makes me wonder why you see so few surgeries offering gonad sparing options as alternatives to traditional spay/neuter.
Aru
Well-Known Member
Reasons not to do an OSS to your dog
Why to do it.
It prevents pregnancy.
If the entire cervix is removed with the uterus its protective against pyometra.
Some people would prefer their dogs to stay hormonally intact.(some breeds do show sex hormones to be an advantage against the common genetic cancers of their breeds -goldens being the big one)
Why not to do it.
There is no protective benifit against mammary cancer. Mammary cancer has a high malignancy(50/50)and fatality rate. It's not uncommon in hormonally intact females and is related to the hormone surges dogs go through during seasons.
There's a risk for stump pyometra if any uterine tissue remains.
There's still a risk for ovarian cysts and tumours.
The dog will still cycle and be attractive to males.
If bred by a male theres a risk of sperm peritonitis.The risk is higher if the male is larger but it has been reported in similar side dogs. The penis tears through the scar tissue left behind instead of a cervix at the end of the vaginal vault and deposits sperm into the abdomen. Makes for a very sick dog. Euthansia was not an uncommon outcome in those cases as septic peritonitis is a difficult to manage condition.
If a second surgery is required to go in and remove the ovaries at a later date it will be a larger exlap procedure and there's a risk of adhesions and other complications. That second surgery will likely be much more expensive then the first.
I looked into it to avoid pyometra and spey coat later in life for one of my girls as it sounds like potentially a very good option. Got lots of opinions and responses on the complications other vets are seeing. Got a resounding do not do this as the overall reply. There wasn't enough benifits to the dog v being kept entire to justify putting them through surgery to most vets who responded.
If you want hormones,just keep the dog intact and monitor for pyometra in the weeks following a season.
Vasectomies obviously are less invasive and less of an issue for complications. Though again all they do is prevent pregnancy(as long as nothing regrows or rejoins)
I've only skimmed the study above so far. The main issue being raised with it was bias. It's based on owner reports not objective data.
Why to do it.
It prevents pregnancy.
If the entire cervix is removed with the uterus its protective against pyometra.
Some people would prefer their dogs to stay hormonally intact.(some breeds do show sex hormones to be an advantage against the common genetic cancers of their breeds -goldens being the big one)
Why not to do it.
There is no protective benifit against mammary cancer. Mammary cancer has a high malignancy(50/50)and fatality rate. It's not uncommon in hormonally intact females and is related to the hormone surges dogs go through during seasons.
There's a risk for stump pyometra if any uterine tissue remains.
There's still a risk for ovarian cysts and tumours.
The dog will still cycle and be attractive to males.
If bred by a male theres a risk of sperm peritonitis.The risk is higher if the male is larger but it has been reported in similar side dogs. The penis tears through the scar tissue left behind instead of a cervix at the end of the vaginal vault and deposits sperm into the abdomen. Makes for a very sick dog. Euthansia was not an uncommon outcome in those cases as septic peritonitis is a difficult to manage condition.
If a second surgery is required to go in and remove the ovaries at a later date it will be a larger exlap procedure and there's a risk of adhesions and other complications. That second surgery will likely be much more expensive then the first.
I looked into it to avoid pyometra and spey coat later in life for one of my girls as it sounds like potentially a very good option. Got lots of opinions and responses on the complications other vets are seeing. Got a resounding do not do this as the overall reply. There wasn't enough benifits to the dog v being kept entire to justify putting them through surgery to most vets who responded.
If you want hormones,just keep the dog intact and monitor for pyometra in the weeks following a season.
Vasectomies obviously are less invasive and less of an issue for complications. Though again all they do is prevent pregnancy(as long as nothing regrows or rejoins)
I've only skimmed the study above so far. The main issue being raised with it was bias. It's based on owner reports not objective data.
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Bellasophia
Well-Known Member
In Italy many vets,including my own ,are favoring ovary removal,leaving the uterus ( which atrophies).This is done in young dogs..older dogs do full ovahysterectomy…
re,ovarectomy
It is less invasive on the dog,heals fast,and they say less risk of incontinence later.
I’ve had three dogs spayed in this way without issues so far..
what are your thoughts on this?
https://wvs.academy/research-spotlight/ovariohysterectomy-versus-ovarietomy
re,ovarectomy
It is less invasive on the dog,heals fast,and they say less risk of incontinence later.
I’ve had three dogs spayed in this way without issues so far..
what are your thoughts on this?
https://wvs.academy/research-spotlight/ovariohysterectomy-versus-ovarietomy
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Aru
Well-Known Member
Ovary only removal has been popular for a long time.
Its what all the laproscopic speys do as it happens and has been preformed in europe as standard for some time.
As long asall the ovaries are removed (it's very unusual not to!) the surgery had a good outcome...
The worry for a pyo if any uterine tissue remains or if the dog is exposed to those hormones via human treatment creams etc is the main reason it hasnt been popular world wide though. In more litigious countries its been a slower uptake as it takes a similar amount of time to do ovh and ove for an experienced vet.
It's thought to reduces the urinary incontinence risk as your not manipulating the uterus near the bladder as much but i am not aware if this is proven or not as thats also a hormonally related disease in many dogs.
The overall haemorrhage risk is reduced as the vessels in the uterus are the more common cause of trouble for serious post op bleeds.
I used to do it a lot in cats in Ireland as my first job was with a German vet who trained me in her ways.
Pain wise. The incision is slightly smaller but I didn't see massive differences personally in recovery between both types.
emilylou
Well-Known Member
From personal experience, we have had multiple dogs over many years of both genders, all neutered and no real behavioral/health problems with any of them. The one dog we did not spay due to wanting to breed from her (didn't in the end) developed pyometra and had to have an emergency hysterectomy at 11.
Bellasophia
Well-Known Member
Thank you aru.
Bless your German vet.
re recovery time ,my ovaristomectomia dogs have bounced back the day after surgery..the only issue was to,keep them quiet to recover as opposed to the fullspays.
None have had urinary incontinence.
Bless your German vet.
re recovery time ,my ovaristomectomia dogs have bounced back the day after surgery..the only issue was to,keep them quiet to recover as opposed to the fullspays.
None have had urinary incontinence.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
Mine have been exactly the same though, with a full spay.
Sad the next day then attempting to climb the walls from then on. No incontinence.
My absolutely unqualified opinion taking a limited experience is that being slim and fit is the main requirement for quick recovery.