SHEET Sterilization of the female dog
Health info sheet
The sterilization of the dog
Sterilization is commonly performed in veterinary medicine, it is the most common surgical procedure.
It is possible to perform an oophorectomy alone (removal of the ovaries) or combined with a hysterectomy (OVH, removal of the ovaries and uterus).
The benefits of sterilization:
- Removal of heat,
- It limits the risk of uterine infection,
- It prevents the appearance of ovarian tumors since the ovaries are removed during the procedure,
- It prevents the appearance of these “nervous pregnancies”,
Finally, many studies have proven that the sterilization of a young female dog significantly reduces the risk of developing mammary tumors later. Knowing that mammary tumors represent one of the most frequent cancers in female dogs, this advantage is not negligible.
At what age should sterilization be offered?
The ideal age for sterilization is before its first heat (heat generally begins around 6 months in small breeds, around 12 or even 18 months in giant breeds).
The prevention of mammary tumors is maximal when the female dog or cat is sterilized before her first heat (when no hormonal impregnation of the udders has yet taken place).
The ideal age for sterilization is before its first heat (heat generally begins around 6 months in small breeds, around 12 or even 18 months in giant breeds).
The prevention of mammary tumors is maximal when the female dog or cat is sterilized before her first heat (when no hormonal impregnation of the udders has yet taken place).
The benefit of the intervention then gradually decreases as the female dog ages:
- The risk of developing mammary tumors is 0.05% in a female dog sterilized before her first heat compared to an unsterilized female dog.
- It is 8% in a sterilized female dog between her first and second heats.
- Then 26% after the second heat.
- Beyond 36 months, no further reduction in tumor risk is noted in comparison with the risk of developing a mammary tumor in an unsterilized female dog.
Ovariectomy alone or ovariohysterectomy?
It has been shown that there is no significant difference between the long-term complication rates of oophorectomy compared to OVH.
Intervention times and short-term complications (in particular the risk of bleeding and postoperative pain) were also studied and again, no significant difference was identified. Finally for an experienced surgeon the size of the abdominal incision does not differ significantly. Ovariectomy is therefore an alternative to OVH.
It has been shown that there is no significant difference between the long-term complication rates of oophorectomy compared to OVH.
Intervention times and short-term complications (in particular the risk of bleeding and postoperative pain) were also studied and again, no significant difference was identified. Finally for an experienced surgeon the size of the abdominal incision does not differ significantly. Ovariectomy is therefore an alternative to OVH.
How is sterilization carried out?
All procedures performed at the clinic are preceded by a systematic general examination. Sterilization consists of the removal of the ovaries. Of course, this intervention takes place under general anesthesia, the animal is under perfusion, under control and permanent cardio-respiratory monitoring. We also provide medical care for pain for the comfort of the animal.
All procedures performed at the clinic are preceded by a systematic general examination. Sterilization consists of the removal of the ovaries. Of course, this intervention takes place under general anesthesia, the animal is under perfusion, under control and permanent cardio-respiratory monitoring. We also provide medical care for pain for the comfort of the animal.
An innovation:
To reduce the post-operative constraints and reduce the painful factor, we suggest that you perform this intervention in video-assisted surgery. We only make 3 holes of 1 cm in order to introduce an optical fiber and work on a video monitor.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the laparoscopic approach?
The benefits of laparoscopy, in comparison with laparotomy interventions, are clearly established in human medicine: less pain, faster recovery, lower complication rate, shorter hospital stay.
The same advantages are observed in veterinary medicine and in particular in the context of the sterilization of the female dog.
Moreover, this approach has the advantage of proposing during the same surgical time the realization of a preventive gastropexyin breeds at risk for stomach torsion.
The relative drawbacks of this approach are the need to train in the technique, to acquire expensive equipment and finally to have a surgical assistant.
Let us also mention that the surgical time is increased for an inexperienced surgeon (but decreases rapidly with experience).
The benefits of laparoscopy, in comparison with laparotomy interventions, are clearly established in human medicine: less pain, faster recovery, lower complication rate, shorter hospital stay.
The same advantages are observed in veterinary medicine and in particular in the context of the sterilization of the female dog.
Moreover, this approach has the advantage of proposing during the same surgical time the realization of a preventive gastropexyin breeds at risk for stomach torsion.
The relative drawbacks of this approach are the need to train in the technique, to acquire expensive equipment and finally to have a surgical assistant.
Let us also mention that the surgical time is increased for an inexperienced surgeon (but decreases rapidly with experience).
What are the other health effects?
- Since estrogens play a role in satiety in the female dog, sterilization promotes an increase in appetite. Weight gain, sometimes leading to obesity, is therefore a frequently reported fact. The introduction of an appropriate diet is therefore essential.
- The prevalence of urinary incontinence due to urethral sphincter insufficiency is higher in spayed female dogs than in whole female dogs. A small number of female dogs may develop so-called “castration” incontinence. Most castration incontinence responds well to medical treatment.
The sterilization of the female dog therefore has many interests. The benefits brought by the intervention are all the more interesting as the operation is performed on a young female dog.
contact@vetosud.com
Vetosud Veterinary Clinic
96 Avenue Carnot
11100 Narbonne
04-68-65-04-05
