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Name
Spaying, Canine
Short Description
Ovariohysterectomy
Affected Animals: This surgery is typically performed when the dog
is approximately six months old, but can be done before or after
this time. Older dogs usually require more extensive preoperative
testing to assess the risk of anesthesia complications.
Overview:
Ovariohysterectomy is the surgical removal of the
ovaries and uterus. Known more commonly as a spay procedure, the
surgery is performed on many female dogs. The indications for the
procedure include preventing unwanted litters of puppies and the
nuisance of repeated heat cycles; decreasing the probability of
mammary or breast cancer; and in treating many reproductive tract
disorders, including most commonly pyometra infection within the
uterus, and uterine neoplasia. Spaying a dog before her first heat
cycle decreases the chances of mammary cancer by greater than 90
percent. The surgery is more difficult when the dog is in heat or
pregnant, as both of these conditions result in increased uterine
size and blood supply.
Description: The surgery is performed under general anesthesia
so that the dog is completely unconscious. An incision is made into
the abdominal cavity to allow access to the entire reproductive
tract. Each ovary is loosened from its attachment near the kidney
and double-ligated, or tied off with two separate sutures. The
tissue is transected or cut with a scalpel blade and observed for
bleeding. The ligaments of the uterus are detached and the uterus is
double-ligated just above the cervix. This tissue is cut and
examined for bleeding. Before closing the surgery site, all
ligatures or sutures are checked again to ensure that there is no
bleeding. The abdominal incision is then closed in three layers. The
internal muscle layer, the subcutaneous tissue, and outer skin are
all sutured separately. Absorbable sutures are used internally and
dissolve on their own.
Some veterinarians select skin sutures that are nonabsorbable,
requiring a suture removal appointment seven to 14 days following
the surgery so that they will be able to evaluate the incision.
Other veterinarians elect to close the skin with absorbable suture
and skin glue, which does not require a return visit to the
veterinarian unless there are complications.
Prognosis:The prognosis is good for young,
healthy dogs. If there are complications, the prognosis will depend
upon the individual case.
Possible complications of ovariohysterectomy include hemorrhage,
infection, recurrent estrus cycles due to the inadequate removal of
the ovarian tissue, body weight gain if diet and exercise are not
monitored, accidental ligation of a tube leading from the kidney to
the urinary bladder called a ureter, and urinary incontinence due to
the lack of estrogen. Other complications that can be seen with any
abdominal surgery include anesthetic problems, suture reactions and
infections, delayed wound healing or breakdown, self-inflicted
trauma, and seroma, or blood-tinged fluid accumulation at the
surgery site.
Most of these can be prevented by careful surgical technique and
proper postoperative care. If the proper precautions are taken, the
risk of complications is minimal. If complications do occur,
however, the veterinarian should be notified promptly. Dehiscence,
or separation of the incision layers, can be an emergency situation
requiring surgery to replace abdominal contents. Dogs can chew out
their sutures and cause great damage to the abdominal organs in a
very short period of time.
The veterinarian will determine the appropriate treatment for any
complication that may occur. Some examples of treatments include
controlling bleeding by exploring the surgery site and ligating the
leaking vessel; draining the fluid from a seroma and applying a
pressure bandage; and providing hormone supplements to control
hormonal urinary incontinence.
Preprocedure Care: All surgical patients should receive a
preoperative examination by the veterinarian. Dogs that are in their
heat cycle may have the surgery postponed until the cycle is over.
If the dog is an older animal, the veterinarian may take blood tests
and possibly chest x-rays to check for any underlying diseases.
Postprocedure Care: Most dogs are extremely tolerant of pain and show
no signs of discomfort from the procedure. Unfortunately, as a
result, they may attempt to resume their normal level of activity
immediately after surgery, and this puts them at risk for
complications. Strict monitoring is important. The dog should not be
allowed off the leash for seven to 14 days after surgery, and should
be prevented from licking the incision, running, jumping, and
climbing stairs. Outdoor dogs should be kept inside for two weeks.
The incision should be checked daily for any signs of swelling,
redness, or heat. If the dog tries to lick the incision, an
Elizabethan collar or similar device can be used to prevent the
behavior.
Prevention: Preventing complications involves daily
inspection of the incision, preventing the dog from licking the
surgery site, and keeping its activity level to a minimum for a
period of seven to 14 days following the surgery. Any problems
should be brought to the veterinarian's attention as soon as
possible.
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