tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post614840388628774440..comments2022-11-07T05:02:16.842-08:00Comments on Journey of an ER veterinarian: Spaying saves lives.ERDOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00092216548030797180noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-4554649412910508562013-01-08T12:25:24.514-08:002013-01-08T12:25:24.514-08:00Thank you for your answer!Thank you for your answer!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07992504949750074058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-79294035089608171802013-01-08T06:37:29.488-08:002013-01-08T06:37:29.488-08:00Great question jackie!
There's a bit of contr...Great question jackie!<br /><br />There's a bit of controversy in the veterinary world over which procedure is better. Europeans (apparently) have been doing ovariectomy for some time, while Americans are recommending and performing ovariohysterectomy (OHE).<br /><br />Proponents of removing overies and uterus believe(OHE) that there's no benefit to leaving it behind, and that the uterus serves only as a risk for infection, cancer, or other complications. Proponents of removing only the ovaries feel that the procedure is faster, although this really depends upon the surgeon. A recent study showed no significant difference in surgical time for OHE vs OH.<br /><br />what's better? The standard "spay" in the US is still an ovariohysterectomy by a long shot. You can find specialists and experts on both sides of the issue, but at this time, OHE is the predominant recommendation in the US.ERDOChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00092216548030797180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-76279548042570827152013-01-07T12:25:34.289-08:002013-01-07T12:25:34.289-08:00This was interesting to read for me, because I did...This was interesting to read for me, because I did not know that "spay" actually refers to an ovariohysterectomy. <br />I come from Switzerland and here, the standard spay procedure is just an ovariectomy, leaving the uterus in the body. <br />Do you per chance know why there is this difference?Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07992504949750074058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-84608613788006420902012-12-23T22:47:30.740-08:002012-12-23T22:47:30.740-08:00Thanks for writing this postThanks for writing this postTowing Northeast Philadelphiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927668258418662928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-28649374039009170052012-12-17T10:21:40.663-08:002012-12-17T10:21:40.663-08:00Our 12 year old lab/shepard mix has urinary incont...Our 12 year old lab/shepard mix has urinary incontinence and has successfully been on medication for 6 or 7 years. It's just part of our routine to mix it in her food. She was a shelter puppy, shouldn't have and never did have pups, we never had male suitors visiting from who knows where, and I never had to deal with the mess of heat (nasty!). Her incontinence is minor compared to having to try to put up with an intact female dog for 12+ years IF it was even caused by her spay surgery. <br />MS Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573419325980498000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-44010464663587910822012-12-13T16:32:18.649-08:002012-12-13T16:32:18.649-08:00I agree about the incontinence thing, no real proo...I agree about the incontinence thing, no real proof either way and not a very common condition despite what people would like to believe. As far as the canine athlete I have not seen enough proof of anything to dissuade me from spaying my dog young, and I do agility.<br /><br />On the male side, while there may be some debate I know an agility competitor who left her beloved male dog intact because she thought it would be better for him. He got perineal hernias and died from post-op complications. A unique case for sure but was it worth it? I would certainly neuter my dog, for a number of reasons. <br /><br />Thanks for a good "pro-spay" post!Nickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00547292170354458260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-24205909573332901482012-12-12T17:30:28.883-08:002012-12-12T17:30:28.883-08:00I disagree regarding coat color. Show proof?I disagree regarding coat color. Show proof?ERDOChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00092216548030797180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-24908577710214900732012-12-12T17:28:43.580-08:002012-12-12T17:28:43.580-08:00Regarding the canine athlete - again, no specific ...Regarding the canine athlete - again, no specific proof, but most would suggest waiting until 6 months for females (which is still prior to first heat).<br /><br />I purposefully did not address castration, which is less of a clear health benefit for each dog (although still reducing prostate cancer and testicular cancer incidence), and more of a benefit for behavior, roaming and population control. Many would recommend waiting until 1 year of age to castrate large breed dogs as they do not have the increased risk of mammary cancer.ERDOChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00092216548030797180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-73643517142135607482012-12-12T17:26:33.348-08:002012-12-12T17:26:33.348-08:00Spaying can result in estrogen related urinary inc...Spaying can result in estrogen related urinary incontinence in some dogs, however this is not a life-threatening issue and is easily treated with once-a-day medications if it should develop. Out of the thousands of dogs I see every year, only a handful experience incontinence - and there isn't a lot of actual proof as to if the timing matters. One study indicated that dogs spayed within the last three years had a higher incidence - suggesting that older age spay still can result in incontinence.<br /><br />Cancer kills.ERDOChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00092216548030797180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-42637605386548345692012-12-12T04:30:37.249-08:002012-12-12T04:30:37.249-08:00By the way, in some breeds, the changes to the coa...By the way, in some breeds, the changes to the coat quality can be very striking (fading, poor quality) in a spayed bitch. Neutered males also sometimes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-51656276487534064802012-12-12T04:29:10.947-08:002012-12-12T04:29:10.947-08:00First of all, I am in favor of spaying, for all of...First of all, I am in favor of spaying, for all of your stated reasons.<br />In some countries however, I think that it is believed (by the veterinary profession) that spaying before the first heat increases the risk of bitch incontinance. So despite the increased risk of breast cancer, they wait until after the first heat.<br />I wonder if there are any studies about this? When we looked, a few years ago, we didn't find any.<br />I think it is clear that, on balance, it is a health benefit to spay bitches.<br />I believe however, that recent research has shown that for males, on balance, neutering is less healthy. Of course, there are also behavioral considerations with intact males.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896158926457932553.post-52662464338388092872012-12-11T17:14:30.490-08:002012-12-11T17:14:30.490-08:00What about the canine athlete? I have been told ...What about the canine athlete? I have been told that waiting to spay an agility prospect until about 2 years is better for bones and joints. Truth or Hooey?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05415526640256290345noreply@blogger.com