Spays, Neuters, and Reproductive Diseases

When is it recommended to neuter cats?

Around 6 months

When is it recommended to neuter small breed dogs?

-Around 6 months

-They reach skeletal maturity

When is it recommended to neuter medium to large breed dogs?

-1 to 1.5 years

-Hormones are important for joint development

Why neuter cats?

-Eliminate unwated litters

-Possibly decrease risk of inappropriate urinations/spraying

Why neuter dogs?

-Eliminate unwated litters

-Decrease running away and unwanted male behaviors (searching for intact females)

-Decreased occurrence of prostatic disease

Formal term for neuter?

Orchiectomy

What is an Orchiectomy?

Complete removal of testicles

Orchiectomy in Canines

-Suture closed

-Closed or open castration technique

Orchiectomy in Felines

Left open to heal by second intention

When is it recommended to spay cats?

-Around 6 months of age

-Induced ovulators

When is it recommended to spay small breed dogs?

Around 6 months

When is it recommended to spay medium to large breed dogs? Timeline?

-Around 1 to 1.5 years

-First heat cycle around 8 months of age

-Go into heat every 6 months

-Spay 2-3 months after last heat cycle

Why spay cats?

-Decreased chances of mammary cancer

-Prevent unwanted litters

-Eliminate behavioral changes from heat cycles

-POSSIBLY decrease chances of inappropriate urinations

Why spay dogs?

-Decreased chance of mammary cancer

-Prevent pyometra (potentially life-threatening; 1 in 4 chance a dog reaching age of 10 will develop it)

Formal term for spay

Ovariohysterectomy

What is an Ovariohysterectomy?

-”Traditional” spay procedure for canines and felines

-Removal of ovaries AND majority of the uterus

What is an alternative procedure to an overiohysterectomy?

Ovariectomy

What is an Ovariectomy?

Removal of just ovaries

Laparoscopic Spay

-Ovariectomy procedure

-Two small (less than 1 cm) incisions for instruments and camera

Pros for Laparoscopic Spay

-Great visualization

-Lower average operating time

-Smaller scar

-Less blood (2 ml vs 8 ml for traditional spay)

-Less pain

-Decreased recovery time

When is it recommended to spay rabbits? What method?

Ovariectomies at 6 months of age

Why spay rabbits?

-Uterine Adenocarcinoma is the most common cancer in rabbits

Uterine Adenocarcinoma Facts

-60% chance in females > 3 years

-All breeds at risk

-Life expectancy is 1 to 2 years after onset of clinical signs

Dystocia

-Difficulty birthing

-Higher incidence in brachycephalic breeds (head too big, plan C-section)

-Increased risk in large litters

Dystocia Clinical Signs

-Contractions for over 1 hour and no puppy or kitten produced

-Visibly stuck neonate in vaginal canal

**Emergency C-section

Dystocia Treatment

-Medical management

• Calcium gluconate - helps with strength of uterine contractions

• Oxytocin - increases frequency of uterine contractions

• Often unsuccessful

-Surgical management → Caesarian section

**Often brachycephalic breeds are scheduled for c-section to prevent possible dystocia

Pyometra

-Pus filled uterus

-Open or closed

-Usually occuring few weeks to months after last heat

Open Pyometra

-Mucoid

-Purulent

-Hemorrhagic

-Vulvar discharge

-± systemic signs

Closed Pyometra

-None to minimal discharge

-Systemic signs

Pyometra Clinical Signs

-Anorexia

-Vomiting

-Lethargy

-Polyuria, polydipsia

-Abdominal pain

-Vulvar dischage

Pyometra Diagnosis

-Bloodwork (leukocytosis)

-Radiographs (distended, enlarged uterus)

-Ultrasound (enlarged fluid-filled uterus)

Pyometra Treatment

-Surgical removal (especially closed)

-Medical management (antibiotics, ONLY open)

Mammary Carcinoma

-Mammary gland tumors

-Affects middle to older age dogs/cats

-Timing of spay is critical and related to risk of developing mammary cancer

Mammary Carcinoma Clinical Signs

-Firm mass in mammary gland (s)

-Multiple tumors common in dogs

-Almost always a large caudal one

*Make sure to feel ALL glands

Mammary Carcinoma Diagnosis

-Biopsy

-Histopathology

-Fine needle aspirate (usually skipped)

• Not helpful in determining if benign or malignant

Mammary Carcinoma Treatment

-Surgical excision

-Partial or full mastectomy

-May have to be done in staged if in both mammary chains

• Lack of skin and too much tension

-Chemotherapy

Cryptorchidism

-Failure of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) testes to descend into the scrotum

-Inherited trait (DO NOT BREED)

-Retained testicle has a 10x greater chance of developing testicular neoplasia

In unilateral cryptorchidism, which testicle is more likely to be retained?

Right is 2x more likely

Cryptorchisism Clinical Signs

One or no testicles palpated

Cryptorchidism Diagnosis

-Can be noted as early as 8 weeks

-Definitive diagnosis by 6 months of age

Cryptorchidism Treatment

-Surgical removal of BOTH testicles

-Testicles commonly found in inguinal region (~75%)

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

-Enlargement of the prostate gland due to sterile, non-neoplastic cause

-Affects adult intact male dogs, rarely cats

-Increased risk with age (50% at 5, 95% at 9)

-Not spreadable

BPH Clinical Signs

-Tenesmus (frequent urge to defecate/straining

• Secondary thin, ribbon-like defecations

-Bloody urethral discharge not necessarily associated with urination

-Enlarged, usually painful prostate on rectal exam

-± abdominal pain

BPH Diagnosis

-Prostatomegaly on rectal exam

-Ultrasound (helps rule out other causes of prostatomegaly like cysts or masses)

-Abdominal radiographs (enlarged prostate)

BPH Treatment

-Neauter is curative (takes away hormones)

-Antibiotics for possible secondary infections

-Anti-inflammatories

-± stool softener