Lecture 32

Question 1

What are the general benefits of sterilization?

Answer 1

-population control
-alteration of behavior
-convenience factor
-prevention, decreased risk, or improved control of certain conditions

Question 2

What are the general risks of castration?

Answer 2

-anesthetic/operative mortality (low)
-increased risk of neoplasia in certain breeds
-increased risk of disk disease in corgis
-obesity from decrease in activity or metabolic rate
-joint disease in some dog breeds

Question 3

Which dog breeds see increased risk of neoplasia following castration?

Answer 3

-irish wolfhounds castrated at < 1 year
-border collies castrated at < 1 year
-standard poodles castrated at < 1 year

Question 4

How does the risk of joint disease in male golden retrievers vary based on castration status?

Answer 4

-3 to 5% risk if intact
-10% risk if castrated >/= 1 year old
-14% risk if castrated between 6-11 months
-18 to 27% risk if castrated </= 6 months

Question 5

How does the risk of joint disease in male labrador retrievers vary based on castration status?

Answer 5

-5 to 8% risk if intact
-12 to 22% risk if castrated </= 6 months

Question 6

How does the risk of joint disease in male german shepherds vary based on castration status?

Answer 6

-7 to 10% risk if intact
-21% risk if castrated < 1 year
-33% risk if castrated </= 6 months

Question 7

How does the risk of joint disease vary in small and medium breed dogs based on castration status?

Answer 7

-11x increase in cocker spaniels castrated < 6 months
-7x increase in beagles castrated < 1 year
-9x increase in miniature poodles castrated between 6-11 months, but NOT toy poodles

Question 8

What is the effect of castration on joint disease in mixed breed dogs?

Answer 8

-no effect seen in dogs < 20 kg at adult weight
-3x risk in dogs > 20 kg at adult weight compared to intact dogs of same adult size

Question 9

What is the risk of obesity following OVH?

Answer 9

more likely to become obese within first 2 years of surgery

Question 10

What are the characteristics of urinary incontinence following OVH?

Answer 10

-3x greater risk if spayed < 7 months
-8x greater risk if spayed </= 3 months
-prevalence of 7-9% in german shepherds spayed < 1 year compared to 0% in intact german shepherds
-25% prevalence in dobermans spayed < 6 months

Question 11

What are the risk of neoplasia following OVH?

Answer 11

*westies:
-14% risk of cancer if spayed < 6 months vs 6% risk if spayed < 12 months

*goldens:
-14% risk if intact vs 26% risk if spayed < 6 months

*cocker spaniels:
-17x increase in mast cell tumors if spayed < 2 years

Question 12

How does the risk of joint disease in female golden retrievers vary based on OVH status?

Answer 12

-5 to 8% risk if intact
-13% risk if spayed 6-11 months
-20 to 25% risk if spayed < 6 months

Question 13

How does the risk of joint disease in female labrador retrievers vary based on OVH status?

Answer 13

-5 to 10% risk if intact
-10% risk if spayed < 12 months
-25% risk if spayed < 6 months

Question 14

How does the risk of joint disease in female german shepherds vary based on OVH status?

Answer 14

-5 to 9% risk if intact
-16% risk if spayed < 1 year
-29% risk if spayed < 6 months

Question 15

How does the risk of joint disease in female st. bernards vary based on OVH status?

Answer 15

100% incidence of joint disease if spayed < 6 months

Question 16

What are the current recommendations regarding spay and neuter from fvets?

Answer 16

-age of neutering has no noticeable effect on great danes or dachshunds
-wait until 2+ years in german shepherds and boxers
-time of breed neutering may depend on sex; i.e. male mastiffs at 2+ years, females at 1+ year
-risk of pyo. high in breeds like collies, st. bernards, and mix breeds
-risk of mammary tumors high in cocker and english springer spaniels
-leave male dobermans and female golden retrievers intact due to cancer risks
-leave female shelties and dobermans intact due to incontinence risk

Question 17

What education should be provided to clients regarding spay/neuter timing?

Answer 17

*how to research the internet for appropriate breed information
*clinical signs to look for if surgery is delayed
-related to pyo, pregnancy, prostatic hyperplasia, mammary tumors

*concerning signs if surgery is performed early
-related to incontinence, cruciate rupture, hip dysplasia

*management of intact animals
-females: estrous bleeding, behavior changes, pregnancy prevetion
-males: aggression, roaming, marking

Question 18

What are the characteristics of spay timing in rottweilers?

Answer 18

-mammary cancer risk around 0% if spayed < 2.5 years; around 13.5% if intact
-6- to 12% pyometra risk if intact >/= 4 years
-urinary incontinence risk of 4 to 6% if spayed < 12 months
-2 to 3x greater risk of osteosarcoma if spayed < 12 months
-longer lifespan with more “ovary exposure”

Question 19

What are the characteristics of spay timing in west highland white terriers?

Answer 19

-no increased risk of joint disease with gonadectomy
-risk of pyometra around 7%
-risk of mammary tumors 0%
-risk of urinary continence between 4 to 6% if spayed < 1 year

Question 20

What are the characteristics of prepubertal gonadectomy?

Answer 20

-spay or castration before sexual maturity
-spays at 6 months or younger typically fall into this category
-procedures typically performed around 7 to 16 weeks of age
-incision for puppy spay will be further caudal than in an adult dog (middle third)

Question 21

What are the benefits of early prepubertal gonadectomy?

Answer 21

-less materials
-decreased anesthetic, surgical, and recovery time
-easier
-low complication rate
-increased adoption rates
-avoid issues with neutering compliance

Question 22

What are the characteristics of sterilizing cats before 5.5 months vs leaving them intact?

Answer 22

-decreases aggression, sexual behavior, urine spraying, and hyperactivity
-decreases metabolic rates in females; obesity
-may result in retention of balanopreputial fold
-delays physeal closure (</= 7 months)

Question 23

What are the characteristics of sterilizing cats at 6-7 months vs 7-8 weeks?

Answer 23

-no effect in immune function
-no effect on prevalence of obesity
-no effect on prevalence of diabetes mellitus
-no effect on urethral diameter, FUS incidence, or obstruction in males
-no known increased risk of physeal fractures

Question 24

What are the characteristics of sterilizing a dog at 7 weeks compared to 7 months?

Answer 24

-increased risk of urinary incontinence in females
-infantile vulvas
-infantile penis and prepuce
-delayed physeal closure
-no increase in behavioral-associated surrender
-no effect on training success of guide dogs

Question 25

What are the precautions to consider when performing gonadectomies in very young animals?

Answer 25

-increased abdominal fluid -delicate tissues -testicles small and mobile -increased anesthetic risks; hypothermia, hypoglycemia, decreased drug metabolism -increased risk of post-op parvoviral infections in puppies -limited analgesic options