A note on behavior
Gonadal hormones can have behavioral effects, and hormone-sparing options are appealing to dog owners who do not want changes in behavior (e.g., for performance or hunting dogs). On the other hand, many express the concern that leaving dogs with natural hormone levels will produce undesirable behaviors. This sentiment is common in animal welfare and rescue/shelter communities, with the rationale that dogs may display more inter-male aggression, urine marking, mounting and roaming, which may result in owners abandoning or returning their pets and thus increasing shelter populations.
We are beginning to understand that behavior is under the influence of a number of psychological and physical stimuli, and that no simple straight-line relationship between hormones and undesirable behaviors exists. For example, eliminating testosterone may not make a dog less aggressive. In fact, a recent large survey reported that gonadectomized dogs did not differ from intact dogs in terms of aggression directed toward familiar people or pets, and they actually showed higher levels of aggression toward strangers.5 Dog aggression is a main reason for relinquishment to shelters17 and neutered male dogs were more often surrendered for such behavioral reasons.18 Gonadectomized dogs may also develop more anxiety and fear, and show more cognitive decline than intact dogs.19,20
The dog’s age, breed, personality and environment will impact his/her behavior. When choosing a hormone-sparing method, if a dog evidences behavioral issues later, traditional spay or neuter can then be considered. Keep in mind that castration of adult male dogs may decrease reproductive-related behaviors (urine marking, mounting and roaming) but impacts on other behaviors are variable.21
Alternative options to traditional spay/neuter
It is interesting to note that while gonadectomy is viewed as the standard in the US, it is relatively uncommon in other regions of the world. In Norway and Sweden, for example, there are virtually no stray dogs and neutering is very uncommon, usually only allowable due to health concerns.13
To avoid unwanted pregnancies, responsible pet owners of intact dogs must take special precautions. Females go into heat for a few days once or twice a year and need to be confined in an area without access to intact males. Male dogs should not be allowed to roam freely, as they are incredibly persistent in reaching a female in heat.
Other issues to consider include females bleeding while in heat; behavior changes that may be triggered by changing hormones; the logistics of having both male and female intact dogs in the same house; and health monitoring for diseases of the reproductive organs. Responsible dog owners are expected to manage these issues.
Not all pet owners are ready to keep an intact dog and guarantee that no unwanted pregnancies will occur. Luckily, there are options that will ensure a dog is incapable of reproducing while keeping his/her natural gonadal hormones to protect his/her health.
Females: A hormone-sparing option that sterilizes a female dog involves conducting a hysterectomy (also called ovary-sparing spay or partial spay) by removing the uterus and leaving the ovaries intact. It is important to remove all the uterus to ensure that stump pyometra does not occur.
After the procedure, the female dog is sterile and bleeding is eliminated. The female will still go into heat due to the influence of hormones produced by her ovaries, possibly showing behavioral changes around this time.
Ovarian cancer is often cited as an argument for removing ovaries — but ovarian cancer is rare, and the small risk does not outweigh the health benefits of preserving hormones. However, the dog should be monitored for mammary tumors after middle age. An owner can do this when he/she rubs the dog’s tummy. These tumors are usually benign but should be removed promptly. Veterinarians may wish to establish/offer mammary examination as part of annual wellness checkups for senior dogs.
Tubal ligation has also been practiced in dogs, but pyometra remains an issue, as well as bleeding during heat, making ovary-sparing spay a better option.
Males: For male dogs, a vasectomy sterilizes while sparing testosterone. The procedure involves severing or ligating the vas deferens, the duct that transports sperm. The procedure is quick, less invasive than castration, and not difficult for veterinarians to master.
What are the downsides of testicular preservation? Leaving the testicles and hormones intact means that testicular cancer, perianal gland tumor, and enlarged prostate may occur — but if they arise later in life, they are typically treated via castration. In such a case, the dog’s health still benefitted from years of natural hormones prior to castration. Also, prostate enlargement can now be treated non-invasively with finasteride (Proscar®, Merck) or by using pulsed electromagnetic therapy.14 Hormones will also influence the male dog’s behavior and interest in females in heat, a complex issue discussed below.
Other experimental approaches: The epididymis is the sperm maturation and storage area, making it an ideal target for hormone-sparing sterilization procedures. Injection of a necrotizing agent, such as calcium chloride in alcohol, can effectively disrupt the ability to produce sperm. Leoci and colleagues reported success with this non-surgical approach using ultrasound guidance (personal communication, 2018). The dogs retained normal hormone profiles, yet were sterile. Other options, such as epididymal ligation15 or therapeutic ultrasound,16 are promising approaches that require more refinement for use in companion animals.
What are the risks of spaying and neutering?
Although reproductive hormones cause mating behaviors that may be undesirable for many pet owners, these hormones also affect your pet’s overall health and can be beneficial. Removing your pet’s ovaries or testes removes these hormones and can result in increased risk of health problems such as urinary incontinence and some types of cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about the benefits and risks of the sterilization procedure so you can make an informed decision.
While both spaying and neutering are major surgical procedures, they are also the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians on cats and dogs. Like any surgical procedure, sterilization is associated with some anesthetic and surgical risk, but the overall incidence of complications is very low.
Before the procedure, your pet is given a thorough physical examination to ensure that he/she is in good health. General anesthesia is administered to perform the surgery and medications are given to minimize pain. You will be asked to keep your pet calm and quiet for a few days after surgery as the incision begins to heal.
When to Spay a Female Dog: the true risks and benefits
Getting your pet spayed can be a daunting prospect. Dr. Mychajlonka, also known as Dr. Mych – a veterinarian at Las Vegas’s own Craig Road Animal Hospital, discusses what the various terms and options mean, what the impact on cost these options can have, and how to choose what is best for your pet.
Female cats and dogs should have their reproductive abilities removed if they are not going to be bred. The correct term for this is spaying. Spaying can have significant health benefits for your pet in addition to also preventing the unexpected arrival of kittens, or puppies, which can add to the homeless pet problem.
With a traditional spay the uterus and the ovaries are removed through an incision in the abdomen. Because of the size of the incision, this is a great time to repair an umbilical hernia if your dog or cat has one. An umbilical hernia is a small lump of fatty tissue where the umbilical cord attached to the pet in the womb.
With a laparoscopic spay, sometimes known as a lap spay, only the ovaries are removed and the procedure only requires two mini incisions. The smaller incisions associated with a lap spay cause less post operative pain than with a traditional spay and that leads to a faster recovery time. There is also less need for restricting activities which makes lap spaying great for very active dogs. Because of the additional equipment and people required for a laparoscopic procedure, lap spays tend to be more expensive than lower cost options. At Craig Road Animal Hospital we try to keep the procedure competitively low cost for a spay as possible.
Of course, whether for traditional spaying or for a lap spay, Craig Road will be only too happy to see you and your pet. In addition to the choice between traditional spaying and laparoscopic spaying there are other options that most veterinary practices will offer and need to be thought about. All anesthetic procedures have some inherent risk – most of the items below are about minimizing these risks.
Just like with humans, blood tests are a great way of giving a general snapshot of the health of your dog or cat before any procedure. This becomes particularly important when your pet is over five years of age as that is when problems with the liver and kidneys can appear but have no external symptoms. Liver and kidney function are important because those organs metabolize the anesthesia used in most procedures for dogs and cats. In order to keep a low cost option for owners we offer preoperative blood work as an optional extra depending on the age and medical history of your pet.
An intravenous catheter allows fluids to given to a patient during the procedure – keeping their blood pressure up and keeping the patient hydrated. Additionally, an I.V. Catheter gives the doctor direct access to a vein to give an intravenous injection in an emergency. At Craig Road Animal Hospital we feel that this is so important that we do not have an I.V. Catheter as an optional extra but included in the price of every surgery – including low cost spays and neuters.
Injections and tablets to go home, after a spay, are all about controlling the amount of discomfort your pet experiences post-op (after the operation). Even with laparoscopic procedures there is a certain amount of post operative discomfort so some kind of control is always recommended. At Craig Road, we do not feel that pain control is optional and so it is included in the cost of both traditional and lap spays.
A pet microchip is a small device that is implanted under the skin that is embedded with a unique number. When this number is registered with your contact information it provides an easy way for veterinarians and rescue organizations to reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners. Microchips can be implanted while your pet is awake with just a small amount of discomfort; however, when your pet is being spayed or neutered is a great time to do it as your pet will feel nothing.
For many people spaying their pet is the first veterinary surgical procedure they have ever been involved with, if indeed not the first surgical procedure period! It can be confusing and scary – our job is to answer your questions and give you all the information to make an informed choice about what is right for you and your pet; whether that be a traditional spay vs. a lap spay, pre-operative blood work, I.V. cathers, pain medications and / or pain control.
Please feel free to ask any of our staff next time you are at Craig Road Animal Hospital, give us a call or email, or post in the comments below.