Orchiectomy/Neuter- What is it:
Orchiectomy (Neuter) is a procedure, performed by a veterinarian, that includes the surgical removal of both testicles. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. In adult dogs, a single incision is placed just in front of the scrotum, from which both testicles are removed. The “testicular pedicles”, containing the blood supply and spermatic cord, are ligated (tied off) and the testicle is cut away. The incision is then closed with skin sutures. In cats, one or two incisions are made directly over the scrotum. The testicles are exteriorized, and the pedicles are ligated. The incision(s) for cat neuters are typically left open and allowed to heal closed on their own.
Ovariohysterectomy/Spay- What is it:
Ovariohysterectomy (Spay) is a procedure, performed by a veterinarian, that includes the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Typically, an incision is made at the midline of the abdomen and then the ovaries and uterus are identified. Once identified, the “ovarian pedicle” (containing the blood supply for the ovary) and the uterus are clamped, ligated (tied off), and cut away. The incision is closed with sutures or staples. Laparoscopic spays or ovariectomies (ovary removal only) may be considered for some pets, but not all pets are good candidates, and not all veterinary clinics offer these services. If you are interested in learning more about laparoscopic spays or ovariectomy, and if they may be an option for your pet, please contact your veterinarian.
Benefits of Neutering:
- Health Benefits:
- Neutering prevents cancer of the testicles and prostate.
- Greatly decreased chance of prostate diseases such as enlarged prostate and prostatitis.
- Neutering can reduce the risk of developing perianal hernia and specific perianal tumors.
- Neutering helps reduce the spread of certain diseases
- Population Control:
- Neutering helps with overpopulation by decreasing the number of unwanted/unplanned pregnancies.
- Control of overpopulation will help reduce the number of unwanted pets that end up homeless and in shelters.
- Behavioral Benefits:
- Decreased aggressive tendencies, especially between pets living in the same household.
- Neutering helps decrease inappropriate behavioral urination and curb unwanted marking of territory.
- Intact males tend to roam to find mates, which increases their risk of being hit by a car, getting into fights, and ending up in shelters.
Benefits of Spaying:
- Health Benefits:
- Spaying prevents uterine and ovarian cancer and may reduce the risk of developing mammary cancer.
- Eliminates the risk of developing a life-threatening uterine infection called Pyometra.
- Spaying contributes to reducing the spread of disease
- Population Control:
- Spaying prevents unwanted/unplanned pregnancies, which contributes to reducing overpopulation.
- Control of overpopulation will help reduce the number of unwanted pets that end up homeless and in shelters.
- Behavioral Benefits:
- Spaying will decrease unwanted male attention. Unwanted male attention can result in aggressive tendencies, especially between pets living in the same household
- Spaying helps decrease inappropriate behavioral urination
- Intact females may roam while in heat, which increases their risk of being hit by a car, getting into fights, and ending up in shelters.
- Spaying a cat may make them calmer and more affectionate
- Eliminates heat cycles: A spayed canine will no longer experience the bloody discharge that occurs during each heat cycle. A spayed feline will no longer experience the restlessness and excessive vocalizing that occurs while in heat.
Recovering from Surgery- What to Expect :
Immediately following the procedure your pet may be groggy, nauseous, or inappetent due to the anesthesia and/or pain. Pain medication will be provided to manage the pain and inflammation associated with the surgery site. While the incision heals it may become itchy. The standard healing time is about two weeks, During the recovery period it is imperative that your pet remain calm and that they are not messing with their incisions. An E-collar (cone) or surgical suit must be worn during recovery to prevent licking, scratching, or chewing at the incision. Some pets may find it difficult to keep calm during recovery and would benefit from a mild sedative to encourage rest while healing.
Surgical Risks:
- Pre-operative Patient Risk: conditions that may increase the chance of complications or contribute to making the surgery more challenging. Pre-operative/anesthetic exams and lab work are important for assessing and managing a patient’s surgical/anesthetic risk. Pre-operative risks include:
- Obesity
- In-heat female
- Recently postpartum
- Pregnancy
- Previous abdominal surgeries
- Comorbidities: other health conditions the pet may be dealing with, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, that increase the chance of complications secondary to anesthesia or the surgery itself. These comorbidities may include, but are currently not limited to; heart murmur/heart disease, metabolic disorders, bleeding disorders, infections, illness, etc.
- Post-operative Risk: As with any surgery, no matter how routine it is, there are potential risks, including:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Damage to other organs
Special Considerations/Disadvantages of Spay/Neuter:
Many factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to spay or neuter a pet. Spay/Neuter procedures, while routine, are considered elective surgeries not without risk and in some cases disadvantages. The pros and cons of spaying or neutering must be evaluated and weighed for each individual animal to allow owners to make informed decisions best suited for their pets. It was not that long ago that the widespread recommendation was to have your pet altered at 6 months of age; this generalized recommendation, while still valid for some animals, is no longer considered appropriate for all. Over the last few years, several studies have been published detailing new breed-specific spay/neuter timeline recommendations. These articles suggest delaying spaying and neutering, for certain breeds, until after a year (or longer in some large breed dogs), as altering too early can increase the risk of developing certain cancers and joint disorders. Instead of providing generalized spay-neuter recommendations, veterinarians are now considering a dog’s breed, sex, age, and overall health status when assisting owners in deciding whether to alter their pets.
Special Circumstances:
- Cryptorchid Male: Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. A cryptorchid testicle may be stuck within the abdomen (abdominal cryptorchid) or the subcutaneous fat in the inguinal region (inguinal cryptorchid). Complications associated with being a cryptorchid include infertility, increased risk of testicular tumors, testicular torsion, and inguinal hernias. This condition is genetic, and the affected animals should not be bred. The treatment of choice is neutering, making sure to remove the cryptorchid testicle. Sometimes the cryptorchid testicle(s) can be challenging to find and advanced imaging or hormonal testing is necessary to assist in the successful retrieval and removal.
- Ovarian Remnant: is a condition where a portion of an ovary is left behind following a spay procedure. When any part of the ovary is left behind the animal will continue to produce
- Scrotal Ablation: a procedure that includes removing the scrotal tissue along with the testicles. Often recommended for older, large-breed dogs to remove excess skin, reduce dead space, and decrease the risk for scrotal hematomas.
- Gastropexy: a prophylactic procedure that involves tacking the stomach to the abdominal wall, which is intended to prevent Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV) or “bloat”. GDV is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency surgery. Often recommended for deep-chested breeds that are predisposed to developing GDV. Not all dogs are good candidates for this procedure, but for those who are a gastropexy can be performed at the same time as a routine spay/neuter.
- Retain Deciduous Teeth: Deciduous teeth, otherwise known as baby teeth, typically all fall out on their own by the time a pet is six months of age. Occasionally baby teeth remain long after they should have fallen out on their own. Retained deciduous teeth cause dental crowding and increase tartar build-up which can lead to early and more severe periodontal disease. To prevent this, it is recommended to remove retained deciduous teeth which can be performed at the same time as a routine spay/neuter.
Alternative Sterilization Therapies:
If you are interested in an alternative to transitional spay/neuter, there may be several options to consider. However, many alternative treatments are still being researched and developed, most have limited availability, and they are often more expensive than traditional spay/neuter. Please consult with your veterinarian about the possible alternative sterilization therapies that may be available for your pet. As research into alternative sterilization techniques continues, we may look forward to more widely available and cost-effective options in the future.
- Non-Surgical Options:
- Injectable or implantable hormone treatments: ongoing research and development and limited widespread availability at this time.
- Calcium Chloride Injections into the epididymis (Male only): ultrasound-guided, requires specialized training, limited availability as few veterinarians perform this therapy.
- Gene therapy: ongoing research and development and limited widespread availability at this time
- Other: research into the development of sterilization vaccines and additional methods are ongoing, and while not currently available may be valid considerations in the future.
- Hormone Sparing Surgical Options:
- Ovary Sparing Spay (OSS): surgical removal of the uterus while leaving the ovaries intact. A female that received an OSS is still producing sex hormones and thus will still cycle normally and come into heat. While OSS will prevent the female from becoming pregnant, if the entirety of the uterus has not been removed the female may still experience bloody discharge during the heat and may develop a stump pyometra (remaining uterine tissue becomes infected). This procedure also negates the other benefits of eliminating the sex hormones (e.g. roaming behaviors, aggression, and increased risk for certain types of cancer). To ensure the removal of the entire uterus and cervix a larger incision is required, which may lead to additional anesthesia time, increased post-operative pain, and an extended recovery period. This is not a widely available treatment, as not all veterinarians perform this service. Not all pets will be good candidates for this procedure, however, for some special cases OSS may be a good option for your pet.
- Vasectomy: the testicles remain intact, but the vas deferens (spermatic cord) are cut or clamped, effectively blocking sperm from exiting the urethra during ejaculation. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia and is more technical than traditional neuters. Not all veterinarians are trained in this procedure, making widespread availability limited.
Conclusions:
Spaying and neutering offer many benefits but are not void of risks or disadvantages. It is important to consider a pet’s breed, sex, age, and overall health status when deciding to spay or neuter.
