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Spaying bitches: why, when, how?

02 October 2018
Clinical
8 mins read
02 October 2018
Volume 9 · Issue 8

Abstract

Spaying is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the UK, and yet there is little in the way of consistency among practices in the advice given to owners wishing to have their bitch neutered. Opinions are often conflicting in terms of pros and cons of spaying, timing of spaying and whether the uterus and ovaries should be removed, or just the ovaries. This article considers some of the available evidence and tries to resolve some of the ambiguity where possible.

Performing spay surgery on a bitch is one of the most common surgeries undertaken at first opinion veterinary practices. It is also one of the most controversial surgeries, with many people (veterinary surgeons, nurses and lay people) having firm views on three main aspects:

Sadly, there is no one answer to all these questions, so some controversy must necessarily remain: however, a review of some of the literature may help the practice nurse advise clients better on their neutering decisions.

In Sweden, until 2012 it was illegal to spay a bitch (other than for a medical reason). Although that law has now been slightly relaxed, a study during that time showed that approximately 25% of bitches will have had pyometra (Figure 1) by the time they reach 10 years of age (Egenvall et al, 2001). Since pyometra is a potentially life-threatening illness, which can be prevented by spaying, this in itself may provide an argument for recommending spaying for all bitches. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) published a policy document in 2014 which ‘strongly supports the practice of …spaying of bitches’ (www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/policy/Companion…/Neutering/). The policy document listed the benefits of spaying as: avoiding the potential distress of pseudopregnancy, removing the risk of pyometra, reducing the risk of mammary tumours and the cessation of oestrus (thus obviating the need for seclusion of a bitch while in heat).

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neutering
ovariectomy
ovariohysterectomy
pyometra
mammary tumours