This spaying option helps in preserving important hormones, which aids in maintaining the overall health of the animal.
Pet owners can feel hesitant to spay pets due to concerns about the possible untoward health effects. However, there is a surgical option available known as ovary-sparing spaying, which means that the ovaries are left as such, but the reproductive system is disrupted in order to prevent pregnancy. Your dog will still have the hormones because her ovaries are still producing them. These sex steroid hormones impart a favorable impact on the overall health of the animal – and some of them are listed below.
1. Reduced risk of certain health issues
Ovary-sparing spaying can provide many health benefits including:
- Lower incidence of cranial cruciate rupture
- Less vaccine-related adverse events on average
- Evidence of longer life expectancy
- Lower occurrence of hemangiosarcoma, a malignancy that typically affects the heart or spleen
- Lower occurrence of bone cancer and osteosarcoma
- Lower risk of bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma)
- Lower prevalence of obesity, which may be influenced by an increase in metabolic rate.
- Decreased likelihood of urinary tract infections
- Reduced prevalence of hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis
2. Reduced risk of certain behavioral issues
Ovary-sparing spaying can reduce the risk of certain behavioral issues. The procedure helps in preserving important hormones that are involved in regulating behavior resulting in:
- Less violence toward both humans and animals
- Less cognitive dysfunction on average
- Less anxiety, phobias of noise, and inappropriate sexual behavior
3. Preservation of normal growth and development
Ovary-sparing spaying preserves the normal hormone levels that are involved in growth and development. The lengths (and consequently weights) of specific bones relative to others, as well as other substantial changes in body proportions, are frequently brought on by aberrant growth in the absence of normal hormone levels. Orthopedic issues are more common in dogs who lack sex hormones. These hormones are essential for reaching maximal bone density.
Sex steroid hormones are known to have a range of advantages, which vary depending on breed, sex, and age. It is therefore in the best interest of each individual patient that their veterinarian evaluates the risks and benefits of removing the ovaries versus the alternatives like an ovary-sparing spay and that you have your veterinarian advise you on what is appropriate for each individual pet at each stage of its life.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Dr. Omer Rashid earned his veterinary degree in 2002 from University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and quickly followed that with a Master’s degree in Parasitology. He worked for several years in veterinary practice with small animals, as well as horses and livestock. He studied advanced pharmacology at Charles Darwin University in Australia, and discovered his love for writing while working as a science writer for a research company with clients such as Harvard, Stanford and Cambridge universities. Along the way, Dr. Rashid developed an interest in integrative veterinary health, and he joined Redstone Media Group as Associate Editor of IVC Journal and veterinary content developer in 2022.
