Today we are going to discuss all of the different ways you can spay a female dog and what you, as a pet parent, need to consider when making this decision for your dog.

The first decision you will need to make is which modality of surgery your pet will receive. Your two options are:

1. Traditional/open surgery
2. Laparoscopic

While traditional/open surgery tends to be less expensive, laparoscopic surgery is better in almost every other metric. Laparoscopic surgeries are less painful, get your pet back to playtime much faster, have fewer complications, and the anesthesia is safer than traditional open surgery since it isn’t as traumatic to their bodies. Please see our webpage on our laparoscopic spays (LOVE spay) to learn more about the procedure and its benefits.

The next decision is which surgery your pet should have: an ovariectomy (OVE), ovariohysterectomy (OVH, OHE), or a hysterectomy (ovary sparing spay, OSS)?

Here is a simplified drawing of the dog reproductive tract:

The main procedure that we perform at Coastal Animal Hospital is a (laparoscopic) ovariectomy. An ovariectomy is a procedure where only the ovaries are removed.

If performed in a young dog, an ovariectomy will:

• Prevent pregnancy
• Prevent heat cycles
• Prevent pyometra
• Prevent ovarian issues
• Prevent mammary cancer
• Prevent uterine issues

Most veterinary hospitals around the country perform an ovariohysterectomy. An ovariohysterectomy is where both the ovaries and the uterus are removed.

If performed in a young dog, an ovariohysterectomy will:

• Prevent pregnancy
• Prevent heat cycles
• Prevent pyometra
• Prevent ovarian issues
• Prevent mammary cancer
• Prevent uterine issues

If both an ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy accomplish the same things, then why would you choose one over the other? 

The only benefit of performing an ovariohysterectomy is if the uterus is diseased and needs to come out. Fortunately this is very uncommon. Otherwise, the less invasive ovariectomy is all that is needed. Also, there is less tissue trauma and fewer complications that are possible with an ovariectomy vs. an ovariohysterectomy. So why are the majority of vets out there still performing an ovariohysterectomy? Unfortunately there is not a good answer. It mostly is because that is what they have always done and change is slow to happen in the profession.

The third option would be to leave the ovaries and only remove the uterus. This is called a hysterectomy or more commonly, an ovary sparing spay.

In this procedure, you must remove the uterus and the cervix to ensure that all uterine tissue has been removed. If any is left behind, the pet is at risk of developing significant uterine issues as the hormones will still be active and will continue to stimulate the uterus. 

If performed in a young dog, an ovary sparing spay will:

• Prevent pregnancy
• Prevent pyometra
• Prevent uterine issues

It will not:

• Prevent heat cycles
• Prevent ovarian issues
• Prevent mammary cancer

If this procedure doesn’t have all of the same benefits of an ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy, why would someone choose this? 

Some of the proposed benefits surround preservation of their hormones:

• Prevents a slower metabolism post OVE or OVH which can lead to weight gain
• Possibly lowers the risk of other types of cancer (bone cancer, lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma)
• Possibly minimizes the risk of some joint diseases
• Other health benefits may exist but have not been proven out as of yet. 

However, there are downsides to the procedure to also consider:

• Continued heat cycles: Pets will continue to cycle which can attract male dogs. During heat cycles, they may also have bleeding or vaginal discharge. 
• Risk of vaginal rupture if bred: Because the entire cervix needs to be removed during the procedure to prevent the risk of a stump pyometra, if a small dog is mounted by a larger male, there is a risk of vaginal rupture and sperm peritonitis, which can be fatal. 
• Social events and boarding options may be limited: Most dog daycare facilities and many boarding facilities will not accept females that still have their ovaries. Intact female dogs may also lead to undesirable social interactions at dog parks, dog beach, etc. due to the continued presence of hormones that are detectable by the other dogs. 
• Risk of mammary cancer: While there are some studies which suggest the risk of certain types of cancers may be lower in intact females, other cancers are a higher risk. Your pet will need to be monitored closely for mammary cancer as a large percentage can be an aggressive form of cancer. 
• Risk undergoing a second surgery to remove the ovaries in the future: In a recent study, upwards of 29% of the patients that underwent an OSS ended up needing to have their ovaries removed, either for health problems associated with the ovaries (one dog even developed diabetes that resolved when the ovaries were removed) or due to the owners tiring of managing their dog’s heat cycles. 
• Lack of Long-term Research: There is still limited long-term research on the benefits and potential drawbacks of ovary-sparing spaying, so its long-term effects are not fully understood.

In evaluating all of the suggested benefits as well as the downsides, we feel the downsides of an ovary sparing spay outweigh the potential benefits and therefore we do not recommend the procedure. We feel that the less invasive laparoscopic ovariectomy (vs. traditional ovariohysterectomy performed at most vet clinics) is the best option that minimizes pain, recovery time, and minimizes the downsides associated with remaining intact.

These are the 3 different ways you can spay a dog. If you have any questions about which is right for your pet, schedule a consultation to speak with one of our veterinarians.