Ovary Sparing Spay--OSS

[Horsegal984]

[QUOTE=Megaladon;8714908]
My gathering of the OP was prevention of cancer. The dog with the vasectomy is looking at cancer. I’m not sure why my opinion offends you and the other poster so much?

Keysfins, I wish you all the luck with your girl.[/QUOTE]

The OP is looking at deadly cancers, Hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma are two of the hardest cancers to treat with the worst success rates. Mammary tumors are much easier to monitor for and treat than either sarcoma.

While I don’t have experience with it in my pets I do know a Bernese Mountain dog who had one ovary left to help prevent cancer and spay incontinence. She later had that ovary removed (not sure why) and almost immediately devloped spay incontinence. It’s something I would consider for one of my dogs in the future.

[Simkie]

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;8714992]
While I don’t have experience with it in my pets I do know a Bernese Mountain dog who had one ovary left to help prevent cancer and spay incontinence. She later had that ovary removed (not sure why) and almost immediately devloped spay incontinence. It’s something I would consider for one of my dogs in the future.[/QUOTE]

Interesting info on the Berner, horsegal! I wonder why only one ovary was left.

[Horsegal984]

[QUOTE=Simkie;8715009]
Interesting info on the Berner, horsegal! I wonder why only one ovary was left.[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure. I know it can be difficult to find the right one sometimes so it was the left one they kept, maybe just to make it easier later if there were problems. I wish I could remember now why we removed it, I want to say that she was exhibiting behaviorial problems during her heat periods.

[animaldoc]

[QUOTE=keysfins;8714721]
Maybe the links have not been clear, or have not been read. Or have been read, but have been dismissed. [/QUOTE]
But even in the links they discuss differences in dogs that were spayed after age 4, or protective benefits when dogs weren’t spayed until age 6. No one knows the risk/benefit ratio and what age is best - so for your dog at 5.5, has she gotten maximal benefit from her ovaries as far as longevity and osteosarcoma? Possibly, so why keep them further and increase the risk of mammary/ovarian cancers?

@keysfins;8714721

It is clear that you have not chosen this alternative, unless you’re holding out on me and have experience with bitches who have had the OSS procedure. If you have, please let me know what the outcome has been in those bitches, and what your role in animal care is to have experience with the outcomes.

I work ER so I get to see lots of pyometras (some intact bitches and some after OSS) - so then it becomes an emergency surgery instead of an elective. As far as how they do, it depends on how sick they are when they come in. There aren’t as many people around doing OSS, so of course it is impossible to tell what % of dogs having had that surgery go on to develop stump pyos (or mammary/ovarian cancers)- maybe I see only the unlucky ones.

This is the same as the debate about when to neuter males - ever? Later if they are doing sports to protect their joints? How late is late enough? Early if it is a shelter dog and they may roam and produce a litter? How early is too early? There are lots of opinions, and little evidence.

Since you’re in CO, you should go see Dr. Milan Hess (therio) in Littleton (http://covetspec.com/) - she should be able to better answer the “how long to keep the ovaries for maximum benefit” question. I believe she recommends leaving only the left ovary as well.

[keysfins]

Animaldoc, thank you! That is just the sort of information that I am looking for as I decide the best option for our particular circumstances. You were holding out. :lol:

I do appreciate what you’ve posted here— when is the right age/time, how to decide when a female has attained the maximum benefit of hormonal exposure, and what are some follow-on outcomes of OSS—these are also the questions that I am asking.

And you’re right, I don’t think there are necessarily concrete answers to these questions, especially with respect to OSS. It IS a relatively new procedure, and few practitioners offer it, or are even aware of it.

Every situation has its own risks and benefits to weigh. I am in that process right now, searching for as many resources as I can to make an informed decision. I especially appreciate your suggestion to consult with Dr. Hess, who is local to me. I will post a follow up when I do speak with her.

Again, many thanks for your post.

[keysfins]

HoundHill, your PM mailbox seems to be full. Tried to send a PM but it won’t go through.

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=keysfins;8718347]
HoundHill, your PM mailbox seems to be full. Tried to send a PM but it won’t go through.[/QUOTE]

Sorry! Just deleted a bunch, it may work now, but if not, my email is houndhill1@msn.com

Hope that is OK to say!

[keysfins]

Just re-sent the PM, hope you got it.

[Houndhill]

Thanks, I just sent a PM, hope you got it!