SA Repro Flashcards
Give some indications for an elective ovariohysterectomy
- Eliminates unwanted pregnancies
- Eliminates inconvenience of oestrus
- Decreased risk of mammary neoplasia
Give some indications for an ovariohysterectomy that isn’t elective
Prevention and treatment of: -Pyometra -Metritis -Ovarian/uterine neoplasia -Sub-involution of placental sites -Vaginal hyperplasia -Vaginal prolapse -(Uterine torsion/prolapse-rare) Control of certain diseases: -Diabetes mellitus -Epilepsy -Certain dermatoses (eg generalised Demodex)
What are the benefits of spaying a bitch prior to her first season?
Reduced incidence of mammary neoplasia
Uterine/ovarian vessels are small (les haemorrhage)
Reduced anaesthetic/operating time?
Reduced inconvenience to owner (no seasons)
Likely to have less abdominal fat
What are the disadvantages of spaying a bitch prior to her first season?
Anaesthetic considerations (v. small patients)
Juvenile behaviour? (no evidence)
Juvenile/hypoplastic vulva (caused by obesity, not much of a problem)
Give some contra-indications for spaying before a first season
Juvenile vaginitis (treat conservatively, no ABs) Juvenile USMI (urethral sphincter mechanism incontinence, should resolve after first season)
When in the oestrus cycle should you spay a bitch?
Between seasons, in anoestrus, at least 12 weeks after oestrus
How long after parturition should you spay a bitch?
> 6-8 weeks postpartum (preferably >3 weeks post-weaning)
Could be combined with caesarean
Why should you avoid spaying a bitch that is in season?
Because of increased:
- Size of uterine vessels
- Uterine turgidity
- Bleeding tendency
How does cystic endometrial hyperplasia (pyometra) occur?
Progesterone stimulates growth and activity of endometrial glands, and reduces myometrial activity
Colonisation of abnormal uterus with bacteria -> pyometra
Which stage of the oestrus cycle does pyometra occur in?
When else may is occur?
Luteal phase (ovarian progesterone production) Also, exogenous progestin therapy
Give some clinical signs of pyometra
Signs tend to be more severe with closed Purulent vulval discharge (open) Inappetence Lethargy PUPD Vomiting Pyrexia Dehydration Palpably enlarged uterus
Why is an open pyometra less severe than a closed one?
Bacteria is discharged so does not become systemic
Owner is more likely to notice clinical signs
How do you diagnose pyometra?
History
Biochem (may have raised urea and creatinine)
Haematology (may have mild anaemia)
Urinalysis
Vaginal cytology (will probs see bacteria/neutrophils)
Abdominal radiographs and US (to confirm diagnosis)
How would you identify a closed pyometra on an abdominal US?
Tubular fluid-filled structures with echogenic debris
How do you treat pyometra?
Prompt and aggressive
IVFT
Antibiotics (broad spectrum, bactericidal)
Ovariohysterectomy (same day ASAP)
‘Open’ and ‘closed’ pyometra refers to what?
Whether the cervix is open or closed
How and when would you medically treat pyometra?
Not recommended
Could consider if breeding animal has open pyometra
Prostaglandin therapy (can get adverse reactions)
If treatment is successful, breed at next cycle as likely to develop another pyo
Recurrence is common
How does uterine stump pyometra occur?
Must have progesterone source (endogenous eg incomplete removal of ovaries or exogenous progestational compounds)
When may you suspect incomplete removal of ovarian tissue?
How would you confirm this?
If there’s recurrent oestrus post ovariohysterectomy
Confirm with stimulation tests
Give some causes of a uterine stump granuloma?
Poor aseptic technique
Excessive remaining uterine body
Ligatures of non-absorbable suture material
How do you treat uterine stump granuloma?
Resect remaining uterine body and cervix
How does vaginal hyperplasia/prolapse occur?
Oedematous enlargement of vaginal tissue during pro/oestrus
Mass may be seen protruding from vulval lips
Prolapsed tissue promotes straining
Oedema spontaneously resolves after follicular phase but recurrence likely at next pro/oestrus
How do you treat vaginal hyperplasia/prolapse?
Mild cases can be treated conservatively (collar, lubricate mass, reduce prolapse with purse-string suture around vulva?)
Large masses may require resection
What is an episiotomy?
An incision of the vulval orifice to allow access to the vagina/vestibule
Give some indications for episiotomy?
Surgical exploration of vagina
Excision of vaginal masses
Repair of vaginal lacerations post-mating
Treatment of strictures or congenital defects
Exposure of the urethral papilla
Facilitation of manual foetal extraction
What is episioplasty?
Reconstructive procedure to remove excess skin folds around the vulva
Why might you perform an episioplasty?
To remove excess skin folds which have caused peri-vulval dermatitis (rare consequence of speying prior to a first season)
What are the 3 general categories of ovarian neoplasia?
Epithelial (eg papillary adenoma/adenocarcinoma)
Sex-cord stromal cell (most common, eg granulosa cell tumour)
Germ cell (least common, eg teratoma)
What can papillary adenocarcinomas of the ovaries cause?
Malignant abdominal effusions
Give some consequences of a sex-cord stromal cell ovarian tumour
Ability to produce progesterone (pyometra) Ability to produce oestrogen: -Persistent oestrus -Serosanguinous vulval discharge -Vulval enlargement -Alopecia -Aplastic pancytopenia
Give some clinical signs of ovarian neoplasia
Often asymptomatic until develop signs referable to an abdominal mass Hormonal dysfunction (depending on tumour type) Malignant effusion
How can you investigate ovarian neoplasia?
?Palpable mid-abdominal mass Haem/biochem Radiography (plain abdominal, thoracic, IV urogram) Abdominal US Abdominocentesis Exploratory coeliotomy
How do you treat ovarian neoplasia?
Ovariohysterectomy
? Chemotherapy depending on histological type of tumour
The majority of canine uterine neoplasias are of which origin?
Mesenchymal
85-80% are leiomyomas
Give some clinical signs of uterine neoplasias
May compress adjacent viscera causing associated clinical signs
May rarely cause secondary vaginal discharge/pyometra
How would you diagnose canine uterine neoplasias?
Abdominal and thoracic radiographs
Abdominal US
How would you treat canine uterine neoplasia?
Ovariohysterectomy
Removal of metastatic foci
Feline uterine neoplasias are mainly which tumour type?
Adenocarcinoma
What is the commonest tumour in the bitch?
Mammary neoplasia
Majority of malignant tumours are carcinomas
Caudal mammary glands most affected
Incidence of canine mammary neoplasia increases after how long?
6 years old
Describe inflammatory carcinomas
Difficult to diagnose from mastitis on clinical exam and cytology
Rapid growth, invade cutaneous lymphatics
Usually poor demarcation, oedema, inflammation
Often ulceration, rash-like appearance
Poor prognosis
What % of feline mammary tumours are malignant?
Most are which tumour type?
95%
Adenocarcinomas