Spays And Neuters

Question 1

When should you neuter felines? Canines?

Answer 1

6 months for felines and canine small breeds
Around 1 yr to year and a half for large breeds
Small breeds reach skeletal maturity around 6 months

Question 2

Why do we neuter felines

Answer 2

Eliminate unwanted litters
Decreases risk of inappropriate urination or spraying

Question 3

Why do we neuter canines

Answer 3

Eliminate unwanted litters
Decreases running away and unwanted male behaviors
Decrease occurrence of prostatic disease

Question 4

What is the medical term for a neuter and how is it completed

Answer 4

Orchiectomy
Complete removal of testicles
Suture canines closed
Felines left open to heal by second intention

Question 5

When should you spay a feline? Canine?

Answer 5

Felines at 6 months
Canine small breeds at 6 months
Canine large breeds 1 yr to 1.5 yrs

Question 6

What kind of ovulators are felines

Answer 6

Induced ovulators

Question 7

When do dogs go into heat

Answer 7

Their first heat cycle is 8 months
Go into heat every 6 months
You want to spay a dog 2-3 months after first heat cycle

Question 8

Why do you spay felines

Answer 8

Decrease chance of mammary cancer
Prevent unwanted litters
Eliminate behavioral changes
Decrease chances of inappropriate urination

Question 9

Why do you spay canines

Answer 9

Decrease chance of mammary cancer
Prevent pyometra which is potentially life threatening infection

Question 10

What is the medical term for a spay

Answer 10

Ovariohysterectomy
Removal of ovaries and a majority of the uterus
Ovariectomy is removal of just the ovary

Question 11

What kind of surgery is a laparoscopic spay

Answer 11

Ovariectomy
Two small incisions for the instrument and camera

Question 12

What are the benefits of a laparoscopic spay

Answer 12

Operating time, total scar length, recovery time, less pain, less blood loss

Question 13

When and why do you spay rabbits

Answer 13

Ovariectomies at 6 months of age
Spay to try to avoid uterine adenocarcinoma which is the most common cancer in rabbits

Question 14

What is dystocia

Answer 14

Difficulty birthing, head and birth canal don’t match
Usually in brachycephalic breeds
Increased rinks in large litters

Question 15

What are the clinical signs of dystocia

Answer 15

Contractions for over an hour with no babies produced
Visibly stuck neonate in vaginal canal

Question 16

How do you treat dystocia

Answer 16

Calcium gluconate which helps strengthen uterine contractions
Oxytocin which increases frequency in uterine contractions
C-section
Brachycephalic breeds are usually scheduled for c-sections to avoid dystocia

Question 17

What is pyometra and when does it typically occur

Answer 17

Pus filled uterus
An open pyometra is mucoid or purulent vulvar discharge
A closed pyometra means none to minimal vulvar discharge
Usually occurs a few weeks after last heat

Question 18

What are the clinical signs of pyometra

Answer 18

Anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, vulvar discharge, polyuria

Question 19

How can you diagnose pyometra

Answer 19

Bloodwork where you may see leukocytes
Radiographs where you may see an enlarged uterus
Ultrasound where you may see enlarge fluid filled uterus

Question 20

How can you treat pyometra

Answer 20

Surgical removal especially closed pyometra
Medical management such as antibiotics which is only for open pyometra

Question 21

What is a mammary carcinoma

Answer 21

Mammary gland tumor that usually affects older to Middle Aged dogs and cats

Question 22

What is the most important thing regarding mammary carcinomas

Answer 22

Timing for the spay is critical and related to the risk of developing mammary cancer

Question 23

Clinical signs of mammary carcinoma

Answer 23

Firm mass in mammary gland
Multiple tumors which is common in dogs

Question 24

How do you diagnose mammary carcinomas

Answer 24

Biopsy, histopathy, fine needle aspirate but this isn’t helpful in determining benign or malignant

Question 25

How do you treat a mammary carcinoma

Answer 25

Surgical excision with a partial or full mastectomy
Chemotherapy

Question 26

What is a chryptorchidism

Answer 26

Failure of one or both testes to descend in the scrotum
Usually inherited so you don’t want to breed these animals

Question 27

In a unilateral chryptochrid what is true

Answer 27

The riget testicle is 2x more likely to be retained as the left

Question 28

What is true of a retained testicle

Answer 28

It has a 10x greater chance of developing testicular neoplasia

Question 29

Clinical signs of chryptorchidism

Answer 29

One or no testicles palpated

Question 30

How can you diagnose chryptorchidism

Answer 30

Can be seen as early as 8 weeks
Definitive diagnose by 6 months

Question 31

How do you treat chryptorchidism

Answer 31

Surgical removal of both testes

Question 32

What is a benign prostatic hyperplasia

Answer 32

Enlargement of the prostate gland due to sterile neoplastic causes
Usually affects intact male dogs and rarely cats

Question 33

What are clinical signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Answer 33

Tenesmus which is frequent urge to defecate
Bloody urethral discharge not really associated with urination
Enlarged prostate on rectal exam

Question 34

How do you diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia

Answer 34

Prostatomegaly on rectal exam
Ultrasound with can help rule out prostatomegaly
Abdominal radiographs with shows enlarged prostate

Question 35

How do you treat benign prostate hyperplasia

Answer 35

Neuter
Antibiotics
Anti inflammatories