MAMMARY CANCER PREVENTION

A female dog spayed before her first heat will have a near zero chance of developing mammary cancer. After the first heat, this incidence of tumor development climbs to 7% and after the second heat the risk is 25% (one in four!). It is easy to see that an early spay can completely prevent what is frequently a very difficult and potentially fatal form of cancer.

But is it too late if a dog is already past her second heat? No, in fact spaying is important even in female dogs who already have obvious tumors. This is because many mammary tumors are stimulated by estrogens; removing the ovaries, the source of estrogens, will help retard tumor spread.

Spaying removes the uterus and both ovaries and is crucial in the prevention as well as the treatment of mammary cancer.

(Original graphic by marvistavet.com)

   

SUMMING UP PYOMETRA

• PYOMETRA IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON DISEASE OF UNSPAYED FEMALE DOGS.
  (ONE IN FOUR UNSPAYED FEMALE DOGS WHO HAVE SURVIVED TO AGE 10 WILL GET IT.)
  
  
• WITHOUT TREATMENT THE DOG WILL DIE.
  
  
• TREATMENT IS EXPENSIVE.
  
  
• TREATMENT INVOLVES SURGERY IN A POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE PATIENT.
  (MORTALITY RATES WITH SURGERY HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS HIGH AS 17%.)
  
  
• SPAYING PREVENTS THE WHOLE THING.
  
  

Spaying of female dogs has been mandatory in the city of Los Angeles since 2008. It is also mandatory for Culver City, Marina del Rey, and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. This means it is not legal to own an unspayed female dog in these areas. Exceptions include law enforcement dogs, dogs currently in competition training, service dogs and dogs with a medical exemption. Fines begin at $100. The city came to this resolution largely because of the huge expenses associated with its overcrowded shelter system and its euthanasia rate of approximately 4000 unwanted dogs and cats PER MONTH. This problem comes down to one of population control; education has been inadequate to solve the problem as has simply charging $100 vs $10 to license unsterilized dogs. Spaying provides irreplaceable health benefits to the pet, convenience to the pet owner, benefit to the community, and it is now legally required.

(Photocredit: Mysid via Wikimedia Commons)

(Original graphic by marvistavet.com)

It is very important that the patient has not been fed in at least 8 hours. Anesthetic medications commonly induce nausea and vomiting can be very dangerous in a sedated patient (vomit can be inhaled/aspirated leading to pneumonia).

A preoperative evaluation is performed; blood work is recommended for older females and may be recommended as a normal preanesthetic consideration. An intravenous catheter may be placed to facilitate the administration of anesthetic drugs, for any fluid administration, and for use in case of emergency. This necessitates shaving a small patch of skin on one of the legs.

(Original graphic by marvistavet.com)

A tranquilizer or other pre-anesthetic medication may be administered to ease the induction of anesthesia. A special medication is given intravenously to induce sleep. This medication is called an "induction agent" and lasts only long enough to establish the maintenance of anesthesia by the inhalant anesthetic (gas). Once the pet is asleep, an tube is placed in the throat to insure that a clear airway is maintained through out the procedure.

Sometimes a cough is noted for a couple of days after surgery. This may have been caused by the tube in the throat. Such coughs only last a couple of days; anything that persists longer should be
re-evaluated.

(Original graphic by marvistavet.com)

The tube is hooked up to a special machine to deliver a specific concentration of inhalant gas mixed in 100% oxygen. A special technician is assigned to the monitoring of this pet so that the concentration of inhalant gas can be changed as needed and patient mucous membrane color, heart rate, respiration and other parameters are followed.

In the surgical prep area, the abdomen is shaved and scrubbed. The bladder is emptied and the patient is moved to a surgical suite, where she is draped with special cloths or papers to isolate the area where surgery will take place.

An incision is made on the midline of the abdomen, and the three points where the ovaries and uterus attaches are tied off and cut. The abdomen is checked for bleeding and two or three layers of stitches are placed to close the incision.

(Original graphic by marvistavet.com)

It is helpful to know that should the skin stitches come out, there are two layers below holding everything closed. Sometimes skin stitches are not placed but if they are present, you will need to return in 10-14 days to have them removed.

The anesthesia technician continues monitoring until the pet dog wakes up and coughs out the throat tube. The patient is kept in an observation room until she is able to walk.

Our hospital feels strongly that a night in the hospital is important to an uneventful recovery. This night in the hospital is analogous to strict bed rest, just what you would expect to be needed after a major abdominal surgery. This night also allows for proper administration of pain medication for a longer time period as well as a post-operative check up with the doctor the morning after surgery.

(Original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Dogs who show a propensity to lick their stitches will need an Elizabethan or "E" collar to restrict access to the stitches. This is not very comfortable for the dog but must be used strictly until the stitches are out and the incision is healed.

Activity should be restricted during the week following surgery. Excessive activity can lead to swelling or fluid accumulation under the incision or even worse, an actual tear in the internal incision line. If a fluid pocket does form, it should resolve on its own after a few weeks. If something has torn inside, obviously the situation is more serious so it is prudent to have any incision swelling inspected by the vet's office. Fluid drainage from the incision would also be reason for a recheck.