Johnsons Veterinary Products Bitch Spray,X-Large

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Interestingly enough, it would appear that spaying increases the expected lifespan of a bitch ( Michel, 1999; Hoffman et al, 2013; Howe, 2015). The average lifespan of a bitch may well increase by a little over 1 year if spayed ( O'Neill et al, 2013), although this seems to depend very much on dog breed and size. It is uncertain what is responsible for the increased lifespan, although changes to telomere length (a part of the chromosome that is responsible for ageing changes) in neutered or nulliparous individuals has been postulated ( Perls et al, 2002). Disadvantages Urinary incontinence Responsible dog ownership and responsible dog breeding seldom go hand-in-hand: figures from the Dogs Trust suggest that around 50 000 dogs are abandoned each year ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34413490). Clearly, neutering will help reduce the risk of unwanted litters (although it will not necessarily improve responsible breeding). Unfortunately, there is little agreement in the available literature on the optimum age for spaying. As mentioned above, the evidence for reduction in mammary tumours when spaying prepubertal bitches is scant, but there may be some merit in doing so ( Arlt et al, 2017). Similarly, the risks of post spay urinary incontinence are not fully known (Beauvais et al; 2002), although the general recommendation is to delay spaying until after 3–4 months in some breeds ( Howe, 2015), possibly later than 12 months in certain larger breeds ( Hart et al, 2016). Again, both of these studies were retrospective, and dealt with quite restricted populations of bitches, so the evidence is far from conclusive. It would make sense that bitches in rescue centres should be considered for juvenile spaying, as this reduces the risk of unwanted litters; it is less clear what advice to give private owners. The author currently advises his clients to consider juvenile spaying (3 months onwards) for bitches whose ultimate weight is likely to be <15 kg, and 6 months of age for those with an expected adult weight of >15 kg. Ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy? This is important, as there is an increasing trend to laparoscopic ( Figures 4 and 5), or ‘keyhole’ spaying, which most commonly involves ovariectomy. There are various advantages to laparoscopic spaying ( Corriveau et al, 2017; Nylund et al, 2017): perhaps most importantly the reduced need for post-operative resting and lead walking. In most cases, the bitch may exercise off the lead from 24–48 hours post surgery. The procedure seems to be less painful, also; possibly due to reduced traction on the ovarian ligament.

For all of these reasons, the time chosen to spay is usually either before the first season occurs, or 3-4 months after a season. A physical examination by the vet will determine whether a 5-6 month old bitch puppy is mature enough to spay before her first season. Before the operation Spaying is a very common procedure in the UK ( Diesel et al, 2010) and confers very obvious advantages (reduction of unwanted litters, prevention of pseudopregnancy, cessation of oestrus and prevention of pyometra). Other advantages such as reduction in mammary tumours have yet to be conclusively proven. On the other hand, there may be an increased risk of certain tumours, orthopaedic diseases and obesity; possibly also of urinary incontinence. There is little consensus on the optimum timing of spaying: ultimately this may well be dependent on breed and other factors. However, the choice of whether to perform a full ovariohysterectomy, or an ovariectomy, appears to be amenable to personal preference and practice policy: there seems to be no difference in outcome between the two. There is no way on Earth that bitch spray could ever in anyway ever be used to stop a dog the bitch lives with noticing that she is in season. It is not a good idea to spay when a bitch is in season or about to come into season, because the blood vessels supplying the uterus and ovaries are all larger and this will increase the risks of surgery. The other time we try to avoid is the 8 weeks after a season, when a bitch may suffer from a hormonal imbalance called a false pregnancy. Like humans, dogs are often a bit woozy as they come round, so she will be placed in a cage with soft warm bedding and kept under observation. Usually they will wake up uneventfully and then sleep it off for the rest of the day. After-careMy own opinion is that most bitches should be spayed because of the health benefits. My boxer bitch Tilly was recently spayed. Deciding when to spay I know you have likely taken the earlier advice but just to be clear more for others reading this in the future than you necessarily At most it could maybe have a use to allow a bitch to take a short walk on lead past a dogs house and maybe keep him from getting too excited.

Despite this there is little in the way of consistency in advice regarding optimum timing of spays, and little agreement about risks or benefits. Please note: Each batch may vary from consistency, colour and scent due to being natural and handmade. Various pieces of equipment will then be connected up to monitor the anaesthetic. This is a skilled job which would usually be carried out by a qualified veterinary nurse. Apart from the operating table, the instruments and the anaesthetic machine, a lot of specialised equipment will be on “stand by” in case it is needed. Keep treated animals away from fires and other sources of heat for at least 30 minutes following spraying and until coat is totally dry.

Unfortunately, despite a wealth of literature, there is little or no conclusive evidence for risks of, e.g. urinary incontinence, or for potential advantages, e.g. reduction of mammary tumours. Figure 3. The uterus and ovaries from a 2yo Springer Spaniel following routine ovariohysterectomy. Note the cyst on the left ovary: this was an incidental finding at surgery. When the operation is finished, the gas anaesthetic is reduced and the bitch begins to wake up. She will be constantly monitored and the tube removed from her windpipe when she reaches the right level of wakefulness. Recovery

Shake the Johnson’s Bitch Spray can before use. Spray the can from about 30cm (12”). Apply a half-second spray to each side of the hind quarters, also under the hind legs and base of tail. Spray twice daily, particularly before exercise. Your bitch should be kept on a lead to avoid any undue risk. If possible, commence spraying two to three days before the Season starts and continue daily until several days after termination. It would also be helpful to spray around doors and gates of the house. Figure 5. Laparoscopic spay procedure. Two small portals are used to manipulate the scope and instruments. However, a systematic review of clinical papers by Beauvais et al in 2012 found only weak statistical evidence to suggest that spaying at any age increased the risk of urinary incontinence, and concluded that present evidence is not strong enough to provide any recommendation on the best age to perform spay to avoid incontinence, or even whether spaying causes urinary incontinence. Obesity

While the bitch is being prepared for surgery as mentioned above, the surgeon will be “scrubbing up” and putting on sterile clothing (gown, gloves, hat & mask) just as in all television surgical drama programmes. The surgical instruments will have been sterilised in advance and are opened and laid out at the start of the operation. There are several ways in which this can be given, but the most common is by an injection into the vein of the front leg. The effects of the most commonly used drugs are very fast, but don’t last for very long, so a tube is placed into the windpipe to allow anaesthetic gas and oxygen to be given. The anaesthetic gas allows the right level of anaesthesia to be maintained safely for as long as necessary. Unless you want an unwanted pregnancy on your hands, take all measures necessary to protect your bitch. We all know the problem of taking our little princess pooch out for a walk when she’s in season and she suddenly gets the unwanted attention of a male admirer. It’s a nuisance and can be distressing for your dog. That’s when the ‘Bitch Spray’ comes into its own. It will help to discourage any advances from male dogs by disguising the natural oestrus odour of a bitch.