A Spay is Not Just a Spay.

A spay is one of the most common surgical procedures performed by veterinarians. But what exactly is a spay? The term spay is a generic term that means surgical removal of the female reproductive organs. This can mean one of two things. The term spay can refer to ovariohysterectomy, which is the removal of the ovaries and the uterus. Alternatively, spay can refer to ovariectomy, which is removal of only the ovaries. So why do most veterinarians recommend spaying dogs and cats? There are numerous healthy benefits that come from spaying your pet. Spaying female dogs and cats helps prevent accidental pregnancy, reduces the risk for mammary cancer, and eliminates other possible health conditions such as uterine infection (pyometra), ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. 

 Both ovariohysterectomy and ovariectomy are equally effective, and research has shown no difference in health benefits between the two procedures. So regardless of whether the ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy) or just the ovaries (ovariectomy) are removed, spaying your pet can ultimately lead to your pet living a longer and healthier life. So what is new to learn about the common spay?

Historically, in veterinary medicine, the only way a spay could be performed was by open abdominal surgery. This surgery involves making an incision in the muscles of the abdominal wall, opening the abdominal cavity, and removing the reproductive organs through the abdominal incision. While there is nothing wrong with that method, advances in veterinary medicine and technology have given veterinarians a second way to perform a spay procedure through minimally invasive techniques. This minimally invasive procedure is called laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery uses high-definition cameras, fiber optic lights, and high tech small instruments that are inserted into the abdominal cavity through two tiny incisions. The high-definition cameras allow for superior visualization of your pet’s internal organs – much better than the naked eye. The superior visualization allows the surgeon to see more precisely and this greater detail makes a big difference for your pets’ safety.

Better visualization allows surgeons to be more precise with their surgical techniques as well as detect and address things such as small amounts of hemorrhage present during the procedure. Additionally, the entire surgical procedure can be documented through high definition pictures and videos and the minimally invasive approach, through two tiny incisions, means less pain after surgery and a quicker recovery for your pet.

With the ability to perform minimally invasive surgery, a spay is no longer just a spay. Now pet owners have options when it comes to spaying their pets. And you and your veterinarian can choose how to best serve your pet – either the traditional method, or minimally invasively.

Dr. Andrea Clark, DACVS-SA

Veterinary Surgeon

Past and Present, Dr. Jon Dee ACVS Foundation Award Winner 2016 and Dr. Jessica Duhon

Past and Present, Dr. Jon Dee ACVS Foundation Award Winner 2016 and Dr. Jessica Duhon

Dr. Jon Dee, a 1966 Auburn Veterinary School graduate and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, received the ACVS’sFoundation Legends Award October 6 2016 in Seattle. Dr. Dee practices veterinary surgery at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital. In his words, he “fixes broken puppy dogs.” In addition he has done research on orthopedic injuries of sporting dogs, contributed to journals and coauthored surgery books, and taught interns at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital and as adjunct professor at both The Ohio State and the University of Florida Veterinary Schools. Dr. Dees’s other accolades include 1986s AVMA’s Practitioner Research Award and 1991’s AAHA Practitioner of the Year Award, Southeast Region.

 

Dr. Jessica Duhon, a 2014 Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, is continuing in the family tradition like her grandfather Dr. Fredericksen and her second uncle Dr. Dee. Her grandfather Dr. I.C. Fredericksen and Dr. Jon Dee’s father, Dr. C.E. Dee started Hollywood Animal Hospital in 1947. Dr. Duhon went to University of Georgia for her undergraduate studies and initially was pre-nursing, but she knew her passion was with animal medicine. She went to Ross and completed her final year at Auburn University like her uncle. Dr. Duhon came to VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital for her internship and has continued on as a staff associate veterinarian.

I sat down with the two veterinarians in their office at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital and chatted.

We spoke about the state of veterinary medicine. Dr. Dee was concerned about student debt. Dr. Duhon agreed and knew students at Ross who weren’t even able to graduate but were saddled with large debt. But we all agreed that you decide what you want, and none of us thought we were going into veterinary medicine for the money. 

Dr. Dee admitted that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he was in college as an undergraduate in Auburn. His father told him to do whatever you want, but be the best at it that you can be. He decided on veterinary medicine when he decided there was nothing else he would like to do.

I asked Dr. Dee why his children did not go into veterinary medicine, and he didn’t know. The passion has to be within you and his niece, Dr. Duhon, seemed to have inherited the gene. Dr. Dee said that he would definitely choose veterinary medicine if he went back to his youth and had a choice to do it all over again. I am sure Dr. Duhon will feel the same way after she has been practicing for 50 years.

December Newsletter-http://www.browardcountyvma.com/