Hindawi Publishing Corporation Obstetrics and Gynecology International Volume 2010, Article ID 542693, 7 pages doi:10.1155/2010/542693 Review Article Ovariohysterectomy in the Bitch Djemil Bencharif, Lamia Amirat, Annabelle Garand, and Daniel Tainturier Department of Reproductive Pathology, ONIRIS: Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Site de la Chantrerie, B.P:40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex, France Correspondence should be addressed to Djemil Bencharif, djemil.bencharif@oniris-nantes.fr Received 31 October 2009; Accepted 7 January 2010 Academic Editor: Liselotte Mettler Copyright © 2010 Djemil Bencharif et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Ovariohysterectomy is a surgical procedure widely employed in practice by vets. It is indicated in cases of pyometra, uterine tumours, or other pathologies. This procedure should only be undertaken if the bitch is in a ﬁt state to withstand general anaesthesia. However, the procedure is contradicated if the bitch presents a generalised condition with hypothermia, dehydration, and mydriasis. Ovariohysterectomy is generally performed via the linea alba. Per-vaginal hysterectomy can also be performed in the event of uterine prolapse, if the latter cannot be reduced or if has been traumatised to such an extent that it cannot be replaced safely. Speciﬁc and nonspeciﬁc complictions can occur as hemorrhage, adherences, urinary incontinence, return to oestrus including repeat surgery. After an ovariectomy, bitches tend to put on weight, it is therefore important to inform the owner and to reduce the daily ration by 10%. 1. Introduction Ovariohysterectomy in the bitch is a surgical procedure consisting of laparotomy with ablation of both ovaries and the uterus. This procedure is indicated for the following [1]. (i) Uterine tumours. (ii) Serious uterine lesions, whether traumatic or infec- tious in origin; the most common cause being dystocia during parturition. (iii) Other pathologies that justify an ovariohysterec- tomy include metorrhagia, pyometria, glandular- cystic uterine hyperplasia with secondary infection leading to chronic metritis; the latter usually occurs postoestrus (“postoestrus metritis”) and is initially treated medically, as with acute postpartum metritis, surgery becomes a necessity once the disease becomes chronic and recurrent [2–5]. These alterations in the uterine mucosa are the result of ovarian hormonal imbalances. Metritic pathologies have become increasingly common since the introduction and growing popularity of syn- thetic progesterone treatments such as medroxyprogesterone acetate, which are used to prevent or eliminate heats where the onset of metritis is common especially if they are used after the 3rd day of pro-oestrus [6]. This procedure should only be undertaken if the bitch is in a ﬁt state to withstand general anaesthesia. She will reabsorb the toxins produced in the uterus, or lick any pus that accumulates at the lower commissure of the vulva, leading to gastroenteritis and hepatonephritis and subsequently diarrhoea, vomiting, and raised urea (normal value around 0.6 g/L), and creatinine (normal value around 10 mg/L). However, if the ureamia is greater than 0.6 g/L, we advise the administration of Lespedeza capitata LESPEDEZIA N.D.v, 0.7–1 mL/kg morning and evening for 2 days via IM or SC injection, without exceeding 20 mL/injection/animal. The latter is a mild diuretic, hypoazotemic agent that acts via renal vasodilatation and stimulates the activity of the renal parenchyma. These injections should be combined with intravenous ﬂuid therapy with isotonic NaCl solution at 0.9% and the urea levels checked 2 days later. Antibiotic