Ask Dr. Paola- Help! We Are Considering Ovary-Sparing Surgery! (April 27, 2026)

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we deliver knowledgeable recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.

Whether or not you’re a brand new pet guardian or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that may hold your furry pal pleased and wholesome. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steerage on a variety of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you can also make knowledgeable selections and supply the very best care in your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! We Are Contemplating OSS Surgical procedure!

“Stella is a 5-year-old golden retriever. She has had a number of litters; the final one required a C-section. We’re critically contemplating OSS surgical procedure. Questioning about professionals and cons.“ – Sussanne

Good day Sussanne.

Ovary-sparing spay, usually abbreviated as OSS, is a process the place the uterus is eliminated however one or each ovaries are left in place. For a canine like Stella, who has already had a number of litters and required a cesarean part, this selection is usually thought of to protect pure hormone manufacturing. These hormones can help bone density, joint well being, and should cut back the danger of sure orthopedic circumstances, which is very related in bigger breeds like Golden Retrievers. Some proof additionally suggests potential behavioral stability in comparison with conventional spaying, since estrogen continues to play its regular position.

Nevertheless, OSS is just not with out essential concerns. As a result of the ovaries stay, Stella will continue to cycle hormonally, that means she should still present heat-related behaviors reminiscent of attracting male canine, regardless that she can’t grow to be pregnant. There’s additionally a small however actual danger of ovarian-related circumstances, together with cysts or tumors later in life. Moreover, whereas eradicating the uterus eliminates the risk of pyometra, it doesn’t get rid of hormone-driven circumstances like mammary tumors, and the timing of surgical procedure relative to earlier cycles nonetheless issues in danger discount. Given her historical past of cesarean surgical procedure, there might also be belly adhesions that might make any further surgical procedure extra technically demanding.

In sensible phrases, OSS could be a considerate possibility in chosen instances, however it requires a dedicated proprietor who can handle ongoing hormonal cycles and understands the long-term monitoring concerned. An intensive dialogue with a surgeon skilled in OSS, ideally one snug managing post-reproductive sufferers with prior belly surgery, will assist decide if this strategy aligns with Stella’s total well being and your expectations for her future care.
Sincerely,

– Dr. Paola

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Assist! My Canine Has Brilliant Pink Lips!

“My canine paws at his lips usually after consuming or ingesting, and different occasions. It’s as if it hurts or burns. He’s pretty mild when he does this. The vet gave him a cortisone shot, however it confirmed zero noticeable assist. His lips look vivid pink. I clear his bowls and water usually. What can I do?” – Terri

Expensive Terri,

What you’re describing usually factors to discomfort across the lips or oral cavity, very similar to when we’ve a light burn or irritation and instinctively contact the realm. In canine, repeated pawing on the mouth after consuming or ingesting may be related to oral irritation reminiscent of gingivitis, early periodontal disease, and even one thing so simple as meals trapping alongside the gumline. Brilliant pink lips counsel elevated blood circulation to the realm, which is according to irritation. One other chance to think about is contact irritation or hypersensitivity, particularly if bowls are plastic or sure meals set off a localized response, though the dearth of response to a cortisone injection makes a purely allergic trigger much less doubtless.

It might be very worthwhile to take a better look contained in the mouth below good lighting, ideally together with your veterinarian, to evaluate the tooth, gums, and inside lip surfaces for refined lesions, international materials, or areas of ache. Some canine additionally develop circumstances like lip fold dermatitis or localized infections the place moisture and micro organism accumulate, significantly after ingesting. Switching to chrome steel or ceramic bowls, if not already utilizing them, is a straightforward step that may cut back contact irritation. If the habits persists, a dental analysis, typically together with sedation for an intensive oral examination and presumably dental imaging, turns into essential, as early oral illness may be straightforward to overlook however uncomfortable sufficient to set off this repeated pawing habits. I hope this helps!

– Dr. Paola

This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence

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