Spaying 7 year old GSD - OVH vs. OSS vs. OVE - Page 1

Looking to spay a 7 year old GSD. She has had 3 nice litters and is done.

Always had OVH done on my previous females but they had gone through several heat cycles (no litters). I couldn't find any information as to whether OSS (ovary sparing spay) has more benefits than OVH (traditional ovariohysterectomy) on an older dog. The OVE (ovariectomy) does not seem too popular in the U.S. My regular vet does not do OSS so I would have to go somewhere else.

I believe some members on this board have had OSS done on their females. Recommend/not recommend? Also, are males attracted the same when they go into heat after an OSS?

Any one ever have an OVE done?

Following

My Capri (V Capri vom Hagenberg) had an OSS at 8 years old. There's absolutely no benefit to removing the ovaries in a dog beyond their first couple heat cycles and much evidence that there is a benefit to leaving them. She was far too important to me to make even the slightest compromise on her health. I've been very pleased with the results, three years later. I feel it has kept her much younger, stronger, and healthier than the alternative. There is a significant difference in overall vigor between Capri and my female who is one year younger and had a traditional ovariohysterectomy due to uterine torsion. Due to the emergency nature, there was no option to do it any other way. 

 

Thought I would post an update on this thread.

My vet (a reproduction specialist) actually does perform OSS surgery now. I had previously talked to her about it approximately two years ago and at that time she was not on board for it. I went to a seminar she had on OSS last night. She presented the pros and cons of both OVH and OSS and touched briefly on OVE. Told us at the beginning that if we were undecided about which spay to go with, this seminar would only confuse us more. She stated that we would have to make the decision based on what is best for our individual dog.

She showed a video on the procedure being done on her own dog (German Wirehaired Pointer). I asked her why she did the OSS instead of OVH. She has a nine year old that had a OVH about four years ago and does not like the changes that the spay caused -- poor haircoat, urinary incontinence, wanting to eat all the time. Plus not fond of the unknown health repercussions of no estrogen. Her OSS dog has been spayed for six months and so far she is happy with the results. She stated that she believes that OSS is the better way to go but only time will tell.

She heavily stressed that whoever does OSS must get all of the uterus out so there is no stump pyometra.

Vet does advocate waiting until age two to spay a female and to keep males intact (or do a vasectomy) unless he needs to be neutered for health reasons.

Think I am leaning toward getting the OSS done. Since my girl is already 7 the mammary tumor prevention from OVH is long gone (although vet said there are now holes being poked in that study). Only thing I have to worry about is not being around a male for a couple days twice a year. Not that big a deal in my book as I have been dealing with females in heat for many years.