Changes in behavioural and leukocyte parameters associated with canine ovariohysterectomy

Ovariohysterectomy is one of the most routine surgical procedures performed by veterinary clinicians. Very little, however, is known about the non-reproductive behavioural changes associated with this procedure. The objectives of this study were to determine the non-reproductive behavioural changes associated with ovariohysterectomizing, evaluate if these behaviours were associated with differences in white blood cell counts (as a measure of long-term stress), and determine if these behavioural changes were associated with changes in testosterone concentrations in ovariohysterectomized versus intact bitches.

One hundred and three bitch owners were recruited from veterinary clientele in Atlantic Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Two telephone questionnaires were completed by one hundred and three of the bitch owners of both ovariohysterectomized (test subjects, n=84) and intact bitches (controls, n=19). (Abstract shortened by UMI.).