Veterinary counselling concerning the spaying of bitches - a survey of veterinary practices and clinics in Germany

Veterinary counselling concerning the spaying of bitches - a survey of veterinary practices and clinics in Germany Spaying is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out in veterinary practice. When deciding about an elective castration of a bitch, it is essential to calculate between the expected benefits and the possible risks of adverse reactions. The veterinary surgeon has the duty to inform the owner and to advise him/her properly to provide a basis for the owner's own decision in favour or against this intervention. To report the actual status of the advisory service in Germany, a pet owner called 59 veterinary practices and 35 veterinary clinics all over Germany to solicit advice about the castration of her female dog. Overall, 40% (n=38) of the callees refused a consultancy over the phone, while 60% (n=56) gave evaluable advice. A questionnaire about the castration of female dogs, which covered the most important points concerning the advisory service in this field, was answered during the call and evaluated afterwards. Three quarters of the callees started to inform the pet owner without further request, but only 51% automatically referred to any possible adverse effects. Important secondary effects, such as urinary incontinence or general anaesthetic risk, were mentioned only in 60% (n=34) and 35% (n=19) of the calls, respectively. The context between castration or age at castration and the risk for developing mammary cancer was explained correctly by 80% (n=37) of the callees. 67% (n=35) advised the owner to castrate her dog, 25% (n=13) said that the decision had to be made by herself and 8% (n=4) advised against the intervention. Some individual counselling sessions were very detailed and accurate but in the main, the advisory service was not satisfactory concerning integrity and neutrality towards the owner.