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Ovariohysterectomy or Ovariectomy in Diabetic Dogs

The production of progesterone associated with oestrus or pregnancy tends to result in instability of the diabetes.

In animals fit for surgery, ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy should be carried out more or less immediately (i.e. prior to insulin treatment) and intravenous fluid therapy administered in the perioperative period.

If the bitch’s condition is critical (dehydration, anorexia, uraemia, severe hyperglycaemia and glucosuria) and immediate surgery is contraindicated, intravenous fluid therapy and insulin administration should be started to stabilise her condition. Ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy should then be carried out as soon as the bitch has improved sufficiently. On the day of surgery, pre-operative fasting will necessitate reducing the insulin dose by around 30%.

Following surgery, regular monitoring of the blood glucose concentrations is necessary until the bitch is stable.

The insulin response of target tissue cells will often improve following ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy and the insulin demand will decrease accordingly.