Is she spayed? Is there another testicl

Is she spayed? Is there another testicle? : 

Is she spayed? Is there another testicle? Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM Director of Clinical Programs, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Is She Spayed? : 

Is She Spayed?

Distinguishing Between Sexually Intact and Spayed Cats : 

Distinguishing Between Sexually Intact and Spayed Cats Long-standing, frustrating clinical dilemma Pets with unknown histories are commonly presented for determination of repro status Private practice Animal shelters Unnecessary surgery Expense, time, trauma and stress On patient, vet and client!

Distinguishing Between Sexually Intact and Spayed Cats : 

Distinguishing Between Sexually Intact and Spayed Cats Various methods of identification Tattoos Closure with nonabsorbable suture Ear tipping Microchipping No uniform method of marking

Ear-Tipping of Free-Roaming/Feral Cats : 

Ear-Tipping of Free-Roaming/Feral Cats Should be performed

Microchipping : 

Microchipping

Distinguishing Between Sexually Intact and Spayed Cats : 

Distinguishing Between Sexually Intact and Spayed Cats Pediatric spays Flank spays Small incisions

Distinguishing Intact vs. Spayed : 

Distinguishing Intact vs. Spayed Complete physical examination Scan for microchip Body condition “Spay scar” Mammary development Dogs: also inspect vulva Hormonal evaluation: LH test

Always Scan for a Microchip : 

Always Scan for a Microchip Use a universal scanner Scan at 0.5’/second Hold the scanner right up to the skin Scan over the dorsal shoulder blades Serpentine down entire dorsum Turn and serpentine down each side

Examine Body Condition : 

Female cats: Metabolic rate decreases after OHE require; require 33% fewer calories Examine Body Condition

Slide 14: 

Trend for obesity in spayed bitches

Inspect Carefully for a Scar : 

Inspect Carefully for a Scar Do not just palpate Prominent linea can fool you Can’t feel all scars Shave from umbilicus to pubis May reveal a scar May reveal a tattoo Allows better visualization of mammary glands Spayed = atrophied/small

Estrus? : 

Estrus? Any historical signs of estrus? Cat owners may confuse signs Cats Stroke rump Consider the season of the year Examine vulva Bitches more obvious If suspect, perform cytology

Still Can’t Tell? : 

Still Can’t Tell? Perform hormonal evaluation LH test commercially available kit Synbiotics Witness LH

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) : 

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Intact dogs and cats LH remains at basal concentrations Except at ovulation Spayed dogs and cats Loss of negative feedback of estradiol LH remains elevated

LH Assays : 

LH Assays Positive result Indicates dog/cat is spayed False positives may occur (rare) Negative results Indicates dog/cat is reproductively intact Proceed with surgery! Reliable, non-invasive means of distinguishing intact vs spayed dogs/cats

Slide 21: 

3 drops serum/plasma, wait 20 minutes Positive result occurs when LH > 1 ng/ml. Immunochromagenic assay: visual line when LH binds ab Negative: right line darkest Positive: lines similar or left line is darkest

Slide 22: 

Negative Right line dark Intact Needs Surgery! Positive Left line dark Spayed!

Feline Data : 

Feline Data Collected 200 samples 40-50 for each quarter of the year 1/2 known spayed + 1/2 known intact Stored frozen serum and assayed in batch using Synbiotics Witness LH test (THANKS!!) Tests were run by a blinded vet student Results: Sensitivity (likelihood of + in spayed cat) = 97% Specificity (likelihood of - in intact cat) = 97%

Is there another testicle? : 

Is there another testicle? Bilateral cryptorchid tomcats Monorchidism exceedingly rare Unilateral cryptorchid toms where scrotal testicle was removed May present for spraying, fighting, mounting or urine odor

Tom Cats : 

Tom Cats Puberty: 8-13 months of age

Slide 26: 

A man has to work so hard so that something of his personality stays alive. A tomcat has it so easy, he has only to spray and his presence is there for years on rainy days. ----Albert Einstein

What is the best way to tell if there is another testicle… : 

What is the best way to tell if there is another testicle… Examine the penis

Effects on Penis : 

Effects on Penis Penile barbs Androgen dependent Present in toms Do not form if neutered before puberty Regress if neutered after puberty Balanoprepucial fold Layer of epithelium between penis and prepuce Androgen dependent dissolution results in formation of the preputial cavity and allows penis to be fully extruded

Effects of Early Neutering on Penile Extrusion in Tomcats : 

Effects of Early Neutering on Penile Extrusion in Tomcats Different authors, different findings 1972 Herron, some could, some could not 1993 Stubbs, all could 1996 Root (followed cats to 22 mos of age) O% at 7 weeks (n=6) 60% at 7 months (n=6) 100% intact (n=6)

1993 Stubbs, et al : 

1993 Stubbs, et al Compared tomcats neutered at 7 weeks,7 mos, and intact controls (n=15) 1-year study period Urethral pressure profiles (dynamic urethral function) Urethral diameter (based on pos. contrast retrograde urethrogram) No differences in the 3 groups 1996 Root- same findings

Feline Lower Urinary Tract DiseaseControlled Studies in Neutered Tomcats : 

Feline Lower Urinary Tract DiseaseControlled Studies in Neutered Tomcats 1967 Foster 1972 Herron 1973 Dorn, et al 1978 Duch, et al 1993 Stubbs, et al 1996 Root 2000 Howe 2002 Spain

2004 Spain : 

2004 Spain 1,579 cats neutered betwn 6 wks & 12 mos of age Reviewed vet records and surveyed owners Divided tomcats into 3 groups for analysis <3.5 mos @ neuter 3.5-6 mos @ neuter =6 mos. @ neuter No differences in incidence of FLUTD or U/O among groups

Slide 36: 

Check for secondary sex characteristics: big neck, jowls, tough skin

Cats and Dogs : 

Cats and Dogs Complete PE Scars difficult to see- especially pediatrics Tattoos (shave), microchips Careful palpation of the groin Body condition Hormonal challenge Not necessary in cats (examine the penis) May well be necessary in dogs hCG or GnRH stimulation test

Slide 38: 

“TYLER”

Questions? : 

Questions? No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. ---Leo Dworken