Estudo comparativo de enfermidades em fêmeas esterilizadas e inteiras da espécie canina na microrregião de Caxias do Sul no período de 2003 a 2021 - um estudo retrospectivo

Abstract

Ovary-hysterectomy, is a procedure performed with significant frequency in small animal clinics, raises several questions about its indication or contraindication, as well as uncertainty about the most appropriate age for its performance, by professionals in the area. This study consists of an evaluation of the body condition and incidence of diseases in different systems, of female canines castrated at different periods and not sterilized, and the relationship with their reproductive status. Medical records of patients treated from 2003 to 2021 at a veterinary clinic and a veterinary hospital, located in the city of Caxias do Sul, which also served several cities in the microregion, were selected. Only 430 medical records, from 3763 initially evaluated, had enough information for the study. The following information was collected: body condition, race, reproductive status, age at which it underwent sterilization, comorbidities identified before and/or after castration, current age or age at death. Four groups were created, with group 1 consisting of patients sterilized before the first estrus, totalizing 96 patients, group 2, sterilized between the first and third estrus, with 66 animals, group 3, sterilized after the third estrus, with 201 canines and group 4 of unsterilized females, with 67 individuals. Data were obtained from the medical records of these patients and, when necessary, contacts were made, by telephone or message apps, with their guardians, in order to complement the unavailable information. Analyzes were performed (chi-squared test, t-test and ANOVA), associating the sterilization procedure and its period with the development of diseases mentioned in the literature as being predisposed to gonadectomy. Based on these analyses, it can be suggested that there is an influence of sterilization, with a protective effect against reproductive and oncological diseases, especially when performed before puberty. The high incidence of locomotor alterations observed in patients sterilized before the first estrus could suggest a negative effect. The other systems analyzed did not demonstrate any influence of ovary-hysterectomy in relation to disease development. Information got from this research is extremely important for animal physicians and surgeons, as well as guardians, consisting in the first epidemiologic study in this region. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]