Abstract:
A total of 6 adult bitches that had cycled at least three times and whelped at least twice were conditioned for 3 weeks
prior to surgery and maintained for eight and a hal f months post surgery. Under general anaesthesia, a laparatorny was
performed. Ligatures were placed proximal and distal to each ovarian vessel to completely occlude the vascular supplies
to the ovaries.Thirty two weeks later, the ovaries were harvested for gross and laboratory evaluations. Pre, intra and
post-surgical temperatures and haematological parameters (taken twice weekly) were within normal range, for all 6
bitches. Grossly, all harvested ovaries were insignificantly regressed except the ovary of bitch I and 4 which showed
significant regression and degeneration. Histopathologically, there were diffused necrosis, dense fibrosis of the ovarian
cortex and medulla, degeneration of primary and graafian follicles in the ovarian stroma as well as atretic follicles and
degenerated corpus lutea for bitch I and 4. Bitches 2, 3, 5 and 6 had numerous normal primary and graafian follicles
with congested blood vessels, fully developed ova in the ovarian stroma and developed corpus lutea indicative of
vascular invasion of the ovarian stroma. The viable ovarian tissues noticed on histology were evidence of
revascularization suggestive of newer invasion of blood vessels from the ovarian attachment from the retroperitoneal
tissues and likely from the subcutaneous supplies. Consequently, it is not advisable to neuter a bitch by ligation of the
ovarian vessels
