286 DISEASES OF THE OVARIES 



Young animals operated before the periods of estrum are 

 present, show no appreciable change in their development. 

 They are active, develop regularly, and in every way make 

 very desirable animals. The most marked change occurs 

 when older animals are operated. They often become fat, 

 lazy, and inactive. Certain breeds of animals show these 

 changed characteristics more than others. For this reason 

 the operation should be performed before the animal reaches 

 sexual maturity. 



Oophorectomy in the Dog.— This is one of the most fre- 

 quent operations performed on dogs. It is a safe operation 

 provided the following precautions are taken into considera- 

 tion : (a) The operation should be performed when the dog 

 is about three to five months old, and before it has had an 

 estrual period, (b) The animal should not be operated during 

 estruation, notwithstanding the prevailing belief of the laity 

 to the contrary. As the ovaries and other portions of the 

 generative tract are congested at this time, the danger of 

 hemorrhage and inflammation is greater. One should wait 

 two or three weeks after the period of estruation so that the 

 organs can return to their normal condition, (c) The prep- 

 aration of the animal before operating is of special impor- 

 tance. The bowels should be empty. For this purpose castor 

 oil (15.0-60.0) should be administered twenty-four hours 

 previous to the operation. All solid food is withheld, but 

 small amounts of milk and water only may be allowed. The 

 field of operation should be prepared twenty-four hours pre- 

 viously; the hair removed, the skin washed with soap and 

 water, and an antiseptic pack applied. This pack is best 

 made of cotton or gauze with boric acid; it is applied to the 

 operating field and held in place by a special bandage made 

 of a wide piece .of muslin so as to extend from in front of the 

 forelimbs to a point back of the field of operation, and tied 

 over the back. This pack should be kept in position until 

 the animal is ready for the operation. This will ensure a 

 sterile operating field. As a last precautionary measure, 

 just previous to making the incision, the operating field is 

 painted with tincture of iodin. An anesthetic or narcotic 

 should be given. In the dog various methods of anesthetiza- 



