Dear Editor,

Dr. Veenis’ point is well taken; ovariectomy is an alternative procedure to ovariohysterectomy in healthy, nongravid bitches. We chose the ovariohysterectomy procedure for our minimally invasive project because it is the more common procedure performed in the United States.1 

Laparoscopic ovariectomy would be an interesting procedure to describe; however, it is possible that the complications of hemorrhage, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and urinary incontinence would be of the same frequency and type in both minimally invasive techniques as they are in the open procedures.2 One disadvantage that ovariectomy might hold is that exposure to progestational compounds, whether endogenous (ovarian remnant, progesterone-producing tumor) or exogenous (for dermatological disease),1 is likely to result in a more profound mucometra, hydrometra, or pyometra simply because of the amount of tissue involvement. The risk of this development appears to be low, as one review of 72 animals ovariectomized and followed for...

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