ArticleFrontiers in veterinary science2026
Retrospective study examining complications and iatrogenic pseudopregnancy in bitches neutered in different stages of the oestrous cycle: identification of an 'early neutering window' in bitches.
Article in Frontiers in veterinary science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Neutering in the anoestrus period is most commonly recommended for bitches due to reduced risk of intraoperative bleeding and iatrogenic pseudopregnancy. However, there is a possible second period for neutering, commencing after oestrus until the time when prolactin concentrations increase. Methods: This retrospective study compared reports of intraoperative bleeding (categorised in two ways: excluding and including bleeds from the skin and subcutaneous tissue/fat) and cases of pseudopregnancy between bitches neutered during an 'early' period (EP bitches, neutered from the end of oestrus until day 43 after ovulation, Results: There was no association between neuter period and the presence of an intraoperative bleed, either when excluding or including bleeding from the skin and subcutaneous tissue/fat (3.8-4.4% EP, 5.8-8.8% CP, and 7.4-11.3% GRP bitches). Only six cases of pseudopregnancy after neutering were identified in clinical records: two EP bitches (0.6%), one CP bitch (0.05%) and three GRP bitches (1.3%); associations were not evaluated statistically due to the small number of cases. Examinations of behavioural data found no association between neuter period and trait scores for 'General Anxiety', 'Body Sensitivity' and 'Separation-related behaviours' from dog behaviour questionnaires. However, EP (4.1%) and CP bitches (11.7%) had reduced odds of having a behaviour incident and/or development plan related to fear or anxiety and/or aggression post-neutering compared to GRP bitches (20.8%). Conclusion: The results suggest that neutering bitches during the 'early' period may be a suitable alternative to the 'conventional' period. Additionally, the results support the generally well-accepted advice to avoid neutering bitches during the period of greatest risk.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.