Background and Study Design:
Ovariectomy is a common surgical procedure in female dogs and may be associated with stress and inflammatory responses that can lead to alterations in hematological parameters. Melatonin, due to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, may play a role in physiological responses related to surgical stress. The present study was designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate hematological changes following ovariectomy in female dogs.
Objective:
To evaluate changes in hematological parameters following ovariectomy in female dogs and to investigate the possible association of these changes with oral melatonin administration.
Methods:
In this study, 18 healthy female dogs were randomly assigned to three groups: anesthesia only, ovarierectomy without melatonin administration, and ovarierectomy with oral melatonin administration (0.3 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected on days −1, 0, +3, and +8, and hematological parameters were measured. Data were analyzed using non parametric statistical tests with a significance level of 0.05.
Results:
Following surgery, the ovariectomy group without melatonin showed significant increases in some parameters, including monocytes, hemoglobin, and MCHC. Changes were also observed in WBC, granulocytes, and some erythrocyte indices during the postoperative period, although most values remained within physiological ranges. In the melatonin treated group, changes in several parameters were also detected; however, the overall pattern of results did not allow a clear determination of a direct effect of melatonin.
Conclusion:
Ovariectomy in female dogs may be associated with mild and mostly transient hematological changes. Given the limited magnitude of these changes and the lack of definitive evidence for a drug related effect, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to clarify the potential role of melatonin in modulating these responses.