# Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Ovarian Cysts in Bitches and Queens: A Meta-Analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds that ovarian cysts are common in older female dogs and cats, but there's a lack of standard diagnostic methods and non-surgical treatments.

## Contribution

The study provides a meta-analysis of ovarian cyst prevalence and treatment in bitches and queens, highlighting diagnostic and therapeutic gaps.

## Key findings

- Ovarian cysts have a pooled prevalence of 41.7% in bitches and queens.
- Follicular cysts are the most commonly reported subtype.
- Dogs are more likely to develop cysts than cats, and older animals are at higher risk.

## Abstract

Ovarian cysts—fluid-filled structures in the ovaries—are a common reproductive issue in female dogs and cats. These cysts can interfere with fertility and cause hormonal problems, yet little is known about how often they occur or how best to detect and treat them. In this study, we reviewed and analyzed data from 13 scientific articles, covering over 700 animals, to estimate how frequently these cysts occur and what diagnostic or treatment methods are being used. We found that ovarian cysts are quite common, especially in older animals, and are more frequently diagnosed in cats than in dogs. However, there is a lack of standard methods for diagnosing these cysts, and nearly all studies focused only on surgical removal of the ovaries. Non-surgical treatment options were rarely discussed, and important diagnostic tools such as hormone testing were underused. Our findings show a need for better research to understand how these cysts develop, how to detect them early, and how to treat them without surgery—especially in animals used for breeding. This could improve animal welfare and help veterinarians make more informed decisions.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of ovarian cysts in bitches and queens, to classify cyst subtypes, and to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies reported in the literature. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar identified 4321 articles, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria, providing data on 428 bitches and 273 queens. The pooled prevalence of ovarian cysts was 41.7%, with follicular cysts being the most frequently reported subtype. Dogs were significantly more likely to develop cysts than cats, and animals older than five years had a markedly higher risk. Histopathology and ultrasonography were the predominant diagnostic methods, though only one study assessed diagnostic sensitivity. All included studies reported surgical treatment, while non-surgical options and postoperative outcomes were not evaluated. The studies suitable for analysis were also highly variable in reporting, from large studies with near 100% cyst presence in the sample studied, to small studies with relatively low cyst presence, which limits the ability to compute statistical outcomes in a highly reliable way. These findings highlight the high prevalence of ovarian cysts in small animals, particularly in older queens and bitches, and reveal major gaps in standardized diagnostic criteria, non-invasive biomarkers, and therapeutic research. Future prospective studies are needed to validate diagnostic tools, investigate medical management options, and improve evidence-based clinical decision-making in veterinary practice.