Planning to spay your pet? Not sure if spayed dogs have periods? Don’t worry, I will walk you through all you need to know before you get your pet ready for the process.
If you just brought home a female dog, and you are unaware how dog have periods and cramps, it is time to find out.
Taking care of a pet is tough, but female pets need extra care. Like men and women have different hormonal structures, pets also go through distinctive changes in the body.
Spaying a dog also brings a lot of changes in their body. Having complete clarity on how to move forward will help you prepare and comfort your pet better.
Do spayed dogs have periods
Let us first understand what is spaying to confirm if you at all want your dog to go through the process or not.
Spaying is a method to remove the reproductive organs from your pet’s body. Once the organs are removed, the dog will no longer go through periods of pregnancy.
The mating urges curb after spaying, so if your dog just hit puberty, it is time to speak to a vet to go ahead with the process.
How often do dogs have periods
If your dog starts feeling the heat, she needs attention and care. Dogs have periods twice a year and it lasts for 10 days.
If you are concerned about stains, there is complete possibility of finding blood around. There are dog diapers for periods that you can avail to avoid staining and keeping your pet hygienic.
You are probably wondering do spayed dogs have periods? The answer is no. Spayed dogs have their reproductive organs removed and cannot bleed once done.
If the surgery is unsuccessful, then the chances of bleeding remains. This is known as ovarian remnant tissue, where the doctor mistakenly leaves some ovarian tissues. This condition is rare, but it makes your dog produce oestrogen and may continue mating but will not get pregnant.
Now you know that if your dog is spayed correctly, she will not get her periods. So, worrying about do spayed dogs have periods ends here. Find an expert vet, and you’re good to go. After all, it is a surgery that needs experienced hands for a successful result.
Different methods of spaying
Do spayed dogs have periods depending on the method used? You already know that spaying your dog will stop her, period. But does the method used in spaying have any relevance if her period comes back? Let’s figure it out.
There are two methods of spaying, ovariectomies and ovariohysterectomies:
In ovariectomies, the doctor only removes the ovary, whereas, in ovariohysterectomies, both the uterus and ovaries are removed.
Both of these methods require full anaesthesia. The removal of reproductive organs requires incisions.
Under both methods, the dog will no longer have her periods once the surgery is successful.
But which method to choose?
To be honest, it depends on your doctor.
While some vets excel at ovariectomies, the others at ovariohysterectomies. They might also do both but suggest one for your pet depending on dog breed.
The risk factor of getting infection is basically when the doctor leaves a tissue inside your dog while doing the surgery.
Hence, if you think removing both the uterus and ovaries is essential to be free from infections, it’s not.
It does not matter if you remove the ovary, uterus, or both. If some tissues are left inside the dog’s body, it will make the body prone to infections.
It is always better to get smaller incisions than bigger ones. Hence ovariectomies are always better since the incisions are smaller compared to ovariohysterectomies. But consult your vet for the best result that suits you and your dog.
There’s more to learn about spaying. Did you know there are even laparoscopic options that are less painful, less invasive and less anesthesia?
The laparoscopic option even reduces the recovery time for your doggo, and you can bring home your dog on the same day.
But you can only opt for this option if your dog weighs under 15 pounds. So, it might not be applicable for large dog breeds.
Can your dog bleed even after spaying?
There could be various issues that can make your dog bleed. For example, UTI, vaginitis, ovarian remnant condition, stump pyometra, cancer, or an unsuccessful surgery.
There are even possibilities that your dog might even have hurt itself. Let’s get into the details to understand this better:
UTI
Urinary tract infection could be the most common reason your dog bleeds even after surgery. The bladder stones may pass blood in their urine, making it look like period blood.
Ovarian remnant condition
In the above explanation, you already know what ovarian remnant is and what causes it. But if your dog has this condition, it is very important that you take the necessary action.
In this condition, the doctor leaves ovarian tissues in the body, which may even cause cancer. Hence you must remove all the ovarian tissues before things get worse.
If the ovarian tissues stay in the system, it can be harmful. Finding an expert vet is thus necessary.
Vaginitis
This is mainly because of bacterial infection and may cause swelling, discomfort and purulent discharge.
Cancer
Cancer is one of the most dangerous conditions that needs utmost attention and care, which causes bleeding. Along with bleeding, you may even see that your pet is losing weight.
Gland diseases
Besides the above condition, your dog may even bleed due to cuts and gland diseases. Sometimes your dog may even bleed just after the surgery but in a minimal quantity. But this should resolve on its own and requires no medical intervention. However, if you feel it isn’t normal and the bleeding persists, you must consult your vet and get it confirmed.
Benefits of spaying your dog
Here are some reason why spaying your dog might benefit you and your pet:
No more roaming around
Has your dog been roaming around a lot in search of a mate? Then spaying is going to help you here. Once your go goes through the process, she will no longer have the urge to mate.
This will let your dog stay at home for a longer intervals and curb her desire to look out. Like our sexual urges sometimes makes us take erotic actions, an animal wanting to mate also gets ferocious.
Cases report fighting among animals or road accidents due to such behavior. Moreover, when they linger around with other dogs, the chances of diseases and infections also increase.
Prevents breast cancer
If you are worried about your pet getting breast cancer, getting spayed reduces the risk drastically.
As per research, if you get your doggo spayed before their first period, the chances of getting breast cancer are almost zero.
Additionally, it also helps in preventing other infections that happen in the uterus.
Get rid of mood swings
From mood swings during periods to unfulfilled desires of mating, your dog can exhibit irritation during puberty. Such behavioral changes can also be handled with the help of spaying.
Once you get your dog spayed, you are free from all those tantrums. So, no more entertaining stray males outside your home since spaying also decreases her drive to breed.
No more unwelcomed guests
You are well aware of unwanted pregnancies and how problematic they can be without proper planning. The same goes for your doggo at home.
Having a pet is a big thing. It needs a lot of care and attention, so having puppies that you did not want to welcome is worrisome.
Even if you let the dog go through the process of pregnancy, you might not be able to keep all the puppies at home. It will lead to separation of the pups from their mother, and that will be harder for your pet to withstand.
Spaying dog myths busted
As discussed, there are many benefits of spaying dogs, but there are certain cases where spaying is misinterpreted:
Spaying doesn’t harm your dog
You must have heard of people disowning their pets because of various reasons. One of the most common reasons is the heat cycle.
The owners do not want a messy house or mood swings to deal with. While dog owners must treat their pet as family members, not everyone can do justice as required.
Spaying your dog will not harm your pet. It will also free you from the worries related to your pet’s heat cycle. While it is not a natural process, it is not harmful either.
Spaying doesn’t make your dog fat
This is one of the most misinterpreted thoughts on spaying dogs. Spaying will never make your dog fat until you change your dog’s eating habits and activity throughout the day.
If you let your dog eat too much, or share your sweets with them, then she will gain weight. But she will not gain because of spaying.
Change in emotion
If your dog is playful, it will remain playful even after the surgery. Spaying will only remove its reproductive organs, which will also remove the mating drive from your dog. But apart from that, there will be no personality change.
It is, however, important to acknowledge that spaying your dog is against the natural process of how dogs should be. It is similar to going through vaginal hysterectomy or vasectomy.
Spaying might not work
Every surgery is 99% successful. The 1% risk is always there in all kinds of surgical process. Spaying is a very basic surgery and is successful most of the time. But sometimes, when the ovarian tissues are left by mistake, which is very rare, they can be removed immediately.
Anesthesia might be risky for the dog
Giving anesthesia to dogs was risky earlier. Since respiratory and heart conditions were not properly monitored while doing the surgery. But now surgery is done with proper care, and the anesthesia isn’t as risky as they were.
Pre and post-spaying surgery
Let’s understand what preparations are required for pre and post-spaying. It is always better to have a checklist:
Pre preparation
No snacks or treats before the night of spaying
If your pet has surgery the next day, you must not feed anything post donner. Dinner should be her last supper before the surgery.
Get clarity
If your dog is under some kind of medication, do let your vet know. Also, ask if she has to be stopped before the day of the surgery.
Be as normal as possible
Surgery is a big thing. Your pet is your baby, and thinking about surgery can make you nervous. But you must act normal and treat your dog as normal as possible. Don’t worry! It is a minor surgery. Veterinarians perform this quite often.
Post preparation
Limit activity
Once the surgery is done, make sure you limit your dog’s activity for at least a week. You make take them out for a walk but no running. They need time to go through healing time to be active again.
Keep a check
After the surgery is done and you bring your doggo home, ensure that your dog isn’t chewing or licking the incision. The area should be kept dry to get back to normal.
No bathing
The dog does not need to take a bath until the incision heals completely. You may do a sponge bath, keeping the incision area untouched.
Do not force feed
You might see that your dog isn’t eating properly and the appetite has reduced. But this should only be for the next 24 hours.
Post that, you must give them their normal diet. However, let them be on their own for the first day, do not force feed.
Post-surgery check-up
Remember to go to the post-surgery check-up once the incision heals.
Five things to do after spaying your dog
Now that you know do spayed dogs have periods and how to take them through the process, here are some things to do after the surgery:
Light Diet
Post-surgery, your dog might not have the same appetite for a few days. But do not try to give them unhealthy junk just to make them eat. Give them the same healthy diet that they were used to even before the surgery.
Clean the stitches
Every day, you may use a cotton pad to remove any kind of dirt that may have gotten on the stitches. If you feel the stitches aren’t getting any better, you must contact the vet immediately.
E-collars
These pet cones or E-collars are a must-have posted spaying as they will prevent your dog from licking the stitches.
Taking utmost care
In the next few days post-surgery, your dog needs all your attention and care. You can deviate your attention from them. They need your emotional and physical support. If possible, you must try to take a few days off from work.
Pain reliefs
Check with your vet if any pain relief is to be given to your dog. Also, ensure the medication is given on time.
Final Thoughts
So now that you have answers to all the questions like do spayed dogs have periods and do dogs get periods, it is time to take a decision. Just remember, spaying isn’t harmful; it’s just a surgery that needs to be taken care of like any other surgery. Your fur baby is going to be perfectly normal.
