Arwen’s In Season! Part 5 – Some Big Questions Answered
Should I spay before she comes into season to avoid any risk?
I wondered this too about too with Kylah. With my rescue dogs, they were already adult so that question didn’t arise. There seem to be two schools of veterinary advice.
When I asked my vet (UK) they advised that I should let her have her first season but didn’t explain why. Doing a little digging around it seems that in the UK we believe the first season is an important point in the dog’s development.
This is because:
- If not allowed to have the season some aspects of maturation (growing up) don’t occur properly. If bitches are spayed when they are very young they can get a bit “leggy” owing to delayed growth plate closure.
- Bitches spayed before their first season have a higher risk of developing (urinary) incontinence. This is especially common in Weimeraners, Dobermans, Spaniels, Setters, Old English Sheepdogs and some other traditionally docked breeds
- If a bitch is spayed before her vulva has developed properly she can have problems with urine scalding of the skin when older
- The coats of some dog breeds – particularly Springer Spaniels and Setters - can become thicker and more woolly.
In other countries there seems to advice both ways. In the USA it seems fairly common to spay before the first season on the grounds that it reduces the risk of ovarian cancers, mammary (teat) cancer, womb infections (pyometra) and of course having unwanted puppies. However if you spay between the first and second seasons the risk of cancer and infections isn’t much greater.
It depends on each vet as to when they will or won’t spay before a first season. Talk to them and get their views before deciding. You might want to talk to several vets in your area before making a decision.
My bitch has just come into season. Can she be spayed now?
Technically yes. However there is much more risk because of the hormones sloshing around in her system, and the enlargement of the uterus (and greater blood concentration there) in preparation for puppies.
Because of the risk, if you can wait until the season has ended, you should do. It will be more expensive to spay a bitch in season and not all vets will do this.
My bitch has finished her season. When’s the best time to spay her?
Right in the middle of her cycle. So ideally 3 months from the end of the season so all the hormones and after affects have completely worn off. All the organs will have returned to a normal size too.
We are about to go on holiday. Can seasons be suppressed?
Yes they can. However talk to your vet first because again not all vets will do this.
It can be possible for a season to be suppressed if you are going away. This should only be used when absolutely necessary. Drugs are not a remedy for having seasons and are not a good long-term alternative.
There are various drugs used, including medroxyprogesterone, delmadinone acetate and proligestone. There is also an oral progesterone compound approved in the United States, megestrol acetate (Ovaban Rx). Some vets also use Mibolerone (Cheque Drops Rx). This is an anabolic steroid, which also has some side effects. In greyhound racing, testosterone can also be used to suppress seasons in bitches.
Side effects of long term drug use (more than 2 years) to suppress seasons can include
- increase in size of the vulva and vaginal tissues
- urinary incontinence,
- aggression,
- greasy skin (seborrhea oleosa)
- increased tear production and
- liver problems.
If you don’t want your dog to have seasons or produce puppies, spaying is a much more cost-effective and healthy option.
Will spaying affect her personality?
No. The effects of spaying a bitch are not the same as neutering a dog.
In a bitch you are only getting rid of the hormones for mating. Actually her personality might change MORE during the season than when she is not in season.
Spaying a bitch does not affect her personality. She will not become fat and lazy or change who she is. (Becoming fat is about too much food and too little exercise!) It will also not change the breed characteristics such as her hunting, guarding or retrieving abilities.
I speak from experience here. I have owned 4 bitches – all spayed after I bought or adopted them. None of them have been any different afterwards in their personality, weight, eating habits or energy levels.
Help! My girl’s accidentally been mated!
Contact your vet immediately and ask for treatment (usually a hormone injection) to prevent any pregnancy ‘taking hold’. To be effective this has to be done as soon as possible.
Hopefully these 5 articles have been helpful to you. The next one in this series is a quick recap on the benefits of spaying your female.
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