A spayed bitch may bleed and be in heat if during surgery there is any ovarian remnant or remnant or ectopic ovarian tissue. Although sterilization is a routine operation in most veterinary clinics, for many caregivers this intervention remains a source of unknowns and uncertainty. Therefore, in this article on our site we are going to explain what sterilization consists of and what its effects are on the reproductive function, so that we can respond to the question about whether a sterilized dog can be in heat, one of the questions that caregivers usually ask. Whether you have already spayed your dog or are going to spay her in the future, this article is for you.
What is sterilization in dogs?
Sterilization consists of removing the reproductive organs of the bitch in order to prevent her sexual cycle, that is, to prevent her from being in heat and becoming pregnant Bitches usually have their first heat around 8 months, a little later in larger breeds and earlier in smaller ones. Although some people compare this heat to having a period or menstruating, as we will see below, the bitch's bleeding has nothing to do with that experienced by women. Heat can be divided into four phases, two of which are considered as heat period, lasting about three weeks. The phases are as follows:
- Proestro: this is the initial phase and has a variable duration (from 3 to 17 days). It is very easy to identify, since it is characterized by bleeding and inflammation of the vulva. During this period the bitch will not accept the male.
- Estrus: This phase is also known as Receptive estrus and it is characterized because the bitch already accepts the male. Its duration is also variable, with a permanence of 2 to 20 days. We will see that the female lifts her tail, moves it to the side and raises her pelvis to show her vulva. We know it's over when the bitch rejects the male again.
- Destroy: as we say, the female will reject the mating and we will see that the male also loses interest. It lasts about two months and ends with childbirth if there has been a pregnancy or if it continues into the next phase.
- Anestro: is a period of sexual inactivity that covers the months until the next heat. There are usually two heats a year.
So, with a pregnancy of about two months duration, bitches could have two litters a year. This data is important when motivating sterilization. An operation in which the ovaries and uterus are removed (ovarihysterectomy) is usually recommended, although only the ovaries can also be removed (ovariectomy). The ovaries are responsible for producing the eggs and the uterus is the place where the puppies are housed and grown. In this way, if we remove these organs through sterilization, the bitch will not be in heat or have litters. So the answer to our question of can a spayed bitch be in heat is no, but we know of spayed bitches that can bleed, so how do you explain that? We'll tell you about it in the next section.
Why can a spayed dog be in heat?
To remove the uterus and ovaries, the veterinarian usually makes a few centimeters incision in the abdomen. Through this small cut, he is going to extract the uterus and, on both sides, the ovaries. Sometimes, due to the constitution of the bitch, these ovaries are very deep and it is difficult to extract them. This must be complete, taking great care to remove all the ovarian tissue. Sometimes, there is a small portion of one of the ovaries with the capacity to start the cycle and, therefore, the bitch's heat. Thus, it is possible to observe that the sterilized bitch continues to bleed or allows herself to be mounted by males. This, as we can see, may be due to the following causas:
- Veterinarian error when performing surgery, leaving ovarian tissue.
- Even if the surgery was successful, the presence of ovarian tissue in the peritoneal cavity can become vascularized and end up becoming functional.
- Ovarian tissue outside the ovary, that is, ectopic (out of its normal place). It is not an error during the intervention, but something that the body itself produces at some point in its life or since birth. Thus, although the operation has been carried out correctly, this tissue will continue to produce symptoms.
These reactivations of ovarian tissue can occur even years after surgery. As we can see, as a first step, it is important to look for a veterinarian with experience and good references. These cases are known as ovarian rest or remnant and, in addition to having the ability to induce heat in the same way as if the bitch were not sterilized, they can cause an infection, known as stump pyometra.
What to do if my spayed dog is in heat?
Now that we know that a neutered female dog can go into heat, what should we do? If we have sterilized our dog and we begin to observe symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, inflammation of the vulva, behavioral changes or attraction to males, or, also, fever, apathy and anorexia, we should consult our vet, keeping in mind that a spayed female dog may be in heat. To confirm or refute this supposition, our veterinarian can do a Pap smear in which to check which phase of the cycle our dog is in. This test is very simple and painless and involves taking a sample from the vagina with a cotton swab and looking at it under a microscope. As each phase of heat is going to present some characteristic cells, depending on which ones are found, we will know if our bitch is in heat or not. A blood test can also confirm this data. In addition, you can do an ultrasound
The solution for a sterilized dog that menstruates is going to require going through the operating room again. Surgery should be performed once the bitch is stabilized if she has an infection or after heat, since at that time the area will be more irrigated and a surgical intervention carries a greater risk of hemorrhage, although it is true that this irrigation that the tissue will present remainder would facilitate its visibility. It will be the veterinarian who assesses the pros and cons. This intervention can be performed by exploratory laparotomy It is true that hormonal treatment could be used but it would increase the risk of developing breast tumors. Also, even if there is no uterus, they can cause infection of the stump of the uterus (stump pyometra).
So we don't sterilize?
Absolutely yes. The rest or ovarian remnant is a complication that does not have to occur. Almost all bitches that go through the operating room forget about heat and infections and/or tumors for the rest of their lives. In addition to the ethical considerations about allowing our dog to be raised in a society in which abandonment is a serious problem, sterilization entails a series of advantages for the well-being of our dog, such as the following:
- Without ovaries or uterus, the development of all pathologies associated with these organs such as pyometra, neoplasms, hyperplasias or psychological pregnancies is avoided.
- If the operation is performed before the first heat or between the first and the second, the development of breast tumors is practically prevented.
- Our dog will not suffer unwanted pregnancies.
As contraindications we can talk about the possibility of incontinence (It would be treated with drugs), those derived from surgery, such as anesthetic complications or hemorrhages, and the ovarian rest that concerns us, which can cause heat in a spayed bitch or stump pyometra. Therefore, in some cases, a spayed bitch may bleed and be in heat, but this inconvenience should not prevent you from considering spaying.
