Seasons, phantoms and spaying

[zoon]

I have a 2yo bitch who seems to really suffer with her hormones. She had her first season at 5 months which was no issue at all . But after her second at 11 months, she straight away became very quiet and not herself at all. That was then followed by a phantom pregnancy. Her subsequent 2 cycles have become progressively worse with a depressed dog followed by a distressing phantom pregnancy. I have my normal dog for only a couple of months before the hormones seem to take over and she starts to struggle.

Now she is fully grown it’s time to have her spayed and I’m wondering when the best time between seasons is to do that?

She has just stopped bleeding and has now started to hide in her bed all day, only coming out with a lot of encouragement for food or a walk. On a walk she is scared of other dogs and aggressive towards them if they come close or bark at her. This is not normal for her. Once the phantom pregnancy starts, she will frantically search the house (searching for her “puppies” I guess), she nests with her toys and cries constantly. It’s heart breaking to see her like this.

Is it safe to have her spayed while her hormones are obvious going crazy?

Or is it best to wait until the phantom is over and I get my normal confident happy dog back?

 

[twiggy2]

Best person to speak to is your vet

 

[Morwenna]

Agreed, I would speak to your vet. Mine is in season at the moment and I phoned the vets this week, told them when her season started, they worked out when would be appropriate and she’s now booked in to be spayed next year.

 

[SilverLinings]

I agree with the others who have said speak to your vey and let them know the date she started her most recent season.

I had a bitch who was similar, and spaying ended up being fairly urgent as she ended up with bad mastitis from the phantom pregnancy. The good thing was that the phantom pregnancies and distress never occurred again once she had been spayed. She did 'adopt' a puppy that joined us when the bitch was about 6yrs old, but although she treated the puppy like her own she didn't appear to be at all anxious or distressed about it, just seemed to enjoy mothering the puppy (but wasn't worried if the puppy went out without her etc).

I hope that it goes well and your bitch is happier and more settled post-spay.

 

[Chucho]

We have one similar to you OP, I feel for you and your girl. We are waiting for our second season to start so that we can plan her spay with the vet.

I know our vet would spay her now if we insisted on it - so it's not that you can't - but I was advised that if you can wait, as others have posted, it is preferable to count forward from the start of a season so as to do it at the optimum time.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The optimum time is 3 months after the season, so that you should hit the midway point. Obviously in an emergency, the vet will do the op at any time. Speak to your vet.

 

[MurphysMinder]

The optimum time is 3 months after the season, so that you should hit the midway point. Obviously in an emergency, the vet will do the op at any time. Speak to your vet.

Trouble is if a bitch has erratic seasons and phantoms it’s not so simple. Vets don’t like spaying during a phantom , and that can start 2 months after a season. Factor in a bitch who has 4/5 month seasons and it’s difficult. I’m having the same problem with my young Gsd , she’s had 2 seasons and 2 phantoms. I really don’t want to spay until she is 2 but with each phantom the risk of pyo increases . I am planning on discussing with my vet on my next visit .

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My friend's Lab had a phantom pregnancy after her 1st season. Senior vet prescribed treatment for the milk production and said bring her in 3 months from start of her season to be spayed