my weimaraner bitch had her season finish about a month ago, it seemed a normal season apart from fact it was only 12 weeks after her first season so was unexpected.  on last occasion and on this one I've noticed her nipples have come right up and shes gone clingy.. is this a false pregnancy?  (definatly not real one as didn't let out of sight)
I don't want to breed from her so am planning to get her spayed but am worried about whens best time.  vet is saying 8 weeks after season but if she is having false pregnacy would that increase any danger to her?  I had a major issue with my last dog as her spay went wrong and left her incontonient and I am very anxious nothing goes wrong with my new girl.

I have bitches spayed 12 weeks after a season personally.  If you know that there is no chance of accidents, perhaps you may wish to consider doing it next time around?

Obviously, she could easily have another phantom, and if you don't want to take the chance, I certainly wouldn't go with the 8 week gap that you've been recommended.

Jean is there a reason you wait 12 weeks after a season before spaying. The reason i ask is because im going to have my puppy spayed after her first season
Jean

Ideally you spay midway between seasons, when the hormones are calm and the blood supply to the uterus is at its lowest level. Because 'the average' time between seasons in 6 months, you wait 3 months after the last season before you spay.

you need to wait until all the hormones calm down before you spay a bitch, if you spay her during a phantom pregnancy you can just their behaviour considerably because the hormones never settle down properly. You also wait until mid-way between seasons so that you can be sure they are not nearing a season as the blood vessels in and around the uterus will be engorged if near a season making a spay more complicated and slightly more risky.

A good and clear explanation. :-)

Thank you both for explaining
Jean

> is there a reason you wait 12 weeks after a season before spaying

There are far less blood vessels to tie off when hormones are at their lowest.  You would be surprised at just how much blood there can be!  I choose this time, as, apart from it suiting the bitch, it is far easier for the vet.  And my argument is, the easier the better, as they are under for less time.  The less anaesthetic, the better!

trouble is my girls 2 seasons so far have been 12 weeks apart so reasonable chance of next one being 12 weeks which is why vet is sugguesting 8 weeks.  what i want to know though is is there increased danger to my Nell if she is having a false pregnancy at time of spay? and how do i know whether she is for definate? thank you

As lucyandmeg has already pointed out, if she is still having a phantom when spayed, there is increased risk of problems.  You should be able to tell yourself if she is still affected.

>what i want to know though is is there increased danger to my Nell if she is having a false pregnancy at time of spay?

Spaying during a phantom pregnancy causes the symptoms to continue for far longer than they would otherwise, causing physical and behavioural problems.

I'm sorry if I'm being dim but I have very very little experience of entire bitches and I am not sure if Nell is having false pregnancy or not.  she has gone clingy and a bit guardy in last couple of weeks-not carrying toys round or anything like that and no nest building or similar but her nipples look huge and very pink which is what concerns me- its about 5 weeks since her season finished(would have to look up on calender to be exact) how do I tell please?  I just want to do best by her and not mess up :(
she did this after her first season -nipples eventually went down but only about a week before she came into next season.
as I say-sorry if being dim but I'm not a dog breeder and do not have any intention of being one so knowledge/experience of entire bitches is limited.

Sounds like a false pregnancy i would have thought. I would be reluctant to spay whilst she is acting like this. I can see your dilemma though so would be a good idea to speak to your vet, seasons so close together is quite unusual i would have thought. My bitch had very similar symptoms a few wees ago and a friends suggested usung pulsatilla 3 times a day and started her on 'stroppy bitch' by csj. Might be a coincidence but she is back to normal now very quickly.