Tara's season finished about three weeks ago. We will be getting her spayed around September. Can anyone tell me if the timing, mid-seasons, has to be very precise as we are planning a much awaited holiday and because she will be kenneled, want to leave the spay until after we get back. We would prefer to go away some time in September - but could leave it until October if necessary.

Thanks

Daisy

A little while either way is perfectly ok. The aim is to get to the lowest point in the hormone cycle. If you are going to be away at that point then the week after you get home would be fine.

Regards, John

John

I have another question on this and wonder if you knew the answer !

As you may have read we have had a few problems with Moose and were hoping this time we can try and get her spayed. She is however starting to show her normal signs of swelling in her under carriage which normally leads onto a phantom pregnancy . Can the vet do a blood test to see what state the hormones are in to see if will be oK to go ahead and get her spayed as we want to make sure that all is right before we go ahead. It will be the middle to the end of July that would have been the right time?

Any thoughts ?

Thanks

Lucy

It is possible to spay at any time Lucy, just not preferable. When my Kate went diabetic she had to be spayed as an emergency as she was coming into season. It is desirable for diabetic dogs to be spayed because the hormone changes linked to coming into season can blow the sugar balance for a ball of chalk.

I've never heard of a blood test for coming into season but it is possible to tell, by looking at the Vulva possible a week in advance that the bitch is coming into season if you know what your looking for. My vet showed me on Kate but this was also linked to a rise in insulin requirement and whether the inspection without the rise in insulin would have been conclusive I doubt! Either way, I've never bothered to check myself and am always caught by surprise when they come into season ;)

Best wishes, John

Thanks John. I am just really concerned that if we have it done when her hormones are all to pot if she is starting with a phantom, that she will suffer afterwards especially with all the infections etc she has been having relating to her seasons. I will have chat with our vet and see what he thinks :)

Lucy

Hi Daisy,
No, I've never found the actual date needed to be very precise - roughly 3 months after the season finished is fine - a couple of weeks either side won't make any difference.
Hope this helps.
:)

Thanks :) Now we just have to decide where to go and hope that the kennels aren't booked. Thought that we'd go in September because son would be home from uni - he has just announced that HE is going away then, so just hope that the kennels aren't full :(

Daisy

The reason we spay in between seasons is so that the area is not to vascular and they are not as likely to bleed. Nothing i'm afraid to do with hormones! As long as the bitch is 4 wks pre season there will be no problem. All to do with blood circulation- bit boring really.

But it is not wise to get them spayed if they are having a phantom?

Lucy