Hi,
We have a lovely tan brindle greyhound, name of Judy. We acquired her just before her 5th birthday, she is now coming up to her 8th birthday.
She has never been speyed, hence she has been having the hormone shots to prevent her coming on heat.
Our problem is: her original owner tells us that greyhounds only come on heat once a year,... one of the vets at the practice we go to says the same, so she would only need the shot once a year, but another vet (in the same practice) says it happens twice a year, therefore she will need the shots twice a year.
She had her last shot approximately last August, BUT she came into season just before Christmas, (if I remember correctly I think she did last year also)
So to get to the point, can anyone please advise us on just how often do greyhounds come into season, how often should she have the shots, and when is the correct time between seasons should she be getting them (e.g. in the middle of the 'resting' (?:)) period, just before she is due into heat or what?) 
The vet has also told us that she has a slight heart murmer, that along with her age now, I wouldn't contemplate putting her through the trauma of anaethesia and operation for her to be speyed, so any advice would be greatfully appreciated, by both us and Judy (as well as helping to prevent yet another Christmas having to step over 'soiled' sheets and dog bedding, being a typical greyhound, she will nest wherever she deems her nest to be lol)
Thank you in advance for any replies.
Shirley, Eric, and of course a big sloppy wet drooly slurp from JUDY. :)

Guest I know that in the racing world chemical control of heat is common, but in a pet or potential breeding bitch it is most unwise, as it can cause problems.  Just leave her to have her seasons, or get her spayed.  If she is not used to having seasons then she may not be as clean abput them as she might, but most bitches allowed to cycle normally keep them selves pretty clean, and you only really get much bleeding wehn they get up after resting.

Modern anasthetcics are very good, and even with a heart murmer aa spay operation should be safe, especially with the vet aware, as the more expensive ones have an antidote.  I know someone who has Racing dogs (one of the kind of owner who homes his own retired dogs).  Normally rescue greys are spayed, and while under have their teeth sorted, as usually oral hygene of racing dogs is not good, as they are fed very sloppy food (probably to help avoid the dreaded bloat).

I've never heard that greyhounds only come into season once a year - I know some of the more 'primitive' (no offence intended) breeds, such as Basenjis, are reputed to do this, but I've never heard it said about greyhounds. Perhaps a greyhound specialist could tell us, because I'd certainly like to know! My own bitches (not greyhounds) have always come into season every 8 months, so neither once nor twice a year!

However, my personal view is that chemical heat control is for one-off emergency use only, not for regular routine use. I would be inclined to either let her have normal seasons or spay her. A slight heart murmer, that the vet is aware of, should not affect her during surgery because a good anasthetist can manage that - modern anaesthetics are much better than they were 20 years ago.

The injection can also screw up the cycle so that they miss more than one heat and you never know when the next one is due to arrive :(

Think at 8 years spaying should be considered as less damaging than the injection. Make sure your vet understands the possible problems with anaesthetising a Greyhound and get her done.

it's usual for neutering to be a condition of adopting a greyhound, may I ask why you did not spay the dog when she was 5 years old and not wait until you think she is 'too old' at 8? As long as your vet is familiar with the kind of anaesthesia required for dogs of this type she will be fine and she will be much better off spayed than mucked about with chemically as she would have had to endure when being used for racing, her retirement should have brought an end to this. She is not too old I have had greyhounds spayed succesfully at similar ages also greyhounds with heart murmers doing fine under anaesthetic.

greyhounds do indeed come into heat once a year,was told this by a man called david hancock who breeds lurchers.

I know of a few racing grey's not having a first season till 3 year's or even at veteren stage but not to often.Most grey's only have one season a year but some have 2. Most bitch's do not get the injection to stop the season as it can show up in a dope test so most racing folk let the bitch's have a seasonal break then bring them back to the track a month or so later when the milk has scattered. I would have thought your bitch would have been spayed as before they are rehomed they get the full MOT at the vet's. The anesthetic the vet's use now a day's is very safe and if complication's do set in they will bring them out as they did with on of my running dog's. Hope this help's you Susan
PS great dog's eh

I have a friend who rescued an ex racer. Lucy comes into season every 6 months and is very clean. Noisy but clean ;) She has been under several anaesthetics, mainly for cuts when she has run into barbed wire, but she has had to have most of her teeth removed due to decay. (We think she is somewhere between 9 and 11 years old)

I don't think I would use 'the injection' as a way to stop seasons. As has already been mentioned it should be a one-off thing. It can't be doing the bitch any good. But then I spey all my non breeding bitches.

Hi everyone that answered my question. and thank you for your responses.

This is a great group, and I love the fact that all your replies are forthright, honest and 'unpatronising'

I am so glad that you all seem to agree about use of chemcal heat control, and I have to admit I have never been happy about using it on her as a permanent means of controlling her seasons. I just have to find a way now of persuading my meaningful other half that speying is definitely the 'way forward' and not too far into the future either.!!!
In answer to some of your responses, Firstly, re adoptiing her, we got her from a friend who races Greys, Judy (our dog) was quite succesfull it seems, according to her race cards. but then she injured one of her back legs, not too disastrously furtunatly, but enough to prevent her racing any more, so he needed to find a 'retirement home' for her, and we just could not resist her!!! so we took her into our home (and our hearts) so you see, we didn't 'acquire' her through the usual channels, (i.e. a rescue centre etc).
The first thing we did when we got her was to take her for a full check up and for some 'meaningful' advice at the local veterinarian practice. It was there they told us that it would be better (and safer!!!!!) for her to have the jabs rather than being speyed. So naturally, one does tend to take the word of a qualified vet, and believe he just might know what he's talking about !?!?!?!?!?!?!?
LindyLou, I'm glad you mentioned about teeth too, Poor Judy certainly is suffering the proverbial 'dog's breath', and I'm certain it's because she just will not (or has never learned how to) chew, or crunch, therefore she shows no interest in any of the 'Rask' type treats we get for her. I guess it's because she spent the first five years of her life living off whatever 'slops' they feed them on in the racing kennels. Therefore I know she is overdue a visit to the v.e.t. (I have to spell it rather than say it heh heh) So perhaps we should 'kill 2 birds with one stone eh?
Oh and 'Robbie' (Susan ?) yeah you're right, Greys are lovely, I've never known such a placid, loving and trusting animal as we have with our Judy. :)
Thank-you all again for your replies. Wish me luck please (and Judy of course)

The friend of a freind who has racing Greys always has his retired bitches spayed and teeth scaled under anasthetic before personally rehoming them.  He has the advatage of doggie contacts as he used to shwo and breed his dobers (all old now).

I did have chemical heat control jabs for about two years with my first dog, as the Vet was happy to give them, and I was considering maybe letting her have a litter (she had escaped at a season, which is why I started them).  I later did more research, and changed vets and they were the opposite twlling me that it was a bad idea, esp0ecially if considering breeding.

As my Circumstances did not allow me to mate her at a good time for us both, and I then discovered she had an eileptic littermate I had her spayed.

Since having my current breed I have spayed two bitches at 5 to 7 years of age with no problems.  In fact they were able to walk home from the Vets (I don't drive).