Hello, as I'm sure lots of you know I have a 14 month old bitch who is due her 2nd season (I recently posted on here how much her behaviour changes several weeks before and during her season). My OH and I have come to decision to get her spayed after this season. She was bought as a family pet and although I would love to breed at some point I don't believe she is the right bitch to breed from or our circumstances are right at the moment.Plus with her bizarre behaviour and incredible ability to escape before a season is due I honestly think before she reached breeding age she will have got out and been killed by a car and I am certainly not risking the wellbeing of my girl! Anyhow, back to my original question I was just wondering how the recovery is after a female has been spayed and if it alters their temperament at all as it can do when dogs are castrasted. I am also a bit apprehensive as she developed a severe reaction to an innoculation and had an operation on her neck to remove swollen tissue and then had to have another op to have a drain put in as the wound kept filling with fluid and wouldn't heal. The vet told us at the time if we were to get her spayed she may again react severely and we shouldn't let it put us off having her spayed but it was definately someting to bear in mind.

The only thing I would say is to make sure that when she has reached 3 months from the start of this season that she has no signs of phantom pregnancy.

All mine that have been spayed after they wake up full act as if nothing has happened, so led walking until stitches are out and prevent rough housing with other dogs.

I want to get my bitch spayed at some point too, she's 15 months old and due in season again (her 3rd) in about 3 - 4 weeks, the last 2 she had a phantom pregnancy (not major but enough to stop her being spayed) and by the time she was over it she was back in season again. Has anybody any experience of anything that may help to stop her going into another phantom so I can get her spayed? I tried raspberry leaf last time but it didn't stop it, but I don't know if I gave it too late.

Probably best to have a word with your vet but they may prescribe galostop which alleviates the symptoms of a phantom, If this is given at the very beginning of a phantom it may stop things early enough that she could then go on to be spayed at the optimum time.

I have had 2 bitches spayed.
The first on was Gemma at the Age of 9 from Pyometria. She was walking around afterwards so much that she weeped from the scar(was 5 days before I moved house!!!)
The Second was Ebba last year.
She was going through a phantom when we spayed her(she was approximatly 2). She did have a bit of milk, but the vets were aware of this and said it wasnt enough to stop her being spayed.
So talk to your vet, they may want to spey her a week early to stop the milk coming in befoire she is speyed :)
Both dogs (Rottie cross and full Rottie) were back to normal the day after they were spayed. So much so I had to near enough pin them down to STOP them splitting thier stitches!!!
Lea :)

I never spay mine but let one of my oldies go 4 months ago.  Owners other old Spanish was fretting after their other dog passed away.  Never even entered my mind letting Carina go, but  now there's a 13 year old Spanish going outside and enjoying life.  She's 7 and was spayed 3 weeks ago around the time that she was actually due in season from all accounts she's doing brilliantly and was in the sea yesterday wavesurfing.

Sorry I can't offer you much more advice though.

out of interest why can't they be spayed during a phantom? (please excuse my ignorance). bitches are often spayed while actually pregnant aren't they (to terminate)? so why not during a phantom? is it that it hampers recovery/caused psychological issues?

Hi Astarte,

Don't quote me on this but I think it is due to the risks of bleeding due to the womb being ready to prepare for puppies and the number of hormones circulating can lead to some problems. This is the same reason it is inadvisable to spay during a season. I think during pregnancy it is done because there is more risk to the dog to whelp and make sure homes are found for the puppies that the risks of this outweigh the risks of the operation.

Also spaying during a phantom can make the symptoms last a lot longer.

ta to both of you, figured as much but it is best to check!

My Friends dobe bitch had phantoms going from one season to the next, so she was spayed anyway in the end.  It is just that the phantom can take longer to subside if spayed during it.  .

I've had both my girls done, Foxy the youngest was as right as rain after 24 hours, but Misty the oldest suffered for about 5 days afterwards, in fact I was so worried I took her back to the vets who said that some bitches are sore for longer and recommended some painkillers.  In fact it was really difficult keeping Foxy calm and stop her bouncing around as usual, Misty wouldn't move unless she absolutely had to.  Both are back to normal again, with no discernable difference in their personalities.  Foxy's coat isn't as good as it was, Misty's is no different.