Guest Travelover Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Hi, I'm a new GH owner, just got our girl in October. She is 3 years old, and her records show that she was spayed in April of 2009 when she left the track kennel. She did a 10 week prison training program and their notes indicated that she was scratched by a male that tried to mount her in July, 2009. Now it is January 2010 and she is showing signs of being in heat - swelled genitals, slight blood spotting when urinating, some blood on her bed cover in the genital area. We took her in to the vet for a complete check up just after we got her and she was found to be in perfect health. So, my question is - Has any one seen anything like this before and does it merit a trip back to the vet, or did the vet just miss removing some of the tissue and we should leave well enough alone? We'd really like to avoid any additional surgery for her sake. Thanks in advance for your comments and advice. Quote
ahicks51 Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 It's unusual but not unheard of to miss one or part of an ovary. I seem to recall discussions in which vets have had problems finding the ovaries in some greyhounds. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper)
Guest Heehoo Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 I would definitly take her back to the vet. It sounds to me like she's not spayed. If they took out everything but an ovary, she would not have bleeding, the bleeding is the lining of the uterus. Quote
Guest Swifthounds Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 The timing sounds about right for a greyhound heat cycle. That wouldn't happen if they had left an ovary - bleeding is from the uterus. It can be difficult to tell whether a greyhound has been spayed. Some have a slight scar, but many have no outward visible sign. Sometimes the organs can be palpated or seen on x-ray. Good luck. Quote
Guest Energy11 Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 I'd take her to the vet. Unless part of a ovary was missed, this should NOT be happening. Good Luck! Quote
Guest Lovey_Hounds Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 that sound like being in heat for sure that is exactly what Chili is like in heat ( she is not spayed) i would get her checked for sure... the bleeding come from the uterus not left over ovaries. Quote
turbotaina Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 I agree with the others. If you have some ovarian tissue remaining, the dog may exhibit signs of being in heat and may attract males, and you may have discharge, but not bloody discharge. I think I'd have her ultrasounded, if at all possible. Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire
Guest longdoglady Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 My friend's spayed boxer exhibited the same symptoms, including a pink discharge and a phantom pregnancy, it turned out part of an ovary remained. The vet referred her to a specialist surgeon as it is very difficult to locate the tiny remnents of ovary but after the surgery she is now fit and well. The vet paid for the specialist treatment as it was their error. Let us know how your little girl gets on. Quote
Guest Heehoo Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 (edited) I thought about this last night, the bleeding comes from the uterus. Even if they left an ovary, perhaps hidden under another organ or soft tissue, if they took out the uterus there would be no bleeding. Its possible that she has a bladder infection, but there wouldn't be any swelling. An ultrasound might show the uterus, fallopian tubes & ovaries. Actually xrays will too. My elkhound Sadie's uterus showed up during xrays, she was on a male hormone to keep her out of heat due to a heart condition. Your vet should be able to do an exam & feel either the scar or in some cases staples. Pipi has staples from her spay, Gabby has stitches, depends on the vet. Edited January 3, 2010 by Heehoo Quote
Guest Travelover Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 Update OP here. I took her to the vet today and they did an ultrasound, vaginal smear and a urine test (to rule out bladder infection). As I suspected, it appears that when she was spayed they left a bit of ovary behind and that is what is causing her to show signs of being in heat. Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Quote
turbotaina Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 Update OP here. I took her to the vet today and they did an ultrasound, vaginal smear and a urine test (to rule out bladder infection). As I suspected, it appears that when she was spayed they left a bit of ovary behind and that is what is causing her to show signs of being in heat. Thanks for your comments and suggestions. That's annoying, but at least you know what's going on. Are they going to remove the remaining ovary? Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire
Guest Travelover Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 That's annoying, but at least you know what's going on. Are they going to remove the remaining ovary? No, neither the vet nor I see anything to gain by it and there is always risk in anesthesia and / or surgery. She'll have heat like symptoms a couple times a year, but I can live with that. I'm just glad that she is OK. Quote
Guest Lovey_Hounds Posted January 6, 2010 Posted January 6, 2010 That's annoying, but at least you know what's going on. Are they going to remove the remaining ovary? No, neither the vet nor I see anything to gain by it and there is always risk in anesthesia and / or surgery. She'll have heat like symptoms a couple times a year, but I can live with that. I'm just glad that she is OK. Greyhounds normally only go into heat 1-2 times a year so it wont be too bad. Quote
scullysmum Posted January 7, 2010 Posted January 7, 2010 That's annoying, but at least you know what's going on. Are they going to remove the remaining ovary? No, neither the vet nor I see anything to gain by it and there is always risk in anesthesia and / or surgery. She'll have heat like symptoms a couple times a year, but I can live with that. I'm just glad that she is OK. You may be interested in this LINK...there can be complications caused by failure to remove ovarian remnants. Quote <p>"One day I hope to be the person my dog thinks I am"Sadi's Pet Pages Sadi's Greyhound Data PageMulder1/9/95-21/3/04 Scully1/9/95-16/2/05Sadi 7/4/99 - 23/6/13 CroftviewRGT
Guest lizmego Posted January 7, 2010 Posted January 7, 2010 You can always have the bit removed if she was going under anesthesia for anything else. We did that when Power had to have part of his tail amputated. His tail got shut in a storm door and I thought it best to go ahead and amputate since I knew there were lots of blood vessels and it had little chance of reattaching themselves. But the vet thought since no tail bones were broken, let's just stitch him up - still putting him under for anesthesia. So 2-3 weeks later the end portion of the tail was dying and probably going gangrene, so the vet felt so bad about having to put Power under again for a procedure that he did a dental and removed a blood blister on his stomach and removed the end of the tail, all at the same time. Quote
Guest Heehoo Posted January 7, 2010 Posted January 7, 2010 I didn't read the link yet, but that is a good idea. Being intact can cause breat cancer & ovarian cancer in dogs. Talk to you vet about putting her on a hormone treatment perhaps. I had a norwegian elkhound who was on Cheque Drops for 10 years to keep her from coming in heat due to a heart condition. The only side effect was she thought she was a boy dog, she let me know when they were in heat. My first greyhound Sadie was spayed & closed up with staples which caused her great pain, when she had a toe removed due to nail infection, he made a tiny incision in her tummy, took the 10 staples out & closed her right back. She never even noticed other than no pain. Perhaps when you have a dental done, he could do this small surgery. Did he explain if its only an ovary where the blood is coming from since in both humans & animals, the discharge comes from the uterus not the ovary. Quote
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