Do Spayed Dogs Still Bleed

Whether you are a first-time dog-owner or have recently had your female dog spayed, you may have wondered if your dog will still have her period after the procedure. Not a nice question but an important one nonetheless. After researching the topic extensively, here is what you need to know.

So, do spayed dogs have periods? Spayed dogs do not have periods but may bleed post-operation as blood from the procedure works its way out. This should stop after a few weeks. However, prolonged bleeding may result due to surgical complications, or conditions left untreated such as vaginitis or infection.

However, excessive blood or that continues long after the surgery typically means something wrong, and veterinary intervention will be required.

And while a period is completely normal for a non-neutered dog, it’s important to be aware of different reasons why your dog may still bleed despite being spayed.

Some of which can be completely normal while others are much more of a cause for concern.

This article will cover why your spayed dog may be bleeding and when you should contact your local veterinarian.

Without going into heat cycles twice each year, your dog won’t undergo all of the hormonal behaviors and physical changes that are part of it. Spaying essentially cuts all of those things out. Spayed female dogs bleed normally when they have wounds and so forth — they just won’t bleed due to heat.

Will spayed dogs still want to mate?

The key here is to understand the difference between spaying and neutering. Spaying is the female procedure; neutering is the male procedure. The reason this is important is because neutered dogs, i.e. the males, can still exhibit sexual behavior.

Admittedly it is rare, and in most cases, your dog won’t want to mate after neutering. As for spayed dogs, it’s almost unheard of for them to want to mate after their operation.

Can a Spayed Dog Still Get Pregnant?

No, if a female has been spayed correctly, she should never be able to become pregnant.

If only her ovaries have been removed, while she will still have a uterus, she will not ovulate.

The exception would be if the surgeon failed to remove all ovarian tissue or the female had ‘ovarian remnant tissue’ left behind after her spay surgery.

Ovarian remnant tissue is very uncommon.

In that case, estrogen continues to be produced so a female may still show signs of oestrus.

Some females will even allow a male to mate with them, but they will not become pregnant.

Those with ovarian remnant syndrome can experience a pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy.

These females can show all the normal signs of being pregnant, including mammary gland development, lactation, and an enlarged abdomen.

However, when these female dogs are scanned, no puppies will be found.

A foreign body within the vaginal wall

It’s possible for foreign material such as a grass awn to track within the vagina and form an abscess.

This can cause a bloody discharge and local infection.

Vets should be able to detect the abscess on a physical exam.

Treatment is to remove the foreign matter, flush the area and start the female on medicine including antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

It is not uncommon for bleeding coming from the anus to be mistaken for vaginal bleeding by owners.

This can occur due to e.g. colitis or anal gland disease.

Your vet should be able to make the distinction after a thorough physical exam.

FAQ

Can dogs still bleed after being spayed?

If your dog is bleeding after spay, a major concern is internal bleeding. However, there are several reasons your dog may be bleeding from their spay incision. Although bleeding after dog sterilization is relatively rare, a dog that has recently been spayed/castrated can experience bloody discharge or bruising.

Why is my dog bleeding when she has been spayed?

If your spayed female is experiencing vaginal discharge that contains blood, she may be suffering from vaginal inflammation or vaginitis. Additional symptoms of vaginitis include frequent urination or difficulty urinating. Your dog may also lick her vulvar area more frequently and scoot her bottom across the floor.