How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed?

• 12-26-2007 1:08 PM

  Indy05 Joined on 06-19-2007 Texas Posts 453 Points 5	How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact I have always wondered if it is possible to know if an adult female dog has been spayed.  I have only owned males.
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• 12-26-2007 1:13 PM

  In reply to Indy05

  grab01 Joined on 09-10-2007 middle of the desert Posts 2,372 Points 5

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact There's usually a small scar that is visible when the hair on the abdomen is shaved, assuming the spay was done in the most common surgical site (I think there's a thread here somewhere about a dog whose spay was done in a different way)  or you can feel the under the skin sutures. Ginger's was apparently done with metal sutures, as when she's on her back you can see what looks like a wee zipper under the skin. (we adopted her as a 10 yr old, so no clue when her spay was done...long, long ago, I believe)

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• 12-26-2007 1:14 PM

  In reply to Indy05

  chelsea_b Joined on 09-10-2007 Costa Mesa, CA Posts 2,973 Points 180

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact Well, some have a pretty visible scar. Cherokee's got a scar that's fairly obvious, though I think her incision was bigger than most dogs', and certainly bigger than what they can do today. If the dog doesn't have a scar, or you can't find one? No way to tell at home, I don't think, unless you know what to feel for in their abdomen..but even vets can have a tough time of that. Chelsea & Miss Juno! Cherokee: August 1998 - November 30th 2009 Miss you girly...

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• 12-26-2007 1:45 PM

  In reply to chelsea_b

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 19,620 Points 5,955

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact What you are saying is fine as long as the dog was spayed as an adult.  BUT if the dog was spayed via the laser method at 2 months (or most any time earlier than 4 months typically) you won't have a scar and you won't feel a thing because they simply cauterize the sex organs (on both male and female) with the laser and there is no scar at all.  Even when it's done there is usually only a 1 stitch tiny incision that is barely visible. In Florida when they do that (and I think all shelters do this, or at least are supposed to) they also chip the dog which indicates it is spayed/neutered).  My Luna is spayed and you can't tell at all that she is externally. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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• 12-26-2007 1:48 PM

  In reply to Indy05

  rwbeagles Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW, TX Posts 21,422 Points 2,310	Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact scars can mean c section, and an entire bitch still...so I would not trust anything but an U/S to tell definitatively. Gina H. aka "Tellingmewhattodoperson" Cleo's Blog: lionessrampantblog.blogspot.com/ My blog: ryngwrayth.blogspot.com/ Weapon of choice? Nikon D90!
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• 12-26-2007 2:15 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 13,971 Points 2,125

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact  Some shelter dogs that get early spay are tattooed, some microchipped, some nothing. I would go by what Gina said.  Better safe than sorry. Founding and Life Member, Pet Professional Guild Steering Committee, Pet Professional Guild Education: BA, Psychology Academy for Dog Trainers Member, Truly Dog Friendly Member, No Shock Collar Coalition Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Certified Trick Dog Trainer Sioux, Red Tri Australian Shepherd Mix, CGC, TDInc., ITD Sequoyah, Red Merle Australian Shepherd, CGC, ATD Quanah, Hound Mix, Great Dog in Training Dancer, Border Collie/Spaniel Mix, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog Maska, Hound Mix, CGC, TDInc. (2000-2010) RIP Doodlebug Fergie, Yorkshire Terrier (1989-2010) RIP my little bugaboo In memory of Mike, please become an organ donor today. "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

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• 12-26-2007 3:45 PM

  In reply to grab01

  Janet808 Joined on 09-14-2007 Pgh. PA Posts 1,688 Points 345

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact I agree, you should probably be able to find a scar on their lower belly.  Misty's goes top to bottom, not side ways, so I'm only assuming this is how they're all done, but look for a scar running head to tail.  If she has a little belly, just make sure she's laying flat on her back, it will be much easier to tell that way. Handle every situation like a dog. If you can't Eat it or Chew it. Pee on it and Walk Away

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• 12-27-2007 12:10 AM

  In reply to Janet808

  ColleenC Joined on 07-26-2006 Posts 1,609 Points 5	Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact Neither of my dads spayed females have a scar.  They were both done at around 6-9 months.  A lot of it depends on the vet.  I have seen some vets leave big scars and some none at all.  An ultrasound is the best way to go.
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• 12-27-2007 1:37 PM

  In reply to ColleenC

  marynh Joined on 09-10-2007 Gateway to NH White Mtns. Posts 1,560 Points 50	Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact a way they tell with cats is to rub the ab area with rubbing alcohol and it's supposed to help make the scar stand out more. Some animals are also spayed via their side.
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• 12-27-2007 6:39 PM

  In reply to marynh

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 12,817 Points 1,105

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact I think and ultrasound or opening the dog up for a spay and realizing the dog is already spayed are really the only definitive ways.  Kenya was spayed in April at age three and when I got her at the end of July her scar was still very visible.    Now, I cannot find it or see it at all. Nikon - GSD SG U-CH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SCHH1 KKL1 AD T1 FO PA CL1-R UJJ U-CA TF-II FDCh HIT TT CGC (HOT) OFA Hips - Good; OFA Elbows - Normal; DM - clear/normal; Thyroid - Normal Coke - All American VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC R.I.P. Kenya - GSD U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop OB1 FO RA CL1-R CL1-F HIT TT CGC http://365.dutchbingo.net

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• 12-27-2007 8:56 PM

  In reply to Liesje

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 13,165 Points 750

  Re: How can you tell if an adult female dog has been spayed? Reply Contact Emma is 4 years old, and was spayed at 8 weeks. They obviously didn't use a laser on her. She had a whack job of a spay. Her scar is still obvious, and uneven. She is not chipped or tattooed.   Teenie is old as the hills, and I don't know when she was spayed. Her scar is not obvious, but neither is the scar from her recent bladder surgery, when it was discovered that she had no uterus (I'd thought she was coming into season when she was passing stones... BAD mom  I felt so terrible!). The way I've always been told to do it is wait and see what happens.   Amanda & Bevo 2015 Libby's Monkey N The Middle, CGC, RAE, BN, CD (Bean, Chinese Crested, 1/26/08) Fluffy, Cairn Terrier, gotcha 6/10 Gaea's Pandemonium By Request (Chaos, Chinese Crested, 2/14/12) Mischief N Miracles, RAE, CGC, #1 Parson Russell Terrier in AKC Rally, 2009 (Emma, 10/13/03-1/8/10) Jewel, Italian Greyhound, 9/15/01-7/7/12

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