Can My Spayed Dog Possibly be in Heat?

Question:
I had my dog spayed about a year ago but I just noticed that her vaginal area is swelling now as it did when she was in heat before her spaying. What could this be?

A:  I would recommend having your dog examined by a veterinarian.

The vaginal tissue could swell for a few reasons.  The most common cause in a spayed female is due to an infection, either yeast or bacterial, or allergies that are irritating the sensitive skin in the area.  These types of infections need to be treated fairly aggressively.

If there was any ectopic ovarian tissue in your dog's abdomen (tissue that may have fallen off the ovary, or excessive ovarian tissue) that was missed during the spay, there is a potential that your dog may still be producing the hormones needed to go into a heat cycle.  I would recommend having your dog examined by a veterinarian to determine the cause of the vaginal swelling.

~Dr. Page Wages

Oberlin Animal Hospital