April is National Adopt-a-Greyhound-Month. Every year, rescue groups, including The Greyhound Project, put out the word that they have dogs looking for homes. There are large numbers of dog racetracks across this country, and greyhounds and whippets are the breeds of choice for trainers and gamblers in this sport.
It’s a tough world for these pooches. Rigorous training and a confined lifestyle are the norm; many rarely see open fields or grassy lawns where they can play, walk or run. When one of these dogs fails to show promise as a winning racer, he or she is quickly discarded. So there are lots of dogs, considered losers on the track, that are in need of a home. And these canines are anything but losers when it comes to their “pet” potential. Greyhounds make wonderful, calm and loving companions. And despite their reputation as runners, retired greyhounds are easygoing, often referred to as couch potatoes. They love companionship with humans and are devoted to their family. These dogs are fantastic pets, and if you want to find out more, visit The Greyhound Project at www.adopt-a-greyhound.org.
Q:
Our dog, Misa, was spayed last year. She had no trouble with surgery and recovered quickly at home afterward. Here’s our problem. She seems to be in heat right now. She is swollen and has a slight bloody discharge. And the neighbor’s dog is on our back porch as I write this. Can a spayed female really come into heat? Was there something wrong with the surgery?
A:
Sounds like a kind of nightmare at your home. Yes, it’s possible (but very uncommon) for a spayed female to show signs of estrus. There are several possible explanations for Misa’s situation. Here are the two most likely ones.
First, she may have a vaginal infection. This could be a post-surgery problem or it may be due to the penetration of a foxtail or other plant material. (Female dogs can easily pick up foxtails when they run and play in a weedy garden or field.) Vaginal infections produce an odor that attract male dogs. This would explain the interest your neighbor’s dog is showing. Her bleeding could also be a symptom of infection.
It’s less likely that Misa has some circulating estrogens originating from somewhere other than her ovaries. The routine spay procedure removes the uterus and ovaries. So she shouldn’t have any hormonal surge if her surgery was routine. But in unusual cases, a female dog can have a small ectopic site on her spleen or liver that secretes this hormone and causes her to appear as though she is in estrus. She acts like she’s in season, but she cannot conceive a litter of puppies.
Misa needs a thorough examination to determine whether or not she has an infection. If so, your problems will be over once she starts treatment and medication. If her problem is hormonal, your veterinarian will have some options for you to help with this dilemma. Either way, once this is over, that unwanted neighbor dog will have better things to do than to hang around your back door. By the way, you might mention to your neighbor that his pooch (not to mention you and your neighbors) will be a lot happier if he’s neutered.
Q:
Our cat recently dragged a dead crow onto our back porch. This is a huge bird, and I didn’t think Calvin was much of a hunter. We think maybe this bird was already sick or dying when our kitty found him. If so, should we worry about Calvin?
A:
Crows aren’t often captured by cats so I wonder if this bird may have been unhealthy. I’m not too worried about Calvin’s safety. But because of our concern about West Nile Virus in this area, you should call Santa Clara County Vector Control. They will pick up the bird and test it for the virus. Time is important; if you wait too long, the carcass degrades and they can’t run accurate tests. So call Vector Control right away at (408) 918-4770.
Pete Keesling is a retired veterinarian and hosts Dr. Pete’s Petpourri, Sundays at 1 p.m. and Friday mornings at 7:10 on KSCO 1080 AM. Reach him at [email protected].
