Over the past thirty-three years, I have had seven dogs, five of which were females. They are below, in order, and whether or not I had them spayed or fixed as puppies:
- Josi (spayed as a puppy)
- Roxy (did not spay her until she was seven years old)
- Luke (neutered at one year old, so he and Roxy did not have a litter of puppies because they started sniffing around, getting interested)
- Clio (spayed as a puppy, as she was a rescue)
- Phoebe (did not have her spayed until after she had a litter of puppies at four and a half years old)
- Otis (neutered at a year and a half after he and Phoebe mated, creating a litter of puppies)
- Lucy (spayed as a puppy at six months old at the same time as her mama, Phoebe)
I was in my early twenties when I had Roxy. The reason I waited to have her spayed was that we didn’t have the money to do so until later, when Luke was born. On the other hand, when we got Phoebe, I waited because she was such a unique, amazing, and awesome dog that I didn’t want her lineage to end.
When my ex-husband brought home Otis as a puppy, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. We were able to have private dog training sessions in our home for him and Phoebe, but veterinarians were only performing emergency surgeries.
Because the wait list to spay or neuter puppies was over a year long, as a direct result, once Phoebe went into heat, she and Otis went to town, so to speak. Let me just say that it was not as beautiful as I imagined, nor was the birth of the puppies!
Rover.com has this to say regarding whether dogs go through menopause when spayed, “…spayed dogs are technically in menopause because their ovaries are removed, and they no longer have sex hormones in their body. By human definition, a spayed dog can be considered “in menopause” because they no longer have menstrual cycles,”.
Do dogs have menopause symptoms
Recently, as a female human, I have been experiencing some difficult menopause symptoms, which have made me wonder if my sweet little Lucy is also suffering symptoms from a lack of estrogen. Between peri and full-on menopause, to date, I have had the following symptoms:
- Lower back pain
- Joint pain
- Cramping
- Pelvic pain
- Nerve pain in my legs
- Extreme exhaustion
- Hot flashes
- Very thirsty
- Insomnia
- Sleep apnea (I snore so loud it wakes me up, and I feel like I need to catch my breath)
- Light headedness
- Periods of depression and anxiety
- Forgetful
- Sore breasts
- Decreased libido
According to Spruce Pets, “Spaying a dog removes its reproductive organs, specifically the ovaries and the uterus. This procedure is called an ovariohysterectomy and is commonly performed on puppies starting around six months of age. Spayed dogs who have had a complete ovariohysterectomy will not have heat cycles, not bleed vaginally, are unable to become pregnant, and cannot develop diseases of the uterus including infections known as pyometra.
No, dogs do not go through menopause like humans do. Dogs that have not been spayed will continue to have heat cycles, and therefore bleed once or twice a year, for their entire lives unless they are pregnant or get spayed,”.
However, on the contrary, Kalmpets cites the following impact of removing oestrogen:
Physical
- Changes in Metabolism and Weight Gain
- Coat and Skin Changes
- Urinary Incontinence
- Bone Health
- Increased Risk of Urinary Tract Infections
Emotional and Behavioral Effects
- Increased Anxiety
- Aggression or Irritability
- Lack of Motivation
- Compensatory Behaviors,”.
Low estrogen in dogs
Since our little Lucy recently turned four years old, we have not seen any physical side effects due to the lack of estrogen (oestrogen) hormones in her body. After further research, I have noticed that she does exhibit some emotional and behavioral effects.
For example, Lucy does have some anxiety around new people or people she has not seen in a while. I just chalked it up to her adjusting to life without her mama in the last year and thought she was learning how to behave without her mother’s guidance. Let’s see what the pros have to say.
Experts at Healthy and Happy Dog have conducted a thorough review of research on the effects of estrogen deficiency and spayed dogs. They found that, “For female dogs who exhibit signs of agitation (sometimes to the point of panic), generalized anxiety, fear of new people, dogs or new situations, they may be deficient in estradiol as well as progesterone. Research in humans provides us some very strong evidence as to what the removal/imbalance of female hormones can do with respect to brain chemistry and its effects upon personality.
In fact, among endocrine specialists, it is recognized that the broader aim of raising awareness of the mental health implications of women’s gynecological conditions has been neglected. In one section of this linked article there is a discussion of mood disorders associated with “Dysregulation of the HPA Axis”, which is a common problem among spayed dogs,”.
Once a veterinarian makes a diagnosis, there are ways to help our female furry family members who cannot produce estrogen, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) like those prescribed for human females in menopause. I have decided to do HRT for myself because of all the negative side effects I am currently experiencing.
After working with my gynecologist, we have come up with an HRT plan which includes an estrogen patch, changed twice a week, as well as a progesterone pill I take nightly. Along with diet and low-impact exercise that includes weight training, I am hoping that I can make it through menopause without suffering from too many of the earlier-mentioned side effects.
*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional medical or psychological advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a healthcare professional should you or a trusted loved one deem it necessary.
Do dogs go through menopause when spayed
In conclusion, even though dogs do not experience menopause, spaying them can prevent certain health issues and unwanted pregnancies, but could also cause other negative health outcomes. It’s essential to consult with a veterinarian to determine the best options for our furry family member’s health and well-being, while always prioritizing their care and happiness.