How Can I Tell If My Dog's Been Spayed?

Question

Hello. I adopted a female dog from a free classified ads website on January 11th, 2007. They said she's around 3 years old and has been spayed and is up-to-date on all of her shots. At first I believed them until I noticed her rib cage bows out a bit on both sides. I was talking to someone online and they said she should have a scar on her abdomen area if she's been spayed. I looked all the way from her abdomen to the bottom of her rib cage and I do not see any scar on her undercarriage.

Her previous owner's never gave me any proof of any of what they promised me (that she's spayed and up-to-date on her shots). I've yet to take her into see a vet. I also feel movement under her rib cage. I know it's possible it may be just food digesting which I hope. ;-)

Thanks for reading. Hopefully her scar just disappeared after time.

Answer 1

You can take it to the vet, but you can also do what the vet will do for yourself. Have someone hold the dog and pet her so as not to alarm her or cause her distress. Then, at the same time, slowly enter her butt with your index finger and her vagina with your thumb. If your fingers can touch, she been spayed. If she wasn't spayed before, she will be now.

Answer 2

There have to be a scar, very faint possibly but you will notice a scar. If you have time, you can wait and see if she come onto heat.

Let the dog lie on her side, hold your hand flat and depress her tummy with you four fingers and hold it for a few seconds. If you feel movement or bonelike structures in her tummy, she is pregnant. Don't press so hard that you hurt her.

You must try and get the proof of all the shots from the previous owner because if some was not done, your dog runs the risk of getting infected.

To make 100% sure, visit the Vet. If no proof of the shots can be obtained, ask the vet if it will be detrimental to the dogs health to get the shots again.

Answer 3

The scar does not just "disappear". It can become more faint though. Shave your dog in the middle of her tummy from her belly button down. If she has been spayed, you should see a scar about 2 inches long in the center of her tummy a couple of inches below her belly button. It will probably go lengthwise. It's possible she had a litter of puppies before being spayed and that's why her ribs bow but it's probably just from poor conformation. Could she be pregnant? I guess I would take her to the vet to find out. Also get permission from the previous owners to get her vet records sent to your vet. That way you will know any health issues the dog has had as well as shot records and if the dog was spayed there. Your vet can call for records too if you find out where she was vetted.

Answer 4

Your friends and other posters are correct. The scar is detectable, likely more so by your vet than by you, as the scar does disappear to a certain extent, and can be difficult to detect.

However, the statement that you made about your dogs belly/rib cage blowing up, does concern me, as there is a condition called "assities" that involves swelling in that area, and can be a fairly serious condition.

I would recommend that you take your dog in for a standard exam just as a precaution.

Also, if it's possible to ask the people that gave you the dog for the name of her previous vet, that could be very helpful, and see about getting her records transfered to the new vet, and or find out what shots she has been given.

Also you may want to consider taking her to her previous vet if that is possible, as they will be more acquainted with her and her history.

best of luck, hope this helps!

Answer 5

It can be difficult to tell, depending on how long ago the surgery was. The best way to see a scar is to shave the hair away so you can see the skin clearly. Another way to tell is to actually palpate the area where the incision would be. Have the dog standing in normal position, because if the is rolled over then she is stretched out and hard to feel. You will want to gently press against the midline on her abdomen and try to tell if you can feel a thicker skin, and a bumpy or ragged texture under the skin. If you are unsure, take her to the vet and they will try. If you want to know without a doubt, then they can actually open her up and look to see if she has ovaries or not. Of course this will be pricey because she will be under anesthetic and an incision will be made into her abdomen. Good luck!

Answer 6

The uterus isn't located under the rib cage - it's well back in the abdomen, between the nipples. There is a "divot" that runs along a dog's underbelly, and the spay scar will generally be in this divot. It can be hard to see and/or feel, even for a vet sometimes.

http://static.flickr.com/64/200965278_87cbd81f1a_m.jpg shows a spay scar on a cat, to give you an idea of where they're located.

Answer 7

Take her to the vet or turn her over and rub your finger down the line in her chest. You may be able to tell from the different feel of the skin line. It is very easy to see my dogs scar. So if you can't see the scar chances are she hasn't been fixed. If the previous owner's did not give you proof that is grounds for a lawsuit. Take her to the vet and get him to fill out a form stating that she has not been fixed and is not up to date on her shots. Then take those papers to a lawyer and ask him what you can do. Chances are he will tell you that you can sue to get them to fix the dog and pay to get her shots up to date.

Answer 8

If he is a younger dog they now leave tattoos to tell wether the dog has been spayed or not. There should be a small green-blackish tattoo on the lower belly of your dog. If not you can always take it to the vet and they will be able to tell rather easily. Good Luck.

Answer 9

If the Vet did an inside bikini stitch on her and she was a young puppy, it will be hard to tell. Best option, ask the Vet to be sure.

Answer 10

Take her to the vet, they'll be able to tell you for sure if she has been.