My dog has ovarian remnant syndrome. Is a 3-month heat cycle possible?

Hi there! ORS, or ovarian remnant syndrome, will likely cause little issue for your dog health wise. You may notice heatlike symptoms with her from time to time (blood spotting, swollen vulva, etc). She may attract males but cannot get pregnant if her uterus was removed. That said, if she is still producing estrogens you have a small chance at her still getting mammary tumors since all of the tissue producing hormones was not removed. I hope this helps!

I do recommend taking Aarfaa back to where she was spayed to have he remnant removed surgically. This is best performed when she is displaying signs of heat/ season - eg when she has a swollen vulva and or discharge. If it is left she will typically have heat cycles and be attractive to male dogs which can be a nuisance. Potentially she could develop an estrogen linked infection of the stump where here cervix was - this is called a stump pyometra. I understand your concern for putting her through surgery again, but in the long term it will be better for her.

That is unusual behavior for a dog but I do not suspect it is related to her mentally thinking she is in heat. That being said, dogs can have a heat cycle if they were not spayed properly or if they have too many ovaries. Your veterinarian can preform a simple blood test to determine if ovarian tissue is present. Next time she exhibits these symptoms, have her seen while she is showing signs as a blood test is more likely to find evidence of ovaries if they are present. That will at least rule that out. Other potential causes could include Addison’s disease or anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Most dogs typically go into heat twice a year. The questions to ask yourself are: 1. Has she ever done this before? 2. Does the blood look different? 3. Is she behaving differently? Occasionally, bitches do slow their bleeding and then start up again briefly towards the end, but it is not worth the risk to assume this is the case here. If this is not how her heat cycles normally progress, it is possible that she has [pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pyometra/), or an infection of the uterus. Pyometra is common in older, intact female dogs that have recently had a heat cycle. It is a very serious condition that typically requires surgical intervention. Please bring her to your veterinarian or the nearest veterinary ER to be on the safe side. She needs to be seen ASAP, especially if she is lethargic, [feverish](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever) or has a tender abdomen.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Trixie. I agree, this does not sound right. It sounds like she is showing heat behaviors, and this can be a sign of an ovarian remnant left behind. I'd have her seen by a vet today or tomorrow for a hormone stimulation test. This will diagnose if she does have an ovarian remnant or not. If she does, she will need surgery to remove it. Best of luck.

No, dogs typically have a heat cycle every 6 months. That said, some dogs may have more than two. Diet, stress and general health may also play roles in heat cycles. Consider an exam with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any medical causes if necessary. If Joshie is not a show dog or a breeding dog, consider having her spayed to prevent future cycles and uterine infection when she is older.

This is definitely possible that she is already back in heat. She could also have an infection so be sure to keep an eye out for any abnormal behavior like not eating, lethargy, or vomiting. If you see any abnormal behavior or just want to be sure, I would have your vet take a look at her to ensure she is healthy. I would not breed her during this heat cycle since she just had a litter. I hope this helps!