Neutered Female after multiple litters

I have just adopted my fourth dog.  She is my second adult female - purebread, neutered when adopted, known to have had multiple litters of pups prior to adoption.  Both dogs were 4-6 when fixed.  Both pant constantly, have bad breath and occassionally leak urine.  Two questions.  1)  Vets have always pointed out and discussed their vulva, as they are quite disdended.  Do all female dogs have disdended vulva, or is this an abnormality with my two females?  And, 2)  Are their symptoms of panting and leaking urine typical of post-maternal/late-age neutered dogs?  Was the fact that they had pups and then got fixed the cause of their suffering later in life?  My first, a beautiful Aussie, never once had her mouth shut from panting until the moment I euthenized her.  My newest, at least, only does so when she is warm or excited.  Might hormone therapy help her?

[Jaybay]

I wish I had more knowledge in this area because all my females have been spayed by 6 months.  Panting is usually a sign of either being hot, excited or stress.  With your latest adoptee, I'd vote for stress.  She's been through a whole lot in her life with all those litters and finally getting spayed and then sent to a new home.  How is getting on with your other dogs, and what is her general temperament?  I'd approach this from a behavioral standpoint first before going to any kind of medication.

[ohanamama]

Thanks for your concern.  Sophie is my only dog right now, the others have all passed.  I currently have two adopted cats also.  All female, but babies and neutered young.  Sophie came from a unique shelter here on the Big Island of Hawaii where troubled cats and dogs are sent -- available for adoption but will never be euthanized if not taken.  There were about 150 dogs and 300 cats, so if anything, she's very lonely with only two cats for company.  Her breath is bad all the time, as was Gypsy's, my first pure-bread, neutered late in life, after having pup's best friend - so I thought the distended vulva and leaking urine might be the common link.  Again, thanks for the interest.  Ohanamama.

[ginger899]

I'm not certain, but I think sometimes there can be problems with mild incontinence later in life after being spayed. This, I gather is rather rare, but not impossible. The swollen vulva, I'm not sure about. Maybe it's just the way she is. For the bad breath, check out her teeth first. She may need teeth attended to. When that's sorted, try cleaning her teeth about 3 times a week. Then get her on to a good healthy-option balanced dry dog food (with plenty of fresh water) You could add a little steamed vegetables to this to add variety.

[Ghilly]

Incontinence in spayed females is fairly common, even in females that were spayed young, so while this is inconvenient and can be a pain in the tuchus, it's nothing really to worry about.  As far as the panting thing goes, you mentioned that your one dog that panted constantly was an Aussie.  Is this latest dog an Aussie?  I don't think it's anything much to worry about whatever breed she is, but if she is also an Aussie, the fact is Aussies are "get up and go" type dogs who are constantly on the move and who really need a job to do to keep them busy.  If they don't have something to do, they get kind of frustrated and they'll try to invent something themselves to do.  They're VERY smart dogs, their minds are never at rest.  They are a problem-solving breed because that's what they do when they herd.  They need to be able to anticipate the next move that the animal they are herding is going to make.  Sometimes a lack of something to do manifests itself as frustration, and this could account for the panting.  

Think about why these dogs are bred, and what they are bred for, and it makes it easier to get inside their heads.  They are bred to herd sheep, cattle, goats, etc.  They help ranchers move cattle from pasture to pasture over thousands of acres of land, so they have to be able to go all day and not get tired.  They have boundless energy, they don't tire out like some other breeds do, because they CAN'T be bred to get tired and still do their job correctly.  The easiest way to handle this if you do not have your own herd of sheep or cattle is to find a game that both you and your dog enjoy, and play that game for an hour or two each day.  Aussies are not the type of breed that is going to be contented with a nice, long walk each day, or half an hour of playing fetch.  They need more like two to three hours of fetch to run out their energy and tire them out enough to be able to relax and sleep like other breeds.  Another way to tire her out that is great exercise for both of you is to bike her.  You ride a bicycle and she runs alongside, and that way it makes it possible for you to have enough stamina to keep up with her.  They even sell a spring-like arm attachment for the bike so that it keeps your hands free and controls her better so it doesn't interfere with your ability to steer.  Of course, the panting could also have something to do with the fact that you live in a tropical area and, since Aussies have double coats, she might just be feeling the heat more on some days than on others.

The vulva thing is probably just because she has made her living having litter after litter of puppies.   Again, nothing really to worry about, and it doesn't cause her any discomfort at all.  Congrats on adopting your best friends instead of buying them.  There are so many gorgeous dogs and cats in need of loving homes, I commend any- and everyone who does their part to help and takes one of them in.  You're special people.  :)

Ghilly

[ohanamama]

Many thanks to both of you for your comments.  FYI Ghilly - my Aussie passed away in October.  My current best friend is a Japanese Spitz -- 15 lbs of pure white fluff!