Is my dog in heat

[jaxie]

My female puppy is 9mths old and I have just noticed that she could possibly be in heat, but she is not swollen, she is just having a watery bloody fluid loss very small amounts. Can this happen before the swelling? It is now an official bank holiday here now, so any time spent at the vet is an emergency till tuesday. I don't want to take a dog in season, but I do want to take one that has a possible UTI. She has been different this week, she is weeing normally does not appear ill. Any info on blood before swelling would be great.

[rottcrazed]

They don't always swell at the beginning of their cycles, especially their first.

You will likely notice within the week some swelling.

My youngest just one day started bleeding, at 10 months, the swelling came about a week later.

Just observe her, if you have any doubts take her in but to me it sounds like she is in season.

Kristi

[sweetlee]

If your dog does not appear ill and not having any problem going to the bathroom, she probably is just coming into season.
Keep an eye on her, and I mean a CLOSE eye. She is probably just starting and would not stand to be bred, but better safe than sorry.
Have you noticed strange dogs hanging around your house? If not you will soon. So for awhile you are going to have to take your dog out on a leash, don't let her into the back yard alone, and be very diligent about her whereabouts.
Unless you are planning on breeding her in the future, and have an excellent reason for doing so, ( Please read breeding stickies if you are), I would be getting her spayed after this is over.


Sharon

[jaxie]

I am so getting her spayed after this I had no intention when I bought her letting her have a season, but she has a condition very similar to spay incontinence and she needs the oestrogen, so unfortunately it is something I have to do for her, but thanks for the advice.

[poohbearsmom]

I'm of the mind that pups should be allowed to 'mature' before they are speutered. The hormones that are produced not only help the physical maturation and strong muscle development, but mental maturation as well. I don't want a perpetual puppy. Granted, puppies are fun, but the end result of having a mature dog is very nice.

Not to mention the studies that have been done that show a higher propensity for bone cancer in dogs who have been subjected to early speutering.

Make sure you wait at least a month after her heat cycle to spay her, as you'll want her plumbing "back to normal" to decrease the chance of mishaps in surgery.

With a first heat, there may be very little swelling of the vulva. Some bitches swell a lot as they're coming into heat, and keep swelling as they reach standing heat, and some are a little sneakier. It depends upon the bitch.