My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Pets

Bitch with first season - expert advice urgently needed!!!

14 replies

Callmemadam · 25/04/2006 22:44

My gorgeous pointer bitch is in season and has been bleeding since Sat/Sunday. The vet said she would be fertile from day 10, but didn't say for how many days she would stay fertile? Can anyone tell me? The thought of keeping a pointer in the garden without her usual long walks is very worryingGrin
Also, both my other dogs are neutered, but my Parson Jack Russell was only snipped a fortnight ago. Can he still get her pregnant, as the message hasn't got from his b*s to his brain yet!?

OP posts:
Report
brimfull · 25/04/2006 23:06

sorry don't know ,phone the vet in the morning.

Report
Joannie2 · 26/04/2006 15:48

Hi, all bitches are different. She may not be fertile for a few days yet (some are not fertile until days 19/20), but you will not know (your boys will though Wink ). Keep her away from all entire male until at least day 25 (I would play it safe and say day 28). Now to your boy, yes he may still be able to mate with her and produce a litter, he will still have sperm in this "bits" and probably still have the urge to get to her (he could actually be fertile for a few months yet, so best keep a close eye on him). Keep him away from your girl, actually it is best if you send him to stay with relatives as he may get very upset and try to get to your girl. Men, eh.

Report
Callmemadam · 26/04/2006 23:26

Hmm thank you J, I think I will allow 28 days, now I understand how the vet expressed it. Presumably that means no exercise in the woods, or can I take her if on a lead?

OP posts:
Report
Joannie2 · 27/04/2006 10:21

I know how fustrating it is for you (and her) but to be on the safe side I wouldn't walk her until after her 28 days. She is a big dog and it would be difficult to get her away if a male did decide to get randy. She will also be responsive to the male, so you would have a job on your hands keeping them apart. If you make sure she is mentally stimulated with lots of games and challenges, 3 weeks in the garden won't be too hard on her. Just a thought, make sure that your garden is completely dog proof - a male after a bitch will scale six foot fences to get to her.

Keeping an unneutered bitch is very do-able but sometimes you need eyes in the back of your head. Good Luck Smile

Report
shimmy21 · 27/04/2006 10:37

Hello, sorry to butt in but I've been wondering exactly the same questions about my bitch due to have her first season any time soon. I am convinced that she is going to do it exactly when we have our holiday away in a cottage in July ( all planned to be dog friendly etc). Stupid question but is there any way vets can delay a season so this doesn't happen?

If it does will boarding kennels take a bitch in season? We have absolutely no alternative home for her.

Report
shewhoneverdusts · 27/04/2006 11:02

We put our bitch in kennels when she was about 7 months old and due to come into season and they were ok to have bitches in season. It depends on the individual kennels. Although I have to say I would never put her there again!!! Don't know about delaying it, speak to your vet I guess. Our bitch is 2 and 1/2 now and still 'un done'. I just lead walk her and not in parks etc when she is in season.

Report
shimmy21 · 27/04/2006 11:16

thanks shewhoneverdusts. Like the name by the way! Smile

Report
Hopecat · 27/04/2006 11:41

Another reason for keeping your fertile lady in the garden is for the sake of other dog-owners.

As a callow, inexperienced owner with a bitch in her first season, I took her out at about 7am to the park on a lead, and about 3 dogs tried to jump her. Felt really sorry for the other owners trying to get their frenzied dogs under control. Blush

Learned my lesson then and there.

Also, other bitches can get very aggravated if they sense your bitch is on heat (hence 'bitchy'). Mine gets really aggressive if she comes across a bitch on heat in the park, and she's really mellow the rest of the time.

Report
Joannie2 · 27/04/2006 18:11

Very good point Hopecat - many off lead dogs who under any other circumstances have perfect recall forget all training when an in season bitch is around.

Shimmy, there is an injection that can stop a bitch coming into season, but I have heard alot of people say that it messed around with the dogs hormones and in some cases it took over a year for the bitch to come into season again after the injection. I would talk it over with your vet. Hope it all works out for you.

Report
NotAnOtter · 27/04/2006 18:13

my dp vet i will ask him but he is still at wok till after 7 !

Report
throckenholt · 27/04/2006 18:33

take for walks on a lead, or where few other dogs are, or do what a friend does - stick a pair of knickers on her when out walking Grin

Report
Callmemadam · 27/04/2006 19:17

Yeah, my vet suggested putting a Huggie on her (seriously!) to aviod the bleeding and to deter males....obviously hasn't seen her chewing, then Grin

OP posts:
Report
Hopecat · 27/04/2006 20:22

We put pull-up nappies with a hole cut for the tail on ours. She wasn't keen, but we got some very cute photos and it kept the sofa white.

(I'm from the TTC thread, if you hadn't guessed).

Report
RTKangaMummy · 27/04/2006 20:38

Our labrador bitch was un done all her life

she would keep herself very clean Smile

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.