Puppy's first season - how can I make her more comfortable? Also when would it be safe for doggy day care?

[lionpaws]

Beagle pup is six months old and is just coming into her first season. She seems very fed up and sorry for herself. I think she's in some discomfort. Doesn't want to go outside at all. She's a bit swollen with some discharge. She's been very clingy today. Bless her.

Also, she's booked into doggy day care on 10 March (we have a hospital appointment at a far away specialist hospital so will be out all day). Will it be safe for her to go by then?!

[MaryIsA]

Possibly not. Ours was about 6 weeks. Very out of sorts, snappy with other dogs. Then phantom pregnancy.

Is there a dog boarder you can leave her with, dog care 8n the home?

[ashmts]

I have no idea but I'm so glad you've started this thread as I think we're just about to go through the same thing with our almost 6 month old cocker spaniel. She goes to daycare about three times a week anyway. We've spoken to the owner and he's hoping she can still attend as it's a tiny daycare and he only has girls or neutered males. I'd speak to the daycare and see what they think but if it's only a one-off you might be best getting someone to watch her, have you got family or friends who'd do one day?

Is there a lot of bleeding when they're in season? I saw you can buy dog nappies, is this worth doing? Trying to prepare.

[Happytentoes]

Talk to the day care. They may have an isolation area for bitches in season - if they do - . Do you trust them to keep her safe?

Personally I would rather go for a kennel where she can be housed completely separately.

[MaryIsA]

How to make her more comfortable, we took ours out on lead walks around the streets, to sniff, and very unlikely to be any dogs not on a lead.

We talk her on some off lead walks where we were unlikely to meet other dogs, but kept a real close eye on her. She did do one running off and not coming back = which was very out of character.

She went off her food, was more sleepy and was out of sorts with people and things. So we made sure she had somewhere comfortable to sleep and tried to stop her being stressed. Basically she spent a month wanting the dog equivalent of lying on the sofa with a hot water bottle and eating chocolate.

the phantom pregnancy was a pain, we had to take away her soft toys, and she had to have medicine as she started producing milk.

[lionpaws]

@ashmts not much blood at all so far. She had weed and pooed in her crate when we came down this morning though, which she hasn't done for a long time now. The last few days she's had a few wee accidents in the kitchen too. She's just really sleepy and dopey at the moment.

[lionpaws]

@MaryIsA thanks for the tips. We did a lead walk this morning and she stayed by my side the whole time, she looked like a model of good dog behaviour!!

She is very sleepy and just wants to lay on the sofa, exactly as you say. It's very out of character for her. She barked at her food bowl this morning but then did eat her breakfast.

Will give the day care a call and see what they say. I have a friend who might come and WFH in our house for the day if she can't go to day care.

[lionpaws]

@Happytentoes thanks, I'll call the day care and see if they have special arrangements. If she can't go, I have a friend who I could ask to come and be with her for the day. She's WFH so she could just bring her laptop and work here

[Happytentoes]

Hope the appointment goes well. Enjoy your beautiful puppy😁