'Silent' season...anyone whose dog had one of these??!!!

[whispywhisp]

My 10mth old JRTx female has just had her first season but she didn't bleed! She had all the other signs...ie swelling up 'down below' and swollen teats etc but no blood. She's been to the vet and they checked her over confirming she'd had her season and to wait for the swelling to go down (which its already started to do so) before we get her spayed.

I want to get her spayed ASAP but thought I'd let her have her first season beforehand because I'd always thought it was better for her.

Now I'm at a loss as to know whats best. Should I let her have another go or should I get her spayed now? She also has a docked tail - she came from a travellers camp where they were still docking even though its illegal - and I was advised by the vet that because she has a docked tail if we were to spay her too early she could become incontinent in later life because, evidentally, the pelvic muscles are also in the tip of the tail but because she has no tail apart from a stump it wouldn't be adviseable to spay her until she has a proper season.

Any thoughts anyone? TIA.

Please don't spay her until 3months after the end of her season as you run the risk of her becoming stuck in a hormone loop for ever. That sounds scary, but it basically means if she's spayed too early, her hormone levels don't drop like they would, and she could be more prone to being a moody bitch (hence the saying!) and her chances of developing urinary incontinence can increase again.

Given she's now had her season, I would say to spay her in 3months which is the guideline my vet uses and seems to be a common, but good one.

Even though she didn't bleed? The vet said that her next season (because she didn't bleed with this first one) could come as soon as 6 wks from now!

Dogs tend to cycle every 6 months, not every 6 weeks. We spey mid way between seasons because all the organs internally are at their smallest midway and make surgery easier. The hormone issues referred to above are probably to do with those bitches who show signs of a false pregnancy - that is the body produces hormones that make believe it is pregnant but isn't. If you spey whilst this is happening it can be prolonged, but there are treatments now that can break this and it does not mean a rest of life situation by any means. As for docked tails...not a problem that I am aware of. Most vets now spey before the first season at 6 months old, indeed some rescue centres are now neutering at a few weeks old with no apparent long term effects. Waiting for another season is not going to be useful here in my opinion. I speyed my own dog at 6mths before she had had a season. At nearly 14 we have no incontinance issues at all.

Hi Beautifulgirls...again you've been very helpful!

Millie is now just coming up to 11 months old. Her teats are still slightly swollen. She was swollen 'down below' a few weeks ago but thats all gone back to normal. Can you please tell me when I should get her spayed based on your experience? I'm so in two minds as to know what is right for her etc.

I would leave her until 3 months since she had the swelling settle and get her done then. If she does have any signs of swollen teats at that time get it checked with the vet then for false pregnancy before you spey her. If there are signs of a false pregancy at that time either wait until it settles by itself then spey her, or ask the vet to prescribe galastop for her to get her out of it then spey her asap after that is done.

OK - thank you BG. I wasn't sure how long to wait but I will wait three months from now because her teats have now virtually gone down. Knowing my luck she'll have another attempt at a season before then or something else will happen with her! The vet said she was 'hormonally imbalanced' !!!....I can think of a few other names to give her! She's completely loopy and currently, as I'm sat typing this, growling at her own reflection in the oven door!

Thanks again for your very helpful advice. x