Can someone please talkto me about bitches in season.

[Disenchanted3]

My dogs have always been male so its all new to me!

I've got about 5 books and they don't really say much when it comes to this.

I have 2 bitches (littermates) one apperared to come into her first about 3 weeks ago,

she had very little/no swelling of the vulva, her blood loss was minimal and watery lasting only a few days and there was no change in temprement.

Her sister started about 10 days ago but its been much worse for her she seems so fed up. More blood lasting a week now, her vulve as very very swollen, it almost looks painful! Shes off her food, very sorrowful, wants to stay in her cage.

If I say anything to her she looks at me like Ive hurled abuse at her.

Is this normal?

Ive spoken to a dog lover friend who has had bitches in the past and she said it sounds normal to her and dogs are the same as women in that it affects them to different degrees.

The blood seems to be tailing off now.

When can I take her for a walk? I think thats upset her but this area has a lot of stray dogs and I wouldn't want to be out with her in such a state and be approached by a male dog.
Sorry I am rambling! Any advice/experience would be gratefully recieved x

i have female dogs they come into season anytime from 6 months mine came on at 8 months and then is roughly every six months. when they bled it usually for about a week and they learn to clean up after themselves and they just was to lay on bed and sleep the swelling once the bleeding stop is the dangerous time to take them out as that when they will let male near them and they move they tail out way too and they pull like made if they are on male trail. the best time is really early in morning when still dark and after nine at nine or just let them in garden which is even safer.i have female male and pup as a result of her wanting it so much even though mine have lived together 3 years before they decided to do it at 2 in morning when we went to bed. personally your safer using garden just they suddenly get a hell of lot of stregth and if they want it they will do anything to get it , one they had their first season the vet can do her 3 months after if thats any use.

Hi! Bitches are in season for around 3wks- they often bleed for the first 7-10 days, and have a swollen vulva, although some bitches do have a more "silent" season than others. The thing that catches a lot of people out is the fact that they are usually ready to mate, or accept a male dog, around day 11 (again, there is often variation in this)- as the bleeding has usually stopped by then, a lot of people assume that the bitch is no longer in season!

Assume she is in season for 21 days from day one (when she started bleeding). As far as walking goes, I would only take her out if she is small enough to pick up- male dopgs can smell a bitch in heat a mile off- we even had dogs sticking their heads through our cat flap before we had our bitch neutered! Be wary even if she out alone in the garden- I have seen many litters born by seemingly miraculous conception! hth

My bitch got pregnant 5 weeks after the start of her season!!!!! Very rare according to the vet but possible so be really careful for a few weeks.

Our 2 bitches were very different in season, one was moody, messy and lasted ages. The other was almost non existant.

I found this information to be very helpful, it explains about the different stages of her season and what symptoms to expect.

HTH

If you buy a copy of 'Book Of The Bitch' it explains all you need to know about bitches pretty much, although it is a little old fashooned, it is still a very good and informative book.

All bitches vary in season, usually the first is less blood and less symptomatic than subsequent ones. I just treat them as normal tbh, other than no walking for 4 weeks after they come in, I do not take any risks and it is sensible to keep them in around this time and not walk them. You need to watch out for phantom pregnancies and pyometra a few weeks to a couple of months after a season. Pyometra is a serious womb infectiont hat can cause death. The book above explains all this.