Is my bitch coming into season?

[izzybiz]

My SBT is nearly 7 months old and has over the past couple of weeks had a massive growth spurt!

Her back end looks very swollen, to the point that someone mistook her for a male on her walk this morning!

Her vulva and the fleshy bit behind it looks swollen, and her nipples do look bigger, I have noticed a little bit of discharge a couple of times but no blood.
Could it be her first season and maybe she is cleaning herself before dropping anything?

I will be taking her to the vet next week for a skin problem and will et her checked then, but just wondered if anyone thinks this could be it, will be looking to get her done after her first season you see.

TIA

Yes, it could be.

My DSIS breeds great Danes and from what I know they do come into season from six months. They are fertile before they start to bleed too and should be kept away from unneutered male dogs.

She could be coming into season. Most bitches get their first season between 6 and 12 months. First seasons can be very light and they can keep themselves quite clean. My bitches all keep themselves clean anyway and the most I ever notice unless I am 'looking' is a few drops of blood on the kitchen floor in the morning.

If you wipe her vulva with a clean piece of white tissue first thing in the morning before you let her out to toilet, that is most likely to show any blood, IME. Some bitches show signs of coming into season for some time before they do.

She is most likely to be fertile somewhere between days 8 and 16 of her season, although it can be any time. The bleeding usually lightens to a straw like colour and lessens when they are fertile, but keep her away from male dogs and be very careful if you decide to walk her for the entire time she is in season, usually 3 weeks from the onset of bleeding, but I allow 4 to be safe.

Do ask your vet, I assume most know what they are talking about, although my friend was once told her bitch was in season by her vet when she most certainly was not.

If you are thinking of breeding, my DSIS won't advise it until they are two years and over.

None of hers are allowed to be bred from without consent.

Thanks for replies, I will get the vet to take a look next week.
I definately won't be breeding from her, have had a few people ask me as she is a blue, aside from the fact there are too many unwanted Staffs already, I couldn't handle all the work involved!

I don't think some people realise the work involved!

My sister slept with her Dane in the whelping box for two weeks so she didn't squash the pups. They are soo tiny and the Dane bitch is massive and clumsy.

So, nearly 10 days on her bits are 4 times the size they normally are and she has kindly bled on my washing pile (that was on the table! ) and is dripping all over my kitchen floor.

So I need to keep her in for 3-4 weeks from now then? Can I still walk her when I know it will be quiet?