First season - what do I need to do?

[blurdylurdy]

Hi - my weimaraner has just started her first season. She's 10 and a half months old. We have absolutely no intention of breeding from her, she's just a much-loved pet, but thought she should have her first season after listening to much (often conflicting) advice before we get her spayed.

She's dripping little bits just now and is lethargic (has been for a few days). What do I need to do/know? We have wooden floors throughout the house so can just clean up when needs be, and an enclosed garden. She can go on walks where she won't see other dogs as we live in a rural area and there are parts where no one goes apart from us, but I'm not sure of some other things.

How long will she bleed for?
Will she be in pain - do dogs get cramps like us (I know that's probably a daft question, but I have no experience of this)?
Someone mentioned some sort of pants for them to wear a while back - is that necessary, will she lose a lot?

Any advice very welcome and apologies for the silly questions.

My beagle had her first season last December. she dripped every now and then, just moped it up.
Walked her on lead.
Lasted 3 weeks
Didn't do anything else.
She cleaned herself.
Had her spayed this week, bit late as vet said should have op three months after start of season.

That's it really.

my jrt got a bit sad and wasnt herself. vet said for some dogs it was like us with pms. not much blood. lasted 3 weeks. our garden was secure but a neighbour's dog dug under garden gate to try to get to her

My lab had her first season at 7 months. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. Her bed was quite messy first thing in the morning so I laid towels on it each night. During the day she kept herself very clean through licking, left the odd spot here and there.

In the evenings I did put down a towel in the lounge for her to lie on so as not to mess up the floor.

She bled for 14 days and was a bit quieter than normal and slept alot. Then for the next 3 days she was desperate to get out and was rubbing herself on the grass outside This was her fertile time and she would have liked some 'ummmmm 'action'. Then she went back to normal.

I walked her on the lead late in the evening and away from other dogs whilst she was bleeding but kept her in during her 'fertile' time as I think she would have gone looking for a mate! Then we were back to normal.

We had her spayed after her first season though. Only complication was that she had a phantom pregnancy after the season and had to have some tablets as she started producing milk! . According to my vet this is not uncommon though and within 48 hours of taking the tablets she was fine.

I was really worried about it but it was fine, not a very big deal at all.

Thanks so much - thought I was imagining that she seemed to be a bit listless and period-y!

So, do they 'work' differently to us? If the worry is that they get pregnant when they bleed, how does that work with ovulation? Are they just fertile for much longer?

I stand to be corrected but I think they are fertile for the 3-5 days immediately after they stop bleeding. Although they are attractive to males for the entire time they are in season.

Bitches bleed most often for three weeks during a season, but it does tail off towards the end of that and also become 'straw' coloured around the time of ovulation. A bitch can become pregnant at any time during her season or possibly just after, but they most often ovulate around days 10-14. When they ovulate is different for every bitch though and even every season.

I would be extremely careful about walking a bitch in season. Dogs can be attracted from miles away. Also, if she is receptive and the male keen, you may well struggle to prevent them tying. Even if your bitch isn't receptive, some dogs can be very determined/forceful and even if they don't mate, things can turn very nasty and end in a fight. I don't walk my bitches now when in season as there are too many entire male dogs about and I don't like to risk them, oinstead I spend time playing with them in the garden and doing extra training. (I don't allow them in the garden unsupervised either).

If your bitch does get a phantom after, dropping their food slightly and upping their exercise will dry any milk up, no need for any medication. Also, keep toys or things she wants to carry around and 'baby' away from her. Treat her gently but matter of factly.

Do not take her for a walk. Dogs can smell bitches in season for miles away!