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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Pup has come into season.

27 replies

MiseryBusiness · 07/03/2012 09:04

We obviously want to spey her but our local vets wouldnt do it until she was between 6 - 7 months which we thought would be fine.

She turned six months 2 weeks ago so we booked her in to be speyed and was due to go in on Monday but yesterday she was behaving a bit odd, off her food and sleeping a lot and I had a feeling something wasn't quite right and this morning she has come into season.

I've given her old towels to lay on as she didnt seem to want to go in her bed. We wont walk her as we dont want her to become pregnant.

Any advice on making her feel comfortable - she looks terribly sorry for herself!

We were due to fly home to the UK in just over 3 weeks and she was going to stay with our trainer so I'll have to try and cancel our flights.

Bless her though, she looks so depressed

OP posts:

glasscompletelybroken · 07/03/2012 10:11

Our beagle is 10 months and having her forst season. She is taking it very badly and has taken to sitting with her head down looking utterly depressed.

We have carried on walking her - just very short walks on the lead, and have given her lots of cuddles as she seems to want the attention. I don't know what else you can do to make them feel better - they just have to go through it I suppose.

Mama1980 · 07/03/2012 10:46

My springer went into season at 10 months, it didn't really affect her to be honest. One thing is that my vet won't spay her now for 3-4 months and as its no feasible for her to not go out I walk her on the lead but give her plenty of free play in our garden. I did find she was partial to a warm hot water bottle

Original poster

MiseryBusiness · 07/03/2012 10:55

Spoken to her Vet this morning. They've asked me to phone them as soon as it's over and they'll book her in 12 weeks from then.

The Vet also said that it's probably a good thing to let her have a season as it helps them mature but I thought that information was a bit out of date and that generally it's thought to be fine to Spey a dog before her 1st season?

Anyway, she's getting lots of cuddles. DH has said he'll take her out late in the evening and avoid all other dog walkers if she is up to it.

OP posts:

yesbutnobut · 07/03/2012 13:28

I'd be very interested to hear others' views on the best time to spay. My breeder said wait until after the first season but my vet is adamant it should be done around 5 months. Since my pup is now 4 months old that date is looming but she is small (cavalier kcs) and it would seem a major operation to put her through. What do others think?

cedmonds · 07/03/2012 13:44

We say to wait untill they have at least one season.

NoMoreMarbles · 07/03/2012 13:49

I too am interested in this info

My Dalmatian-staff cross pup was 7 months the day before yesterday and appears to have come into season today! She is a little mopey and wants more cuddles but otherwise ok. I was hoping to get her speyed as soon as possible and our vet said 6months or first season whichever comes first but nothing about waiting 12weeks etc... We were planning on booking her in at the beginning of April as I start my gardening leave pre-redundancy then so can spend the time helping her recouperate...

yesbutnobut · 07/03/2012 13:53

NoMore - I believe if pup has come into season you have to wait 3 months so that she is in-between seasons before spaying. That said, a vet may do it but it will be a more difficult operation and will cost a lot more I would have thought. Hopefully someone more experienced than me will come along.

Cedmonds, I think you are a breeder. Seems the breeders say wait until pup has matured whilst the vets say do it before the first season. I know my breeder, who I keep in very regular touch with, would be mortified if I spayed my pup at 5 months, but my vet is adamant this is best.

NoMoreMarbles · 07/03/2012 14:03

As a totally unrelated to the topic aside...OP LOVE your name my favourite song

yesbutnobut · 07/03/2012 14:06

NoMore - your dalmation/staff cross sounds gorgeous BTW!

NoMoreMarbles · 07/03/2012 14:48

yesbut thanks she's lovely

swallowedAfly · 07/03/2012 14:54

don't panic too much about walking - don't bet on it but generally it's later on that they are fertile and would accept intercourse, till then they don't. also it doesn't create quite the frenzy in male dogs that i was expecting. i still walked her round the same nature reserve i always do but kept her on the lead unless it was deserted or just a female dog around. was expecting males to go wild for her but they didn't actually - maybe they're mostly neutered round here.

as for the misery just lots of fuss i think and be ready for incontinence - let her out more often to go to the loo and if she's pacing around let her out etc. my dog went back to weeing when overexcited or just spontaneously for no reason and also did poos in the house joy!

lots of fuss, lots of tolerance and try not to worry.

swallowedAfly · 07/03/2012 14:56

i think there is less chance of bleeding and complications if they do the operation midway between seasons from what the vet told me.

NoMoreMarbles · 07/03/2012 15:08

i have put a pic on my profile of my Daisy she is currently asleep on my feet after sitting looking very sorry for herself...

Original poster

MiseryBusiness · 07/03/2012 15:36

Thanks NoMore - it's a great song!

I think you have to wait 12 weeks for the swelling etc to go down so its a more straightforward op and less chance of complications.

Dalmatian X Staff sounds adorable.

Both ours are Dalmatians but we had our older one Spayed at about 7 months and it was before her 1st season so not much experience of this.

She hasnt started peeing more yet but we are letting her out more often as the vet said she may need to go more now. She's just generally feeling very sorry for herself.

OP posts:

swallowedAfly · 07/03/2012 15:41

give it time MB - think we were a couple of weeks in before the incontinence started. hopefully you won't have it and the whole business won't go on soooooo loooooooong with yours

midori1999 · 07/03/2012 15:57

I would advise against walking her when she is in season. It is not fair to your bitch or other dog owners to walk her. Dogs can be 'raped'. (I hate using that term, but can't think of any other)

I find the best way to deal with in season bitches is to be very matter of fact and treat them as normal, more training/stuff in the garden to counteract no walking. We occasionally have a bit of moping, but they soon snap out of it.

Personally, I would have a bitch spayed after her first season. This does increase the risk of mammary tumours slightly in comparison to getting them spayed prior to their first season, but not by much. There is some evidence to suggest that spaying before the first season can increase the risk of or exacerbate joint problems due to when the growth plates close and also increase the risk of bone cancers. Some vets prefer to spay prior to a first season, some after. Best to discuss with your vet and see what they say, but do make sure they discuss risks as well as benefits.

OP, I personally wouldn't cancel your flights if they are in 3 weeks.

swallowedAfly · 07/03/2012 16:51

your dog is not going to be raped if she's walking on lead with you in an area you are familiar with and you are switched on and aware of your surroundings, any other dogs around etc.

if you walk your dog on lead on paths around your village/town for example (that you know well and know not to be frequented by roaming dogs) this is not going to happen ffs.

daisydotandgertie · 07/03/2012 18:06

It's a pretty selfish thing to do though - the behaviour of dogs really can be massively difficult/obsessed if they get a whiff of an in season bitch and they will just about cross an ocean to get to her too. It can also alter their temperament for a while too.

Without experience, it's also difficult to spot exactly when a bitch is ovulating and therefore hussy like in her need to get at a dog. It is easy to underestimate how determined a bitch can be at the right time - and how agressive she can be at the wrong time.

It's a risk I'm not comfortable taking tbh.

I really don't think bitches should be taken out when there is a chance of meeting other dogs - but if you do, and if the worst happens, kneel by the side of the dogs and cup your hand over your bitch's vulva and shout for the owner of the dog to come and help. You may end up with the dogs penis bashing the back of your hand, but you should be able to prevent him penetrating her.

Original poster

MiseryBusiness · 07/03/2012 18:54

I am a bit nervous of other male dogs trying to make puppies with her.

We live in Germany and in a city that doesnt allow dogs to be walked off lead in any area but there are some that break the rules.

DH says he could take her in the forest in the dead of night 10 pm and they would be unlikely to come across any other dogs but im still not so sure.

Midori1999 - The vet told us she is likely to be in season for at least a month if not more and that no kennels would accept her so we thought the best thing to do would be to cancel the holiday?

OP posts:

swallowedAfly · 07/03/2012 18:54

it is not selfish to take your dog out in an area you know well - clearly if you live in an area where people let their dogs roam free in the street and there are irresponsible owners around then yes that would not be a good idea. if you live on a street with no dogs it's hardly selfish to take your dog out on the lead for a walk round the street fgs.

i think it is an awful idea to have a dog shut in for potentially a month because you lack the confidence or common sense to take it for a walk safely. not sure you should have a female dog if you feel that incompetent as you can't take care of it's needs.

swallowedAfly · 07/03/2012 18:55

that was to daisy btw.

i reckon just a walk round the streets on lead late at night would do MB.

midori1999 · 07/03/2012 20:13

Hahaha @ incompetent.... Free roaming dogs or not, dogs can and will go to extreme lengths to get to in season bitches and that includes but isn't exclusive to, jumping 6 or 7ft fences and digging under them and also getting away from their owners when they wouldn't usually do any such thing. Determined bitches can have recall fail too and a dog can smell an in season bitch from miles away. For the last reason I also don't allow in season bitches unsupervised garden access.

OP, bitches are usually in season for around 3 weeks, I'm very suprised at what your vet said tbh. They can ovulate at ANY time during their season and it is wise not to take unecessary risks.

daisydotandgertie · 07/03/2012 20:48

But I do think it's selfish. Especially during ovulation when both a dog and bitch will be desperate in their behaviour; absolutely beyond frantic.

The trouble is that bitches can ovulate at any point from about day 7 until about day 21, so while it's probably OK to lead walk up until day 7, beyond that I really don't think it is OK. Personally I'd avoid late at night because you can't see who's coming (ie dog or bitch), and because it's traditionally a time that dogs with behavioural problems are taken out, and you really don't want to meet one of them with an in season bitch.

Add to that, the owner of a bitch probably CAN protect their girl from a randy dog and race off home, BUT the owner of the dog can then be faced with some pretty serious behavioural problems for weeks and sometimes months afterwards.

It is only a few days. Use the time you'd be out walking to do some training in the garden, play some news games. It will fly by.

Original poster

MiseryBusiness · 08/03/2012 08:51

Thanks everyone for your advice.

She is still moping about feeling sorry for herself but she's getting lots of cuddles!

We've decided not to walk her and just do some training/fetch in the garden. Hopefully this will at least keep her entertained for a while

OP posts:

Sausagedog27 · 08/03/2012 09:11

We walked our dog when she was in season and it was fine - no attempted rapes or anything! To be honest, if someone had said I was irresponsible in walking her, I would have said that they too were irresponsible in not having their male dogs 'done' (prepared to be flamed for this, but why should it be one and not the other, unless with male or female dogs are to be used for breeding which is different). A young dog around the corner was attracted to the smell, but there was no issue there. Walks were generally much shorter anyway as she was feeling sorry for herself. Our dog came into season at 6months and then was spayed 12 weeks later - vets recommended this way. Good luck!

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