Could my dog be in heat again?

[MrsRobbieHart]

She had her first heat in august. It finished on the 29th of august. Spoke to vet and she advised 8 weeks until speying so she is due to go the week beginning 25th of October. Just this evening she was lying on the sofa beside me and I could smell that same smell she had when she was in heat. Then shortly after she started licking at her vulva. I’ve had a look and it doesn’t seem swollen and no bleeding. Could she be in heat again 7 weeks after finishing the last one?

Hi, vet nurse over here there is always a possibility that bitches can come into heat more frequently than we expect. Quite often we are told 1-2 times per year but some will come in more frequently, this can be breed/size related.

The best way to tell would be for your vet to take a vaginal swab as they can then tell what cells are present and if there is an indication of her coming into heat again. Alternatively they can do an external examination.

As I'm sure you understand, the difficulty with birches that have reoccurring seasons is when to spay them! Often we suggest 3 months post season to ensure internal swelling and blood supply are reduced, but if a bitch is coming into season more regularly then I would chat with your vet about the optimum time to have her done.

As a precaution I would lead walk her and of course keep her separated from any entire males for now.

Hope this helps

Oh forgot to mention that it's worth the vet taking a urine sample to rule out a UTI and a general exam to rule out other infections, some dogs are prone to vaginitis.

It would be unusual for it to be another great so soon OP (although sometimes unusual things happen!)
Is she unwell at all, or drinking a lot of water? If so I would get her seen by tomorrow at the latest, as it could be something like a UTI or even a pyometra (less likely in a young bitch but needs treating without delay if it does happen).

She doesn’t seem unwell or out of sorts. Eating and drinking as normal. It’s literally just in the last maybe hour I noticed the smell and then she was licking. I’ll keep an eye on her tomorrow and call vet if she seems uncomfortable.

Could it be her anal glands? they have a memorable smell.

I don’t know. I’m not sure I’ve ever smelt her anal glands. This is definitely the same smell as when she was in heat. Not as strong but the same.

Hi vet nurse here , i would get her seen by vet to rule out a pyometra -womb infection .
Quite unusual in a young dog but does happen , the youngest dog i have seen with a pyo was 7months old , just last month we treated a 14month old for a pyo.
Surgery needed asap with this condition.

Perfect timing for a phantom pregnancy