younger dog questions

[vandeman17]

I have a few questions for you guys about my dog. If you can help me with any or all it would be much appreciated. My first question is about her cycle. She went into her first heat, at nine months, starting on New Years day. I did alot of reading and it says the average cycle is about 3 weeks give or take. She bled for a few weeks and then stopped but is still swollen and her teats still look full and engorged. It has been like 6 weeks now. Any thoughts? Also, for the past few months, her appetite has been hit and miss. Some days she will eat her food no problem, and then others she will barely touch it. Her energy is never lacking but it just makes me worry a bit that she isn't eating all the time.... 

[luvtohnt]

From my experience the first cycle is always abnormal. My older dog never cycled until she was 18 months, and it lasted for about 5 weeks (swelling and bleeding). She is also a very picky eater, but that started before her first cycle. My new younger dog had her first cycle at 7 months, and it was about 2 weeks long, then she had her next at 16 months starting on December 18Th. She is still having swelling and engorged teats. I really wonder if there was a full moon around the end of December and it is messing with their cycle. She is also a ferocious eater, never misses a meal and tries to steal food from the other dogs, but again that started before her first cycle. So in other words I think dogs are just different and as long as she is healthy just let it be and it will eventually stop. Just hope the continued swelling and engorgement does not mean she is pregnant!!

Brandon

[vandeman17]

Just hope the continued swelling and engorgement does not mean she is pregnant!!

Brandon

That is what I am worried about. The only time she is out of my sight is when she is in our fenced back yard and that didn't start until a month after her cycle started. Prior to that she was on lock down at my folks house in their kennel.

[Special T]

I've heard of dogs getting it though a chain link fence before... 

[vandeman17]

I've heard of dogs getting it though a chain link fence before... 

Ya, this is a 7 foot slatted board fence with no openings so I am hoping that isn't the case.

[Happy Gilmore]

My female and two others I know also came in on new years day? first cycle always wacks out the females- lots of new hormones.

She would have been ovulating around Jan 10-13. Her gestation period would mean she's due to deliver pups around the end of the first week in March-

bagged up bitch needs to go to the vet- if you're lucky it could be a false pregnancy- sounds like she got tapped.

[vandeman17]

My female and two others I know also came in on new years day? first cycle always wacks out the females- lots of new hormones.

She would have been ovulating around Jan 10-13. Her gestation period would mean she's due to deliver pups around the end of the first week in March-

bagged up bitch needs to go to the vet- if you're lucky it could be a false pregnancy- sounds like she got tapped.

Her stomach hasn't grown at all so I can't imagine that there would be pups in there that would be ready to come out in 3 weeks but I am no doctor. Crap, now I am really nervous!

[gasman]

I had the same thing happen to us last year with our lab, it was a false pregancey. I was worried too, but held through.

Called the vet and found out a ultrasound was $100+ 


It's probably just a false pregnancy, so don't worry 

[vandeman17]

I had the same thing happen to us last year with our lab, it was a false pregancey. I was worried too, but held through.

Called the vet and found out a ultrasound was $100+ 


It's probably just a false pregnancy, so don't worry 

Thanks Pete. That is what I am hoping for too. Last thing I want is puppies

[gasman]

I had the same thing happen to us last year with our lab, it was a false pregancey. I was worried too, but held through.

Called the vet and found out a ultrasound was $100+ 


It's probably just a false pregnancy, so don't worry 

Thanks Pete. That is what I am hoping for too. Last thing I want is puppies

Yeah, but just wait, now her attitude will change, and most females don't change for the better 
(due to hormones, at least thats what they all say)

[KopperBuck]

Thanks Pete. That is what I am hoping for too. Last thing I want is puppies

Then why isn't she spayed?

[vandeman17]

I had the same thing happen to us last year with our lab, it was a false pregancey. I was worried too, but held through.

Called the vet and found out a ultrasound was $100+ 


It's probably just a false pregnancy, so don't worry 

Thanks Pete. That is what I am hoping for too. Last thing I want is puppies

Yeah, but just wait, now her attitude will change, and most females don't change for the better 
(due to hormones, at least thats what they all say)

haha I can just see it now....  

[vandeman17]

Thanks Pete. That is what I am hoping for too. Last thing I want is puppies

Then why isn't she spayed?

I planned on getting her spayed a few months ago and got caught up when I took a new job and moved to a different side of the state. She was only 8 1/2 months when she went in. I am getting her spayed this week though. Thanks for the words of wisdom though. 

[KopperBuck]

It was an honest question - thought maybe you had plans to breed her but not now. Don't take this personally since you plan on getting her cut, but in my opinion, if people aren't serious about breeding - they have absolutely no business owning fertile animals. My father is a vet, it hits close to home.

Biggest excuse is that they can't afford it, which I understand perfectly. But if you can't afford the work, don't get the dog - period.

Hope you didn't take it negatively, I understand if you got distracted, it happens. I've just see too many irresponsible pet owners in my day, and it's rarely the owner that pays the consequences.

[vandeman17]

I understand and had every intention of getting her spayed before her first heat. I just happened to get a job that forced me to try and find new housing two hours from where I was so I was swamped and put it off longer then I should. I am fixing it now though.