[Maya's Mom]

My puppy is 6 1/2 months old, and has had a vaginitis infection that she is on her 3rd antibiotic for. I have gotten 2 vet opinions and they both said she has a very small vulva that is tucked up high, which means that it doesn't get as much air as it should and stays damp. She also has a lot of hair in that area. They both said that a dog with her structure is likely to have problems throughout life with UTIs and vaginitis. Both vets recommended that she go through one heat cycle, because they said that is likely to enlarge the vulva and thus decrease chances of later vaginitis and UTI infections. So we have decided to wait to spay her until she goes through a heat cycle. However, I have never had a dog in heat and I know almost nothing about what it is like and how to manage it. :uhoh: Obviously I know that we have to keep her away from other dogs, but how? Obviously I know she can never be off-leash outside. I don't have a fenced in yard. Is it okay to take her for walks on a leash? How do I make sure no male dogs come running up to her when she is outside? I haven't seen off leash dogs in my neighborhood, but I'm guessing that may change once I have a dog in heat! Do I need to carry a baseball bat when I walk? :curtain: When is she likely to go into heat? I know it varies. One of the vets said that based on her size and structure he thought it would be the spring rather than the fall, but that would make her 1. She weighs 43 pounds now at 6 1/2 months. Her birthday is March 11. Is there a seasonal aspect to it at all? Any reason it wouldn't be the winter? How long does a heat cycle last? Is the dog fertile throughout the whole cycle? Is there a way to tell when exactly she would be fertile? Also, I am most worried about making sure she stays safe and away from other dogs, but I also need to know about how to manage the blood. How much blood is there? How do you keep the house clean? She'll be moving at the end of October from a house with off-white carpet to a house with mostly hardwood floors, so I'm just really hoping that she doesn't go into heat before then! I have seen diaper type things in pet stores, but don't dogs just bite them off? Sorry to bombard you all with questions, I just feel totally clueless. Help!!!

 

[Ruby'smom]

well as for when her breeder should know more as Ruby's breeder said her line comes into season about the age of 1 and approx every 8 months after that
as for blood Ruby didnt lose that much you may find the odd spot here and there depending on how much she cleans herself
I am guessing every bitch is diferent and some bleed more than others
when exercising Ruby we took her out in the car and walked her on her lead so that she had no chance of escaping, bought her back in the car and did this for her entire season
this was so that dogs in our area couldnt track her scent when she was out and follow it back to our house


as for the white carpet lets hope she saves her season till after you move

 

[Maya's Mom]

So with Ruby, you never had off-leash dogs approach you while you walked? This is what I'm most worried about. So if you drive the dog to a walk spot, dogs won't be able to find her at our house? I talked to the vet and she said that dogs don't usually come into heat in the winter, so it will either be in the next couple months or in the spring. I'm guessing my breeder would not know when her dogs come into heat. While I was as careful as I knew how to be finding a breeder, I know more now than I did then. I knew to find a breeder who did clearances, so at least I did that. The breeder who we got Maya from is really not much of a breeder. She has one golden who has had two litters in the past 3 years, but that is the extent of her breeding knowledge. We went with her because she did clearances and the puppies were raised in a home with lots of love, socialization, and attention. However, when I asked the breeder if she removed dew claws, she didn't know what they were! As I had already fallen in love with Maya, I did not walk out the door. I figured at least I researched the pedigree 5 generations. So I could ask her, but I would be surprised if she knew.

 

[BeauShel]

I would try to skip the walks if it is in a neighborhood where other male dogs can get to her. Because you will not be able to stop them if they are determined. Walk her on leash outside to go potty and use that time to do some training. Maybe start clicker training with her. She probably will come into heat around 9 months
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/breedingheat.htm

 

[LibertyME]

We had a beagle park himself on our doorstep for a week and break through a picket fence into our yard........however he was mighty persistent.
We kept Liberty on leash even in the fenced in yard becuase the boy would appear from no where staring through the fence...then promptly start looking for a place to dig under the fence.
Fortunately, he was easily scared off....but if we were not there, there is no doubt we would have had litter of goldeagles

 

[cubbysan]

My neighbors found a collie had squeezed himself through a basement window and into there house when their dog was in heat.

I would ask the vet about her chances of pyometra. My friend would put her Mastiff females on an antibiotic during heat to try to prevent it. I am thinking with her issues she might be at higher risk.

 

[Selli-Belle]

I would still ask your breeder when her mother came into heat the first time. Girls tend to follow their mother in things like this. Selli came into heat at 13 months and that seemed common in her lines.

 

[missmarstar]

Fortunately, he was easily scared off....but if we were not there, there is no doubt we would have had litter of goldeagles

LMAO! I just cracked up at my desk!

 

[vrmueller]

My Ruby also had vaginitis and the abnormal vulva. I had to do the antibiotics and put ointment down there daily. She was spayed at 4 months and that totally took care of the problem. She is 2 years old and has not had any issues since.