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[Tea_juice]

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DeeDee has been out with us all day, but we wanted to pop out and get something for dinner, so dropped her off at home before going out again. We were only gone an hour, and when we got in we let her out for a wee as usual. I was watching her to check she'd been and noticed some blood on the inside of her back leg so called her in for a look. I picked her up onto my lap so I could see if she'd caught it or something, and then noticed quite a lot of kind of watery blood around her, erm, bits! So I yelled for my OH babbling about "oh no somehow she's hurt her bits while we've been out" and he came in and looked and said, casually, "looks like she might have come into season?"

Eeeeeeeeeeek!

The thing is, although we've both read up on seasons lots times since we decided to get a bitch, nether of us has had a girl dog before, so we're both in a bit of a panic!

She turned 7 months on 11th August, so although I knew it could happen any time, I wasn't really expecting it for the next couple of months after reading other posts. I'm not really sure if it does mean she's coming into season? Should she go to the vet? Are there other signs I should look for? Is 7 months an ok age to start??

She has been a bit naughty the last month or so, had a few accidents in the house, and ignoring commands she was previously spot on with, and the last week or so she's been extra clingy, a bit whiney at night, but we just put this down to a "teenage phase" - are these signs of a season too?

I've cleaned her up with some baby wipes and there's definitely not a cut there, but she does keep turning around to sniff her bottom and she's sat down a few times to lick it.

Any advice much appreciated! Readers of my previous posts will know I worry and flap over every new mini disaster! :b

Thanks

 

[~Helen~]

Sounds possible :blink:

I know there are some really good past threads on this for you on FAQ, and one member helpfully put up some pictures which might help you identify the... er... affected parts (ie, swelling etc).

Go here and scroll down to section 3 - lots of past threads on this subject

:luck: :thumbsup:

Just edited to say, I don't think you need to visit the vet, unless you think it might be something other than a season :thumbsup: but you do need to keep her on the lead, and choose quiet walks away from other dogs or you'll have the Romeos in pursuit

 

[Tea_juice]

Thanks Helen, since posting I have been in the FAQ section reading EVERYTHING on seasons :blink: and the geeneral consensus seems to be that they dont get their frist until 12-16 months old?? That means DeeDee is probably far too young. Also I've looked again and nothing seems swollen, but I'm not really sure what I'm looking at? The erm, sticky outy bit down there? Is that whgat swells?

Does anyone have a bitch that started her seasons this young? I'm ever more worried now!!! :sweating:

 

[kirislin]

I had a bitch who came into season at 9months & her litter sister was almost 2 years old before she had her first. It sounds like she is coming in to me. Sometimes they have a little discharge on & off for a few weeks or even months before having their first proper season. If she is coming in to a full blown season she will start to swell soon. I have found mine start bleeding a bit before really swelling. Dont worry but I would keep her at home until she finishes. Otherwise she will be piddling everywhere you walk her to tell the boys she is hot to trot & you will have a randy dog pack at your door especially as it seems not as many people in the UK neuter their dogs as over here, so there would be alot more entire males around.

Linda

 

[jok]

If i remember rightly, Juley told me that one of her Whippet bitches had her first season at 5 1/2 months and another one of her bitches at 7 months.

It will be pretty obvious if she has started as she will swell up. Press some tissue to her and see if there is anymore discharge.

If she has started, there's nothing to worry about, she isn't 'too young'.

 

[Janimal]

I know my sister in laws Siberian Husy came into season just after 6 months .... its a long time since I owned a bitch, but I am sure they can come in quite early sometimes.

The other more experienced K9 bitch owners will advise you Im sure. :thumbsup:

Deedees all woman. dont worry. :huggles:

 

[Millie]

Its quite normal for bitches to start their first season from 6 mths onwards. At the very begining there is very little swelling but as the week goes on you won't be able to miss it !

Agree with the other poster, get a white tissue and dab the area daily. For the first 7 - 10 days the blood will be bright red, then it will get lighter or dissapear all together. Don't be fooled by this ! Its the most fertile stage and mating will take place with any males that can get to her. From day one for 4 weeks you are going to have to be very carefull.

You can also get panties with Liners for her to wear if you want to confine the dripping !

 

[*Lesley*]

Don't worry :huggles: lots of bitches come in season early and lots come in really late as long as she is well she will be fine, she will clean her self and take it pretty much in her stride probably, she may be a bit moody and a bit clingy but honestly she will be fine :thumbsup: once she swells up you'll know which bit it is (w00t)

I have 3 bitches Spry came in season at 9 months and the other 2 at 10 and 11 months, they are all different just like us

Just be careful now when you're out and when she's in the garden , dogs will do anything to get to a bitch in season and it can happen in the blink of an eye, i watch mine like an hawk :thumbsup:

 

[jean.dunbar]

It is perfectly normal for a bitch to come into season anytime from around 6 months. sometimes they have a slight discharge for a while before the season proper starts. Check her daily with a tissue. When the swelling starts you will notice, the whole area swells! My poor Milly looks like one of the monkeys with huge back ends that I remember seeing in the zoo!!

I agree that you must take care about keeping the dogs away from her. I've got 6 beautiful little mistakes running around my feet as I type! Thank goodness the parents are both peds!

 

[Midnight Runner]

Working in a Vet Surgery i have frantic phone calls almost every day and sometimes people rushing in as an emergency only to discover that their bitch has simply come into season.

Between 6 and 10 months is usually the right time for a bitch to have her 1st season.

Please do not panic its just your little girl growing up and hitting pubity as us humans do.

Normally but not always her "urmm bits" will swell and her teats will become slightly larger when she is due in season.

Her mood will more or less stay the same as usual but sometimes they can become withdrawn slighly... But just think how us woman go when its time of the month... All the men on here should agree that we become moody trouts (or is that just my OH).

Her season should last between 2 to 4 weeks.

Try to keep her on the lead for now so you know exactly where she is and what she's doing

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[SIZE=14pt]MIDNIGHT RUNNER[/SIZE]

 

[Seraphina]

As long as it is clear bloddy discharge, without any puss or offensive smell, there is nothing to worry about. She is in season. Not many Whippets come so early, but some do.

The most important thing to do is NEVER to walk her out of your house, while she is in season. Best is to carry her to the car and drive some distance from your house. If that is not an option carry her as far as possible. If you do not do this dogs will be able to pick up her scent and you will end up with all the neiborhood dogs camped in front of your house. :luck:

 

[Tea_juice]

Thank you all for your replies.

The only thing now is, I dont know if she IS in season! Since I posted on Saturday there hasnt been any more blood, despite me checking every couple of hours with a tissue. She hasnt been licking herself down there since Saturday night, and it doesnt really look swollen. I thought at first it might be a bit, but now I'm not sure. 2 of her nipples look like theyre a bit sticky outy, but to be honest this is the first time I've really studied them so I'm not sure what they were like before!

The only other outward signs are that she is a little more quiet then usual, only a little though, and yesterday she did want to go out and wee twice as many times as normal, and always in exactly the same spot!

It's not that I'm worried as such, if she is she is, if she's not and it was just a show or something then fair enough, we'll wait and see, but I'd like to know for sure for two reasons really.

One is we were going to take her to Tatton on Sunday for the show, which of course is out of the question if there's even a hint she might be, but the main reason is that she's used to two off-lead walks a day, and is not appreciating being carried through the estate and then being led round the field on her flippy lead and not being allowed to go up and say hi to other dogs just in case!

Normally after her afternoon walk she just sleeps most of the eveing up on the sofa, but last night she was pacing up and down and going to the cupboard where her lead is kept and then going to the front door! Poor baby.

So with only the one instance of bleeding, if she doesnt bleed or swell by the weekend can we assume she isnt? We wont take her to Tatton now obviously anyway, but I'd like to be able to give her a good run...

Thanks, sorry for the continued waffling!

 

[jean.dunbar]

So with only the one instance of bleeding, if she doesnt bleed or swell by the weekend can we assume she isnt?

I would say that maybe she isn't but she's not far away. Some dogs seem to smell a season before it's started ......sometimes 2 weeks before! They can often go on acting as if the bitch is still in season for up to a couple of weeks after.

Not everyone agrees with me but I am sure that some bitches do have showings for a while before their season starts. Keep watching.....and waiting!!!

 

[firesprite]

I am sure that it is season related, but for peace of mind you could always visit your vetinary nurse. It could be an infection, and in my book it aint worth the risk.

 

[Juley]

If i remember rightly, Juley told me that one of her Whippet bitches had her first season at 5 1/2 months and another one of her bitches at 7 months. 
It will be pretty obvious if she has started as she will swell up.  Press some tissue to her and see if there is anymore discharge. 

If she has started, there's nothing to worry about, she isn't 'too young'.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Yes, you are quite right. 5 1/2 months is very early but she had a normal length season then. The third was 10 months and Lily is still waiting for her first at 11 months. If there is no blood on the white tissue I would take her for a run, just keep an eye on her.

 

[Seraphina]

One is we were going to take her to Tatton on Sunday for the show, which of course is out of the question if there's even a hint she might be, but the main reason is that she's used to two off-lead walks a day, and is not appreciating being carried through the estate and then being led round the field on her flippy lead and not being allowed to go up and say hi to other dogs just in case!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I wouldn't worry too much. If there is no sign of her being in season (no swelling, no discharge) i would take to the show, and let her free run in the park. Let male dogs to have a sniff and if they are more interested than normally then you know to be more vigilant. But I find that dogs (and bitches) will take more interest in bitch weeks before her season starts. As long as you keep checking her and know exactly the day she started. In most cases the bitch will not accept a dog in the first week. If a dog will try to mount her she will snap at him. Bitch will usually be ready to accept a dog about the 10th day, so there is no hurry to worry about accidental mating, the main thing is that you do not allow all the local males to find out where she lives. :luck:

 

[Tea_juice]

Just to say there have been no other signs of bleeding or swelling since Saturday, so we're taking her to the vets this evening just to rule out a urine infection or anything wrong and to see if the Vet can confirm is she's in season or not.

 

[Tea_juice]

Ok so she has been to the vet and his verdict was that she definitely isn't in season. He couldnt see any visible signs of swelling or anything but said she'll probably start it in the next couple of months.

He did however say that the symptoms of weeing frequently and the blood on Saturday could be a sign of early stage cystitis (sp?) and although her bladder felt normal he's given her a course of antibiotics for 7 days just in case.

So she's still a baby for now, and at least it means she can go to Tatton at the weekend and hopefully meet lots of skinny longy dogs

 

[Trish]

hi sarah,just caught up with this thread,it is a shock the first time your baby comes into season,but at least with this false alarm you will be more prepared wheen it does happen . guess what where going to get a brother or sister for my two next year,im already excited at the thought. :teehee:

 

[Tea_juice]

UPDATE: DeeDee was 10 months old yesterday (11th November) and her 10 month birthday present - seems to be another "show" or possibly her real 1st season this time...

She's been bleeding since yesterday morning, and although she's no baboon, there's definite swelling, and all her nipples are sticky outy. She's quite quiet and moochy too. Poor baby.

Anyway, just thought I'd update for anyone interested