Could this be a season?

[Bertie_Boo]

Hi everyone, I did not bother updating my last thread re the part trained dog as he sold the day before we were due to see him. Anyway we are now the owners of a 10 month old yellow female lab and she has been with us for a week. According to the breeder she had her first season at 7 months and would be due her next one around January. However, the other day I noticed spots of blood on the floor and could not find any injuries when I checked her over. Subsequently, I have noticed more spots of blood and she seems to be licking herself quite a lot. She has become very clingy with me and a lot more hyper around the house, she also went for a pee and a poo last night when she has been clean overnight before. We have only had male dogs before so are a bit clueless at the moment so I would appreciate any advice, could the big move here have caused her to come into season early?

 

[Jenko109]

I've found moving does seem to start seasons. Coincidence, perhaps?

We took on a rescue lurcher some years back. She came into season within a few days of being with us.

My current lurcher, started her first season just two days into a Wales holiday.

 

[Clodagh]

The dates aren’t set in stone. If you are worried it’s something else have a word with your vet but it does sound like a season. Is her vulva swollen?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would ask the vet to check her over. 7 months is quite young for a first season and just 3 months later is pretty quick for the next one, although stress seems to trigger them, sometimes. It's unusual but friend's Lab bitch had a false pregnancy after her first season and the first vet who saw her thought she was in season. Bitch was quite poorly, needed hormone treatment and anti-biotics. Is her vulva swollen? What about her mammary glands, are they swollen?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yes

 

[Bertie_Boo]

Thanks everyone, I did not think to check her vulva, I'll have a look when she gets back from her run on the beach. Every day is a school day!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Yes it could be a season , puppy seasons are often erratic . If the discharge is dark rather than bloody then maybe worth keeping an eye that she doesn’t seem unwell as it could possibly be a pyo, though she is young for that .

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks everyone, I did not think to check her vulva, I'll have a look when she gets back from her run on the beach. Every day is a school day!

And be careful on the beach, any male will identify if it’s a season!

 

[Aru]

Run a clean white cloth or tissue over the vulva and you'll get an answer pretty easily in most dogs. The swelling is usually pretty obvious as well.

Be aware seasons last around 3 weeks and dogs can be fertile even in week one... It's likely time to curtail the beach walks and off lead time. Female dogs also sometimes look for males as well, its not just the issue of having males climb into gardens, pens, breeding through nappies and crates tests thats an issue. unless your interested in a litter of pups she needs to be kept supervised or indoors when in season. Dogs are surprisingly inventive and innovative at times in their urge to reproduce.
I'm constantly impressed by their ingenuity and the stories I hear!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Run a clean white cloth or tissue over the vulva and you'll get an answer pretty easily in most dogs. The swelling is usually pretty obvious as well.

Be aware seasons last around 3 weeks and dogs can be fertile even in week one... It's likely time to curtail the beach walks and off lead time. Female dogs also sometimes look for males as well, its not just the issue of having males climb into gardens, pens, breeding through nappies and crates tests thats an issue. unless your interested in a litter of pups she needs to be kept supervised or indoors when in season. Dogs are surprisingly inventive and innovative at times in their urge to reproduce.
I'm constantly impressed by their ingenuity and the stories I hear!

I’ve had a bitch mate on 24th day and went on to have a lovely litter of 8 !

 

[Bertie_Boo]

I have just checked her vulva and it is swollen and there was a bit of blood on the kitchen towel I used. Definitely no more beach walks or off lead time, we do not want any puppies. I've marked it on the calendar for 3 weeks from today just to be on the safe side. Thanks all.

 

[Aru]

I’ve had a bitch mate on 24th day and went on to have a lovely litter of 8 !

Got to love an outlier
Thats almost as good as the dog castrated that day who went home to tie(same day!) and have a litter of 13.
You can't make these things up sometimes.

Since we have started doing progesterone testing and following more breeding things I've been amazed at the massive variation in ovulation in dogs to be honest. It really is a hugh range and very variable.

 

[Bertie_Boo]

Apologies , I have another question. She is being very hyper in the house, is there such a thing as a calmer for dogs which works?

 

[blackcob]

I’ve had a bitch mate on 24th day and went on to have a lovely litter of 8 !

Judging by the squeaking of my male mine ovulated somewhere around day 21, just like her mum. She also bled for five full days before showing any vulval swelling at all, I had two vets insisting she couldn't be in season. OP, take no risks!

 

[gunnergundog]

Also, many go on beyond 3 weeks so don't assume she is 'safe' at that mark! Book of the Bitch is a good read; there may be a more modern version but it used to be the bible for those new to owning a bitch.

 

[Clodagh]

I always allow a month from first sign of anything, and am vigilant going forward from there.

 

[Bertie_Boo]

I had thought we would have a few months before dealing with this so I would have time to do my homework. Thanks all for the crash course.

 

[Thistle]

Be aware that wwhen she first stops bleeding, day 10/12 is she hasn't stopped her season but is entering the most fertile phase.

Re calming, try an adaptil plug in calmer. It releases the same calming pheremones that a bitch released to calm her pups. On Amazon.