Dog in heat?

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 12:52 pm

On October 1st, my brother and I went to the grocery store. Running around in the parking lot was a little dog, very skinny and scared. We managed to coax her into the car, and she's been at my parent's house ever since. We just took her to the vet for her shots, and we noticed she was bleeding. My mom had noticed blood spots on her bed a couple days before. The vet wasn't much help; she just said "she might be in heat, or maybe it's a bladder infection, just keep an eye on her". Anyway, I've never had a dog in heat before, all my dogs have been spayed before their first heats. So, how do I know if she's really in heat, or what? I read that she can't get pregnant while she's bleeding, but I don't know. It seems like the wrong time of year for her to get pregnant; her puppies would be born in February (brrrrrr). The blood is bright red, not dark at all. How do we prevent her from getting pregnant? How long after her heat can she be spayed? The vet said she could be spayed while in heat, but it's riskier due to increased blood flow to those areas. The last thing we need is more mutt puppies. Any advice would be appreciated. Anyone with breeding experience, HELP!

rottiegirl25 · Post by **rottiegirl25** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:43 pm

first off calm down and relax. She sounds to me like she is definatly in heat. if the blood isn't dark red she is most likey in her second week which is the week you would breed. Keep her isolated from and male intact dogs. they DO NOT HAVE TO TIE TO GET PREGNEANT. ahe will begin to bleed a darker shade of red in about a week she will then be going out of her heat cycle. she can get pregmeant any time during her heat. You are right the puppies would be due in Febuary we will be expecting our own litters at that time lol but by the time theey are old enough to actually go outside the temp will be warmer all our pups are raised in the house. If you think there is a chance she is already pregneant there are a couple of options you can let her have the pups and find them homes. you can find a reputable rescue that deal with pregneant dogs, you can have the pregnancy terminated this can happen in one of two ways there is shot the vet can give or you can have a spay done. THANK YOU FOR SAVING THIS LITTLE GIRL. if you have any questions or problems email me or post here i am experiencd with doggs and breeding and would be more then happy to help you understand the heat cycle.Stacey

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:09 pm

Breeding can and will accure during the 7-10 days after the bleeding has stopped as well...this is when she's most susceptible. As far as spaying while in heat, there is definately more blood flow to her uterus, but if you're surgeon is competent, an increase in danger shouldn't be an issue. Do expect an increase in price though.

SeaShellE · Post by **SeaShellE** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:30 am

Most usually their female parts back there swell too during the heat cycle as well as bleed. If she stays outside then pen her up. If the males are persistent then use an electric fence around the pen. If she stays in the house, then someone should go outside with her to protect her honor. If she should be compromised then that mismating shot is a good option if its done within 48 hours of mating. You could have her spayed during the heat cycle but, as you know, it is riskier due to all the blood; but as long as she is healthy and young it shouldn't be a HUGE risk. Plus its more expensive. Good luck with her.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:01 am

Absolutely DON'T let her outside unless it's on a leash, with you on the other end of the leash at all times, until you can get her spayed since you're not quite sure where she is in her cycle and could still get pregnant for a bit after the bleeding is done. Nice work giving her a home!

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:01 pm

She's been staying in the garage. We were tying her outside during the day but right now we're keeping her in. There is a young intact yellow lab that's been hanging around, so we have to watch out. If she does get pregnant, there's a place about 4 ours away that will take the pups, http://www.hua.org/ , they send the puppies to the east coast where people actually spay and neuter their pets, so there's a shortage of mixed-breed pups there. Since the midwest has a surplus of unwated puppies, they send some where they have a chance at life. http://www.hua.org/Puppy-rescue.html But I don't want to be responsible for more unwanted little lives coming into the world if I can help it. So hopefully we can keep her away from any males.It's funny, she's such a timid little dog, but right now she's being very pushy and assertive with the other dogs. Hormonal I guess, LOL.

jojo7 · Post by **jojo7** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 2:28 pm

Congrat's on saving that poor little girl!!...she does sound like she's in heat...my Pug had one heat before i had her spayed...she was doing all kinds of strange things...like, rubbing her body along the hardwood floors.(which was kinda funny to see because she was slidding all over the place on her back)...she also had this pitiful little cry every once in awhile...it's sad to see them like that because its natures way of telling them its time to get pregnant...Anyway, as far as getting her spayed after her heat is over...my sister just adopted a puppy from Louisiana a few months ago...to have the puppy neutured would have costs hundreds of $$$'s, but when she questioned the cost, the vet's office told her of some kind of "friends of animals" type of organization that gives you a coupon to take to your own vet to have your pet neutured/spayed...she ended up only paying $40.00 for everything and the puppy is doing great!!...i'm sure your vet's office will be able to help you out in some way...good luck!!

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:56 pm

Mmmmm....the vet here (well, not in this town, but if I'm willing to drive to Sioux Falls) only charges about $85 for a dog spay (or at least that's what it was 2 years ago when I had Penny spayed, it might have gone up a little), so the price isn't really an issue. If I were willing to drive 4 hours to save some money, HUA will do it for $25, shots and tests included. If I can round up enough farm/stray cats or another dog or 2, I might do that, but I won't drive that far for 1 dog. Hopefully we'll be able to place her in a great home after she's spayed. It is sad to see how much her instincts are driving her to get pregnant. She's almost desperate to get loose. I've had cats in heat before, Sonja flirted with Romeo, even though he's neutered. So I tried introducing this dog to Toby, but she wants nothing to do with him. She shows her teeth to him and he runs away, even though he's twice her size.