Leaky bitch question

We've never had an intact pet animal beyond the age of around 6 months. Recently, we got an intact bitch, about 2.5 years old, never been bred that I know of. She is marking around the house, and dribbling urine. Her vulva is quite swollen. We plan on getting her speyed ASAP (next week, in fact), but is this normal? We have 3 other dogs, all neutered, and she's doing some play and some dominance stances with them (all but the alpha dog - a speyed bitch, who is well in charge).

Cheers
Andrea
Oxford

She could be coming into heat which will mean you wont be able to get her spayed next week as Vets dont spay during a heat. Can you not take her this week, before the bleeding starts?

Yes that is normal, for a bitch that is coming into season.
BB is right most vets don't like to do a spey operation while a bitch is in season.
The best time to have her speyed is about 2 months after the season when everything is back to normal.
cheers

OK, thanks. I have no experience with adult intact dogs, so didn't really know what I was dealing with. So she's just coming into season. What can I expect as far how long does it take, other signs to watch for, how much blood, how long after before she can be speyed?

Cheers
Andrea
Oxford

Another thing to check is that she doesnt have a urine infection.. which can also cause inflammation of the vulva.. Any history with her about when she is due to ovulate????
Our sheltie would pee often but not dribble when in season.. so see if you can catch a few drops for testing

What kind of dog? In my experience the amount of blood loss can vary. the length of time between 10 and 14 days and they are ready for the male about the end of that time so don't think because the blood loss is over she is safe. My vet wouldn't spey McKenzie untill 8 weeks after the season finished.

Also she changed completely while she was in season, she turned into a wimp, wouldn't go outside, wouldn't eat, was sulky.... all normal PMT really.

We haven't had her long enough to know enough about her habits. Wow. I had no idea it would last that long! I only know cattle, goats, etc, not cats and dogs. See it sounds like we'll have to wait about 2.5 months before we can get her speyed. Bitches britches are sounding better all the time...

Cheers
Andrea
Oxford

The season starts with the bitch marking her territory, then vulva swelling, discharge to start with can be a range of colours from pale brown/red to bright red. Some bitches keep themselves very clean, others don't.
Count day 1 from the start of colour, a bitch is in season for 21 days. (I always keep my girls apart from the dogs for at least 30 days) When she ovulates the discharge will change to a pale pinkish straw colour. This is when she will stand to be mated with a dog. A bitch can be ready to stand for the dog anytime from the 9th day up til the 21st day, sometimes more.
Some bitches can have a short ovulation ( say 48hrs) others tend to stay in this phase longer, especially if they are not mated. A bitch will also seek out a male dog during this time, so keep her confined.
2 months after her season is a good time to have her speyed.
cheers

quote: and she's doing some play and some dominance stances with them ooh yes, she is in heat :)my girl is so funny to watch now, she bounces around like a rodeo horse and she stands stil and stares at the other dogs and then suddenly she tries to jump up on them,showing how to do it! :)and the she takes off and shows her rear end and spins around in the air and then it is full on again.she is sooo active and bouncy and playfull

Andrea, I'm going to show my hand here and will accept the consequences, if there are any. [}]

The original owner of your little dog told me that she had only come into season twice in 2½ years. I wonder if that was a consequence of her living conditions and perhaps irregular feeding times.

Now that she is being fed regularly and is in a good environment, perhaps her body is finally working as it should be?

Kim.

Kim, environment & feeding can have an effect. Although 2-1/2 years old & having had 2 seasons, could be considered normal in some bitches.
Not all bitches have a regular 6 monthly cycle.
I have had bitches that ónly cycle once a year.
cheers

Interesting. Nothing nothing of the sexual life od dogs, this has been an eye-opener. So, she's in the house anyway, and only goes out under supervision, in a the fenced garden. We have other dogs (2 speyed females, 1 neutered male) who she seems to be propositioning with increased vigor. She is scent marking for sure, we've caught her several times lifting her leg to pee and then doing that mad things that dogs sometimes do with their legs (like running in place?) that makes the grass fly, only she's doing it all over the house. What's the best way to discourage this, which is a natural instinct? I've got a pair of the bitches britches on order, should be here tomorrow. Some behaviours have to be changed, but not ever having dealt with this one, not sure if it should be stopped, or??

Hestia - interestingly, my 2 standard schnauzers (boy and girl, both neutered at 6 months) do this mating posturing with each other.

Thanks
Andrea
Oxford

If she were mine, I would confine her in a kennel/run situation until her season is over.

I would also keep her apart from your speyed girls, the possibility of a bitch fight is high, some bitches can get quite snarky when in season.

If she is just coming into season, her marking will increase when she ovulates.
cheers

Is a fight imminent even between her (bitch in season) and speyed bitches? The older one (13) totally ignores the young bitch, and the other one (5) is completely intimidated by the little dog. I'm really surprised by this. The little bitch's best buddy is the neutered male, since the day she arrived here. I figured it was due to the fact that they are the same age and energy level, and play like mad (in addition to making the mating posturing).

We just started crating her at night last night, because of the increased marking in the house, and she's fine with it. When she isn't resting/sleeping or playing with the male, she paces up and down the hall, seems agitated. Otherwise, she seems fine, and normal in behavior and appetite (and what an appetite!).

Well, I am learning a lot today! Thanks, all!

Andrea
Oxford

Crating is a great idea.
By the way, neutered males can still mate with a bitch.
cheers