Just want some feedback really and to see if anyone has been though something similar I have a English bulldog which I've had since birth as I've got her mum. She was born in November which would make her approx 18 months shes yet to have a season which I find odd. I dont think shes had a silent season as i have 2 males which are pests to say it politely and I would notice. They did sniff around her slightly but not enough to think she was in season. She is absolutely tiny for her breed she weighs 16kg. The vet said to me it could be why she hasnt had one yet because of her size? Shes on raw meat and I give her veg etc so her diets not a issue. I'm not to bothered about the breeding side I just worry that shes got something medically going on? Anyone been through anything similar?

The simple answer to your question about whether others have had this - from me, no.   Almost all my Bassets bar one, came in by 8 months, and cycled at that interval.   I did have one who came in bang on 6 months, and started cycling every 5, so because of that, coupled with the fact she wasn't really up to my standards (for breeding), I had her spayed.   My Whippet however, had no sign of a season by 11 months - I asked her breeder when her mum first came in as often bitches tend to follow what their dams do.  She said not before 12 months (she couldn't remember exactly when) and her 2 half sisters were around 15 months before they started.

I think my advice would be to get your bitch spayed, so you don't have to worry about this?

Are bulldogs known for being late maturers? My IRWS had her first season at 16 months, but her mother didn't have hers until she was 3.5 years (the breeder had entire males as well and would have known).

I had a GSD who was 18 months when she had her first season and my BSD was almost three.

I would not have this bitch spayed as she is undersize so will need her hormones.

I do wonder if she has a hormone issue, lacking growth hormone. 

Also could she have a more severe form of dwarfism compared to what is normally found in Bulldogs?

A mongrel bitch that we walk with and she has only just had her first season at 18 months. she is a Beagle Collie cross.

Late maturity or low levels of sex hormones are likely to be the issue.

It's fine for her not to have had a season yet.

Is she actually underweight or is she just small as a dog?  If she is underweight, that could definitely hold up sexual maturation - so you may want to feed her more, if that's the case.  But don't feed more if she is a good weight already or she will only end up fat - which carries its own health risks!

No shes not underweight at all shes looks in proportion shes just really small for a bulldog. I've just never known any dog to come in this late. I was just worrying they maybe something going on.

> I would not have this bitch spayed as she is undersize so will need her hormones.<br />

Sorry, I don't see this as relevant.   And fact is, after my Whippet was spayed, at 11 months, with no sign of her seasons starting, if anything she has grown taller than she perhaps might have been. 

I'd still get this bitch spayed especially as she lives with two entire? males.   If she's abnormally small, apart from not conforming to the Breed Standard, presumably, the last thing she needs is to be caught when she does come into season

> And fact is, after my Whippet was spayed, at 11 months, with no sign of her seasons starting, if anything she has grown taller than she perhaps might have been.  <br />

That is the problem, they keep growing but the bone structure is not as good, so not good for breeds that are heavy, more risk of bone cancer etc.

> That is the problem, they keep growing

But didn't the previous comment relate to the fact that this tiny bitch needed NOT to be spayed as "she is undersize so will need her hormones" (to grow on)??   Sorry, me no understand

My Whippet is in her 11th year with no sign of any spay before a first season problem other than she may be rather taller than others...... but she may always have been going to be like that genetically, spayed at 11 months (when I'd suggest the growth plates should have closed?) and before her first season, or not?

Abnormal Bone Growth and Development
Studies done in the 1990's concluded dogs spayed or neutered under one year of age grew significantly taller than non-sterilized dogs or those not spayed/neutered until after puberty. And the earlier the spay/neuter procedure, the taller the dog.

Research published in 2000 in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism may explain why dogs sterilized before puberty are inclined to grow abnormally:

At puberty, estrogen promotes skeletal maturation and the gradual, progressive closure of the epiphyseal growth plate, possibly as a consequence of both estrogen-induced vascular and osteoblastic invasion and the termination of chondrogenesis.

In addition, during puberty and into the third decade, estrogen has an anabolic effect on the osteoblast and an apoptotic effect on the osteoclast, increasing bone mineral acquisition in axial and appendicular bone.

It appears the removal of estrogen-producing organs in immature dogs, female and male, can cause growth plates to remain open. These animals continue to grow and wind up with abnormal growth patterns and bone structure. This results in irregular body proportions.

The male dogs have been xx

Very basically, sex hormones affect far more than reproduction.  They affect the entire endocrine system's function, the immune system, bone development, behaviour - heck, everything.  They are an integral part of the dog.  That doesn't mean you can never remove them, but it does mean that the vast majority of times it would be best for them to remain in place as a default rather than be removed as a default(!).

Again, I don't usually castrate other than for medical need, but all our bitches were spayed, usually by around 7 years when retired.   This was not only to avoid ongoing need to confine for 3+ weeks when in season, but to keep entire male angst (and our having to leap over barriers) to a minimum.

With my Whippet, who I wasn't going to show or breed from, I had an elderly and unwell entire male Basset at the time, so I took her in to be spayed at around 6 months.   My then vet persuaded me not to spay her before she'd had one season, citing bone development problems and the potential for spay incontinence later on.   I made arrangements with a local Boarding Kennel who agree to take her, crated in their house when that happened.    As she'd not come in by 11 months, I took her back and he agreed to go ahead with the spay.

> But didn't the previous comment relate to the fact that this tiny bitch needed NOT to be spayed as "she is undersize so will need her hormones" (to grow on)??   Sorry, me no understand <img title="grin" class="fsm fsm_grin" alt="" src="/images/epx.png" />

To grow on properly, correct angles and bone density etc, as well as mature in the female parts which in muscular/heavy breeds can be an issue with infantile vulva causing issues.

Also neutering has effects on the balance of other hormones.  Thyroid issues are more prevalent in neutered dogs, and if this bitch potentially has issues re growth, it would be wise to leave well alone until full maturity at least.