I originally posted this message on the visitors board but have since completed membership. I would be very grateful for your advice. We have a beautiful bitch who we were hoping to mate with one of our other dogs this year- hips & eye tests completed. She started bleeding at the beginning of Feb and we seperated the dogs at this time as a precaution. We put the two prospective parents together on day 19 and with a little assistance there was a tie which lasted for 10 mins. Her mom didn't tie until day 16 & her grandma until day 21. When we tried again 48 hrs after our bitch would have none of it and we didn't pursue a second mating.

My worry is that she is still bleeding and it appears to be a normal colour with no discolouration or odour and today is day 27! I am taking her to the vets as a precaution although she appears physically well in herself and the appetite is good. Could it be that she is having an unusually long season and she still isn't ready in which case would the tie have done her any harm(I read on the web that sometimes a bitch isn't ready until day 30!), or is she having a false oestrus, or can a bitch can continue to bleed or is there any other explanation?

Our only other intact bitch came into season in January which brought this one apparently into season at the time although she stopped bleeding after 12 days and we were told she had had split season. The last full season was September 2002 and the time before that was September 2001 and she is going to be 3 years in July 2003.

Our primary concern of course is that our dog is o'k but we would like to take a litter from her as she has proved to be a fantastic girl and we have the space and time to increase our kennel.

Look forward to hearing your replies & I'll let you know what the vets verdict is.

Regards

Ruth

After checking that she is well, what you can do is have a blood test that will tell you if she has ovulated in this season. Prolonged seasons do dometimes occur without anything dire being wrong.

One of my bitches had a season where she bled for 30 days, and then had a litter a year later.

Vet did not seem to think that there was anything amiss with our bitch but thought the 'mini-season' in January may have affected this season. I've been advised to take her back in a couple of days if she continues to bleed & they will initiate a course of daily injections to bring on ovulation. Has anyone else had to do this for one of their bitches?

Regards

Ruth