I wonder if anyone can help, we have an adorable 9 month old female labrador and she is currently having her first season.  She has been bleeding now for 5 weeks, which seems a really long time when compared to the figures I've read on this website. I've spoken to the vet and he said it is only a problem if we get past 6/7 weeks.  Has anyone lese experienced this with their bitch? We have never had a female dog before so really not knowing what to expect as the norm.  She doesn't appear to be in any pain, but the problem is their seems like a lot of blood, should it be this noticeable?
Thanks
lecy

Well i agree that seems a long time, its something ive not experienced myself, but if you have spoke to your vet and he's not worried , then i would trust him.

I would get her looked at if it were me as it is possible for her to get a pyo even on her first season.5 weeks sounds far too long...Good Luck.Gail :) :) :)

Sorry if I sound a bit thick but what is a PYO? Also I've read about a split season but not sure what this is either.
Thanks

A pyometra is an infection in the uterus.  Pretty nasty at the best of times but if it is a closed one, ie the pus cannot drain out through an open cervix, the infection can become overwelming in a very short time and kill the dog within hours.  Immediate veterinary attention is vital if it is even suspected.

Just thought I would let you all know we took Poppt back to the vets today as bleeding still hasn't stopped. The vet said there's no sign of any infection etc and that he felt she was simply going to stay on heat without help.  He's getting hold of a hormonal drug which he feels will help her to ovulate and then the bleeding should stop. Has anyone else had this?
Thank you for everyone's help.

I'm glad she is ok, I must admit it does seem an awfully long time to be on heat. I've not heard of this before. Please keep us updated.
best wishes

I'm afraid I am back with some bad news, Poppy had some tests done since she was bleeding so much for a long period of time. The test results showed that she was actually not in season, it was past this. However, her bleeding has decreased dramatically while we were waiting for the results, but it's still there. She's of to the vet on Monday for an ultra sound and for some swabs to be taken to see what's going on. We're very worried about her. She's fine in herself which is great but worried it may be pyo or something else. Anyone any ideas? We've decided to get her speyed once this is all over, if it's not a requirement anyway. I really hope she's going to be ok.

Sorry to hear about Poppy, I can't help but I wish you both well for Monday.
Ange

Well, Poppy has been for her tests and they all came back clear, vet thinks she may just have a long season and then bleed slightly in the next stage of the cycle. She's got to go back in a week, but at least all the tests are clear.

I'm so please for you. They are such a worry aren't they.

glad to hear that poppy is well,

Hi I am new to this site, I came on here to ask for some advice for my 10month old Shar pei and saw some one else had already p[osted what I wanted to ask.

she to has been bleeding for 2 1/2 weeks constant and heavy. we did buy her puppy knickers she now wears a pair of my partners boxers with a sanitry towel in.
even with this she is still get's blood everywhere.

I was very worried and called my vet a week ago, they told me that a season can last up to 3 weeks!!!! they told me as long as she was healthy and happy not to worry

I feel so sorry for her and are really worried now I have read some of your post.

also with out getting to personal, she has chaned shape quite a lot (she now looks like she has something hanging out!)

when she gets excited or after she has been laying down it seems to be the worse,

she was recently on a steroid tablet for a week as she had a skin irritation

can any one give me some advice

Thanks

Jen

x

Because you are putting pants on her she is unable to clean herself.  Personally I wouldn't bother just keep her to easily cleaned areas of the hoose like the kitchen, and don't let her on the furniture.

the swelling which can be very marked is normal, and she will never be as small in that area now that she is grown up )unless she is spayed), but the swelling will go down and is the main sign that the season has finished.  There should then be no discharge of clear or bloody nature, and she will look dry and closed up rahter than the way she is now.

Seasons last on average 3 weeks, but keep her away from any male dog for another week after that to be on the safe side as some bitches are fertile late in their cycle and can mate and conceive at day 23 plus.

thanks for your message, we only started using pants after a week and a bit, she was cleaning herself during this time but it didn't seem to make a difference.
we also tried leaving her in the kitchen, but she cried and barked constantly (which she never normally does) our neighbour complained and that was only after a couple if hours, and we have only just been living there for 4 weeks, so we got a childs gate (hoping she wouldn't feel so shut away) but she jumped it!!

she is quite stressed because she can not go out for walks, she will sit by the front door and cry, so I don't want to stress her out anymore by making her stay in one room

jen
x

I completely sympathise with. Poppy's first season lasted 5 weeks in all, reallly don't worry about it. As for doggy pants, I agree that they are the only way, Poppy was so heavy every time she sat down and then stood up, there would be a puddle of blood. We used the miki doggy pants with a sanitary towl and they seemed to work really well. Just keep putting a towel or old sheet whereever she lies down. Our Poppy was most upset as she couldn't sleep on the end our bed, but it was ok with these.

As for change in shape, Poppy's vulva looked massive in season, but it did shrink down lots when it came to an end. Don't worry until at least 5 weeks, at least that was the advice from our vet. It's like women really everyone is different.

Why don't you take her out for a walk, we took Poppy on walks, just at times when no-one else was about, or we always warned other owners if we met any, they were always really good, keeping their dogs away. The exercise is apparently really good for them around this time.

If you son't have loose latchkey dogs artound then take her lead walking around the streets where dogs have no business being off lead.  I alwys walk mine when in season . late nights are good as the streets are nice an empty :D

thanks for the advice, its really appreciated.

where we have just moved is a park behind so it attracts lots of people walking there dogs, so I think I will take her late at night. People always told me not to take her out.

I think she is feeling better now as yesterday she ate all of her  food which she hasn't been doing, so hopefully its a sign that she is coming to an end.

thanks again

Jen
x

my bitch is in season at the moment but we carry her to the car and take her where there are  no dogs and then carry her back into the house , this way it is less likely to get males sitting outside your front gate.....wishing!!!

I had to join just to thank you all for this post.  There really isn't much information out there about prolonged heat cycles.  It is not common practice here to keep unaltered companion dogs.  Long story shortened, my old girl died at 15, I researched all of her health issues, and found what we had done wrong for her.  Now we have a beautiful new pup, and want to do the best we can for her.  So, no spay until full grown at least.  We have never experienced a heat cycle before.  She has been bleeding now for 4 weeks, and I have been very concerned for her.  Most information I could find only said that maiden heat cycles can be prolonged, but nothing on the actual time frame.  Most veterinarians here push spay early, and so I have not taken her in for an exam for this.  I will if it continues much longer, or if she shows any sign of pyo, but I prefer to not have the constant barrage from the clinic on spaying if it isn't necessary.  Thanks so much for your thoughts and insight into this issue. I will update our girl's progress for others.

Welcome to the forum the.maidne

Well I've not had an unusually long season, first or not with mine but I would say I'd not want to leave this going on for much longer if it's already been happening for 4 weeks.   It can't be doing her much good, plus there is always the risk that this is an infection and the sooner you get that confirmed, and treated, or ruled out, the better.  If they try pushing you to get her spayed (if it's a pyo, this would probably have to be done) just tell them how you feel and they should BACK OFF if they want to keep you as a client  

For sure. She is showing signs of ending, swelling is going down, and she has not had a lot of bleeding as OP had, just prolonged spotting.  I will call the vet, however, just to ensure all is well.  I would never forgive myself if she got pyometra and I neglected to get her medical care! Monday will be our 4 week mark since the first drop.  It was about 12 days before she swelled, and now after 2 weeks, the swelling is subsiding.  The blood changed from deep red, to nothing noticeable for a day or two,  to pink thereafter.  It seemed I could watch her progress through as her teats slowly swelled from back to front, and now are slowly receding from front to back. Thankfully there are no signs of pyo, no smells, no unusually colored discharge, no lethargy (she is so full of energy all the time!), normal eating and drinking habits, no abdominal swelling.  Thank you for your advice and concern!

I have had perfectly normal bitches cycles last up to 4 weeks, and also experienced a false start to a season, especially in a maiden, where the season starts but I assume hormone levels are not quite high enough and thins stop for a few days or even a week or so and then start again in earnest, thereby making it appear a long season.

You can also get split seasons where the season starts, stops and restarts after a longer period, gain I assume because hormone levels are a bit out of whack.

I have had these odd things happen usually with a first time bitch, or an older one coming towards the end of breeding age (though bitches don't have menopause seasons can get more erratic). 

I do have all my bitches spayed after their last litter, so around 5 - 7 years, to avoid Pyo.

That could have very well happened. She seemed to stall the first 2 weeks, no swelling, just small amounts of bleeding.  Today the discharge is almost nonexistant, so I hope that is the end of it! She is still on pyo watch, however!  I think that ranges 2 to 8 weeks after the heat cycle.  Thanks for the information, Brainless!

Thank you for posting this. Our girl started heat on Christmas. Bred January 3rd and 7th. Still bleeding. Vet said no infection and was baffled. Ultrasound set for 11th of February.

First of all this is an old thread and you might be better starting your own new one.   Secondly, most of my bitches would 'tail off' after being mated, even if they are still in season for the full 3 weeks +.   However I had one who after two good matings, and having previously gone to a light straw coloured discharge, came back into a full blood discharge to the end of her season.   I was sure she'd not taken (she was otherwise fine) but after an uncomplicated pregnancy, she delivered 9 of probably the best puppies we'd ever bred.

Having said that, prolongued bleeding will pull her down so I suppose if you have ruled out a Pyometra going on, you can but wait, keep her confined so if she's still 'open' she doesn't pick up infection (squatting in the wrong place) and see what develops.

You're just a few days past 28 days at the moment, so I'd give it maybe a week longer and see if it's still continuing then.