I have my first female dog. She is an English Pointer and approaching 6 months. What should I expect from her when she comes into season? Orginally, I had planned to have her spayed before her first cycle, but I have pretty much changed my mind. Now, I don't know what to expect.

Any time from now until a year old ( or sometimes later) she should have a season. You may notice other dogs being interested in her before she shows any outward signs. The first thing you usually notice is a drip of bright red blood on the floor. She will bleed drips and drops for up to 10 days, and her vulva will be greatly enlarged. A very few bitches bleed right through the 3 week cycle, but this is rare. Mostly between 7 and 11 days the blood pales to clear and this is when they are fertile, and could remain fertile for several days. A normal season usually lasts around 3 weeks, her vulva will never be as small again as it was before, so expect it to look bigger once she has finished. As soon as she starts her season write down the day on the calendar and if possible dont take her out for walks or you may get every male in the area camping on your doorstep and serenading you all with howling all night. She must be supervised every moment she is in the garden, dont ever leave her out on her own and if you are unsure of her obedience put her on the lead!! Be aware that some dogs can scale 6-7 foot fences to find a mate, will jump through open windows and I have had one dog actually draw a bolt and let a bitch out of a kennel - the girls are just as keen to escape too. Keep her confined for at least 21 days - 28 is safer. Once you are sure she has finished, shampoo her hindquarters down before taking her out for walks again or she will still smell wonderful to the local rogues!!

Can you advise on any book/web site that gives my info on bitches in season? I have looked but to no avail. My westie is only 15 weeks but I've read stories about cramps and vomiting and want to make sure I do everything I can to help my little girl when it happens.

Our vet had advised to let her have her fisrt season before she's speyed - does anyone know how soon afterwards she should have it done?

All my bitches have sailed through seasons without any bother - no vomiting, certainly, and they never looked in any pain or discomfort. Apart from restricted exercise I just treated them as normal. The best time to spay is midway between seasons, so roughly from 3 or 4 months after the start of the season.
:)

Hi Claire,

Most bitches will be fine through their season . You just have to be careful as others have said with them.

A good book that most people recommend on the group is " The book of the Bitch "

It is avaliable here http://www.pickabook.co.uk/details/1860540236/display.html

think it is on special just now also. It does make good reading and a hand reference.

Pam

can you spay a bitch before she goes into season, or do you have to wait untill her first one? and if you can, the what is the minimum age fotr spaying?
thanks ;)

Hi most vets say to have a season before spaying (hormones maybe?).

In the US, it is common to spay around 6 months which can be before first cycle. Although, I understand it is not common in GB. I see both points making it an even more difficult decision.

Please dont spay until 3 months after the first season and ideally not until about 3 months after the 2nd at the earliest. The circulating hormones that are inhibited/stopped by early spaying are not only to do with reproduction. I have read of very experienced trainers who say that very early spayed bitches often never really grow up mentally and are much harder to train. The problems are coming to ligt now after some UK have "gone the American way", where bitches as young at 10-12 weeks are spayed as a matter of course.There can also be problems with great overgrowth of woolly coat in some breeds and often wee incontinece of varying severity after any spay. Vets seldom tell you the downsides - only the upsides of the spay debate.

My bitches have never appeared uncomfortable or in pain nor have they ever vomited - I dont know who told you this but they are wrong, or maybe had a bitch with an undiagnosed health problem. The only symptoms I ever notice are that they are more excitable/demanding of attention and maybe hungrier leading up to/during a season. Us humans pay the price of walking upright - which is why we have these problems of pain etc - dogs do not and if they do there is something that needs investigating. Hope this puts your mind at rest.