Hi everyone, just wondering if its normal for my bitch to gone off her food cos she is having her first season? She is eating her evening meal but not her morning one - cud this due to the raging hormones? Also just how long does the "heavy bleeding" bit go on for?  my girl has been spotting quite heavy for 7 days now.

Thanks
Deb

Yes it can be normal for a bitch to go off her food while in season. My bitches never eat properly when in season, and for a few weeks after they don't eat well either. As for the bleeding i think all dogs are different, mine are usually two weeks bleeding. Don't worry too much about the eating, i know how worrying this can be.

On average the bleeding lightens after about 10 - 12 days and the discharge becomes more straw-like in colour. This does not mean her season is over!!! It means she's entering her most fertile time, so be extra vigilant with her! My bitches have always seemed to bleed for the full three weeks or so (but then, they've never read the books!).
:)

Libby bled for three weeks continually on her first season
she didnt go off her food during the season but did afterwards for a while

My girl also went off her food round about her season.  She was also obviously feeling pretty yucky, much like me with a heavy period, but worse!

One of my bitche would eat 3 days out of 7 during and for several weeks after her season.  As she wasn't greedty at other times I was always annoyed as she lost weight, which would take her until the next season to regain.  Now she is spayed and I have had to cut her food down.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post - i cant wait for it all to be over!!!!
Deb