Question mainly for gundog people - do you let your in season bitches swim and if not how long after a season do you think they are safe again?

Christine

Hi Christine mine swim right thru. Is there a reason why they shouldn`t be allowed?
Apart from the obvious with males about that is.
Christine2

It could be like the old wives tale, that you shouldn't have a bath when you are menstruating. I think Christine is wondering about the risk of infection entering the bitch.

Thanks Brainless, never thought of that! Well all I can say is my oldest will be eight in a couple of months & the others are 5yrs & 1yr 4mths & they have never had a problem either in the pool or the sea. Although we don`t bother with the sea any more as they are all nearly off limits to dogs.
Christine2

Carrie is currently in season and she goes into water, but only the stream next to the house and the mill pond. But she's a labrador ;)

All the bitch hounds are given the chance to swim every day....much appreciated in the summer! They swim in season and out....never had any trouble.

Thanks,
It was something that had not occurred to me till I asked about using a friend's pond and she said that another friend would not let her in season Weim. bitches swim during, or for a couple of weeks after their season, as she considered they were more open to infections - especially if the water was mucky

Christine

I know someone in toy breeds who won't even let her bitches out of the house when in season because they are open to infection! Absolute nonsense to my mind. The only reason I can see for any different treatment whilst in season is that of preventing pregnancy.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

The concept of "Being more prone to infections during seasons due to the dirty water " does make some sense...at least in a human concept, so why not dogs?
I've had several ob/gyn's tell me to make certain that I wash off after swimming in chlorinated water and after long hot baths, due to the same reason. It's a warm moist area that is prone to have "bacterial growths", so it is best to be safe than sorry. Why not???
I've been told that hot tubs can be some of the worst "offenders" to create problems. I've also talked with women who have had some really frightful infections after swimming in pools and lakes :(
toodles