Vet said something today which I dont think is the case,but even so its twanged a nerve now!
Minnie has gone a shorter length of time this time between seasons so the vet said this might mean she is infertile - though I read this was only usually the case if the length between was 4 months or under ?
First to second season was 258 days ( approx 9 months ) and second to third ( this season) 209 days (Approx 6 1/2 months )
Thoughts any one  ?

Neither is abnormal and I cant imagine what would lead him to suggest that.

I thought as much - but every thing and anything is playing on my mind! I've been having awful dreams - which i think is just me worrying I'll let my girl down - and all the waiting is proving harder than I'd imagined even though I knew to expect it ! Im very much a 'don't put off to tomorrow anything you can do today' type of person . . .so this is torture! lol

My best girl has short seasons, and it has not affected her fertility.  Although her seasons are shorter than the norm, and she flags from day 3.  Needs mating day 8, always has 2 pups, and has never missed!  :-)

One of my girls was a week under 1yr on her 1st season, 2nd 10 months later, 3rd 7 1/2 months later, 4th 8 months later ... she was mated on this season and produced 6 lovely pups! Am now waiting with interest to see how long she's going to make me wait for the next one :-D

Think that a very strange idea, bitches are not machines and they will differ in the length of time and also one from another - always thought that vets in general have little idea about breeding.

My girls mum (I don't own her) has seasons every 5 months, she's had 2 litters 1 of 11 pups  1 of 15, so she's definitely not infertile and this is a cocker spaniel!!  Just to follow her mum, my girl is now in season 5 months after her last and a litter!

My youngest had her first season on her 1st birthday, then went 10 months  between her first and second and has just come into season again (her 3rd) only 5 months from her second one. I guess its more common than we think.

my bitch had her first season at 17 months, the 8 months, 8 months (no pups) then 8 months (still no pups) then 6 months (4 beautiful pups!)

So the irregularity certainly meant she did have pups!

My girl had her 1st season at 6mths of age, she now has a season every 5mths. She had a litter last year of 3 pups.

2 of my bitches have seasons every 4 months ( ish ) and i have found that they only ovulate every other season, i also have a friend with a bitch that is the same,  none of theses bitches are related in fact they are different breeds.  so prehaps your vet meant she could be infertile for some of her seasons ?

I've had a bitch have her first season at 4 1/2 mths, next 6mths later, next 4 mths later and continue on with a 6mth/4mth season pattern later producing a litter of 4 above average for the breed.

My bitch has her seasons bang on every 4 months to the day . She had a litter of 10 last year and has now been confirmed in whelp with a litter of 11 or 12 (according to scan) and this was from only one mating with a very short tie so definitely not infertile. What a strange thing for your vet to say , i do understand what you mean about worrying about anything and everything though - the waiting is torture!
Lucy x

my girls have 4months seasons too but it is very comon in our breed x

Silly question as I was wondering this with my girl when I thought she wasnt pregnant she has seasons every 4 -5 months, if she was infertile the idexx or pre mate test would show this wouldnt it???? God i know that sounds thick ?

Idexx / serum progesterone tests would indicate if ovulation had occured. Bitches can be in season but never produce enough hormone to actually ovulate hence the value of these tests.
K

Then of course they have to produce the right hormones at sufficient levels to maintain a pregnancy and the first real hurdle after conception is the implantation stage at around 3 weeks.  If the fertilised eggs don't implant in a good womb lining the pregnancy will not continue and if the placentas don't function well or if an infection enters etc, all can cause the pregnancy to end.

Thanks Brainless and Klb told you it was a thick question.lol