my bitch has jus come into season, i think,lol.
anyway, can i still take her for walks?  she usually gets offlead walks, but i realise if any i could take her for onlead walks round the block where we dont meet dogs.

however i have heard people say that they can pick up infections if taken for a walk whilst on season, but if this is true is there less risk picking up infections in the garden???

also, if i cant walk her wot is the suggested method of exercise cos if she doesnt go out shes bouncing off the walls like a loony,lol.

Hi Jenny,

I exercise my girls in non-doggy areas up to around day seven but after that they are confined to the garden - better safe than sorry ;)  Even there they are not allowed unsupervised in case another dog gets in (6 ft fencing doesn't keep a determined dog out or in :P )

You really will have to establish if she is in season or not and learn to recognise the signs early on too - I take it this is her first season?  She will probably have a show of blood - anything from slight wattery spotting to more noticeable bleeding.  All bitches are different.  Her vulva will also be swelling in size - this may or may not be evident before the blood show but is another indication as some bitches can have *clear* seasons ie. no sign of blood.  So particularly if they are very good at keeping themselves clean, it's always best to check the vulva too.

Best invest in "The Book of the Bitch" - available through Amazon and a wonderful *bible* for any owner of entire bitches.

Regards, Teri   

hi yes its her first season. i noticed her bits were swollen last week and bouncing around as she ran.lol. i have seen some blood spots on the couch, so i dabbed some tissue on her bits to check, so i think she cud be in season. 

she doesnt seem as lively today as normal, tho i cud jus be paranoid,lol.

thanks for ur advice

Hi again Jenny,

>she doesnt seem as lively today as normal, tho i cud jus be paranoid,lol.<

she may not be feeling great - they can be a bit flat and/or clingy sometimes - others just get on with it - it's a "girl thing" after all :rolleyes:  You should put a note on your calendar or diary of the first day you noticed any signs of her season - this will help you to be able to work out how long she has been in season for so you will know how long to take precautions for - and also give you an approximate reference point for when she is due in again (unless of course you are having her neutered).  Are you still in touch with her breeder?  Can you contact him/her and get a rough guide to length of time between her mother's seasons and other close female relatives?   Often it is every 6 months but different breeds and different lines within breeds can have quite large variations and your breeder may well want to chart your girl's seasons too for his/her own records.

HTH, Teri :)

is it wise to take her on lead walks? ive heard of cases of bitches in season gettin an infection and gettin pyo??  i dont want to risk anything, but at the same time my girl needs exercise :D

shes deffo on season, blood everywhere.  Do i need to get her checked by the vet, or is it something  thats not a worry?  i jus wondered if people take their girls to the vet when they have first season to make sure everything is ok?  everythin seems ok.lol.

ive ordered her some doggy pants to contain the bleeding as its already a bit of a pain.

Also, im still thinkin about having her speyed after this season, but still not sure.  I dont plan on breeding from her, but the seasons are livable with.  My main concern is the risk of pyo if shes not speyed, but then the risk of aneasthetic or post op problems if she is speyed?

thanks :)

I've always taken my bitches for on-lead walks when they're in season - as you say, they need their exercise. I put them into the car and drive them away from the house so they don't leave a 'treasure trail' for dogs to follow back to the door, and obviously I don't take them anywhere I'm likely to meet other dogs.
Also I don't allow them to sit on the pavement (when crossing the road, for example) to avoid the possibility of an infection getting in.

And no, I don't have the vet check them over - seasons are normal things and are generally no more than a 'bl**dy nuisance'! :D