Advice please ! Canine menstruation

[Vivienne]

Our puppy is seven & a half months old and our dog walker has said the male dogs have started to take a little more interest in her.  There are no obvious signs she has started the cycle, but I am just looking for any advice on how we cope with this phase of her life.  I have nightmares that we will be besieged with male dogs on the three walks a day she currently has.  Our dog walker says we need to go out at times when there are fewer other dogs out there but do you have to sneak out at midnight ?!  And should we take a stick to fend them off ?  Also how long will it last ?  We will look to get her neutered but our vet will not carry this out until after her first cycle.

 

Can you tell I'm a little nervous about all this ?  :o)

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have never heard of a vet waiting until after the first cycle--and most breeders will not let you have a cycle with the dog since they "own" the genetics and don't want you making any puppies! It is in the contract of my breeder that any dog sold as a pet is spayed or neutered at 6 months--or else! A few have waited until 9 months, but never longer. I think that waiting until after a cycle is preposterous--and would find another vet. There are plenty out there that would spay her now--before it gets to be a more complicated (and EXPENSIVE) surgery.

To answer your question, yes, she could be going into heat or a slight version of one--they can be 10 months, a year old or even a year and half old when it starts--just like humans, one year old is an average time.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Ginny - I agree - she needs to get to a different Vet - ASAP!

 

[Vivienne]

Thank you for replying Ginny.  I think my DH will be on the phone first thing tmrw !

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I have a friend who's Vet will not spay her until her first cycle because she claims  it lowers her ovarian cancer risk, it does however, according to her raise her breast cancer risk slightly. I have not looked to verify this info at all as I had no need.

Anyway, right after her first cycle at 11 months she was spayed. She did keep her away from other dogs meanwhile.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't get this. If spayed, the ovarian cancer risk at any age should be gone with the rare exceptions we talked about this week. I thought for dogs it also lowered the breast cancer risk.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yep, my understanding as well.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think Lisa is saying that it's waiting that increases the risk of breast cancer, which is what you are saying and to my knowledge is correct.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Yes that is what I was saying....again not sure of all the details.

I do know her 3 year old GR died of cancer (not sure what type) the year prior to her getting another and she was willing to do anything not to go through that horror again.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Vivienne - your puppy is too cute!  If I were a male dog - I'd be after her too!!!  LOL    I've never had a female dog or cat so I am of no use in this matter but I am in favor of very early neutering for my boys. 

[Christine & Camus]

I don't have any advice, but your puppy is beautiful!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

i would find another vet. it is better for the dog to be spayed BEFORE her first cycle... it helps prevent cancer and the uncomfort of being in heat, as well as the chances of her getting pregnant by some random dog