Question about heat cycle

[Trudy]

Hi everybody

My female Trudy, 9 months, is, I think, going into a heat cycle. I posted earlier about our male Sarge, and his sudden obsession with her. We neutered Sarge a week ago, realizing that this was necessary. He's doing well, other than being very hyped up and anxious around Trudy.
So here is the situation. Trudy has started to bleed, which suggests to me that the heat cycle is beginning. Sarge is just pursuing her non stop even though he's fixed. The vet says it will be a while before his hormones fade away so now I'm wondering what to do, and what to expect in the coming weeks.
I could board him with a dog watcher, but this stresses him out and he has seizure problems. I'm just wondering how to handle Trudy now that she's in heat, in the same house with a recently neutered male who is just obsessed with her. How long might this last?
Also, is there some way of stopping the dog from bleeding on the floor?
We had planned on spaying trudy before her heat cycle but she has a recessed vulva that the vet says might resolve if we let her go through a cycle or two.


Thanks again everyone

[emma_Dad]

Keep them separated!! He can still get her pregnant since he's recently been neutered. It could be up to a month before it all clears his system.

As for bleeding all over, you can put a doogy diaper on her or confine her to one area.

[Sam I Am]

It's been a long time since I've kept a male, so going from memory. Definitely keep them separated (separate rooms with at least two doors between them). Have her pee in a separate part of the yard and after he's been out to help cut back on the smell (he can smell it even if we can't). I would confine her to one area while she's bleeding. Some people use the diapers, but I've never had luck with them. Many girls will keep themselves fairly clean (so watch the face kisses lol). Most importantly, be even more vigilant once the bleeding changes and/or stops, because that's when many are fertile (though that's not always accurate)

[Snowco Labradors]

He can still get her pregnant. Can't remember for how long after the neuter but want to say 6 weeks. check with your vet. I use doggy diapers or confine to an area with no carpet for easy clean up.

[POPTOP]

When Mardi came into heat, Bandit had been neutered for some time. He was still interested. I've learned that even a neutered dog and tie with a female.

We have a large kitchen with a tile floor. Since Mardi would not leave her panties on, she was confined to the kitchen, baby gate up to the living room, keeping her in and Bandit out. In the evening when things settled down, she was allowed in the living room with the carpet covered with blankets. Bandit was a pretty good boy but we kept a close watch. Potty trips were only in the back yard and always monitored. Do be careful, she is the most fertile during the last week and may become very persistent to get to your boy. Mardi was a complete hussy.

[JenC]

It's gonna last a month. Set up 2 crates. One where you can keep the girl the majority of the day other than pee breaks and some play time supervised in the back yard. The other is for the boy when you take the girl out. And I would put the crates where you can see them.

When Grace was still intact, and we had Hudler, Jack and Jed...they were OK if Grace was crated but upset if they were crated away from her. So she spent more time crated than they did.

[smartrock]

I think the usual recommendation is to keep them separated for 28 days from the day the bleeding begins, even if the bleeding appears to be stopping a few days sooner than that. I think you'll need to keep them apart for the whole time she's in heat. I've read that some dogs will mate even through the bars of a crate or through a fence, so it may not be easy, but it is possible.

You can get doggy diaper covers at places like PetSmart or Petco and use minipads or panty liners inside of them, the kind that stick on the bottom and do not have wings. My pup was pretty good about keep hers on once she got accustomed to them.

When a dog is neutered, can they breed - Questions & Answers | VetInfo/QA

[Trudy]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. This is definitely going to be a challenge.

[doubledip1]

You can do it. And if something happens (you're dealing with an intact dog and a just-neutered dog), take her to the vet and the vet will prescribe a medication to prevent pregnancy.

[Charlotte K.]

You can do it. And if something happens (you're dealing with an intact dog and a just-neutered dog), take her to the vet and the vet will prescribe a medication to prevent pregnancy.

I am not sure of the new drugs, if any, but the old drugs for pregnancy termination were worse than an abortion/spay or letting them have the pups. I agree with keeping them separate. A male Lab can hit a door pretty hard, popping hinges: we had a whole litter turned into rescue from one such event. I agree with a crate, or a crate for each, ideally with a door in between, too. I have heard of dogs breeding through wire crates and fences.

This, too, shall pass.