doubledip1 (05-02-2016), Maxx&Emma (05-02-2016)
We only home older dogs. While I respect and totally agree with waiting to spay, I'll speak to the issue of having a female in heat.
Only a week after Mardi joined the family she came into heat. Her breeder offered to take her back for the duration but figured no biggie, we'd give it a go. She was gated in the kitchen away from the carpets and slept in her crate. I kept a very washable cotton blanket in her crate. A quick mop up in the morning and wiping up during the day, which was not much at all, was all it took. I monitored her on her trips outside but never even saw another dog in the area; we do have a fenced in yard. We also had Bandit, a neutered male, and he "attempted" mounting a few times but I quickly broke it up. In the evenings, I spread out the blankets in the living room so she could join the family. If there was a little drip on the carpet, Nature's Miracle quickly and efficiently cleaned up. We did try doggies panties but she would have nothing to do with them; she was an expert at taking them off, LOL. It was not bad at all, in fact, very manageable. You do have to remember that they are most fertile at the end of the cycle and continue to protect her a full 28 days. The benefits of hormones far out weigh the inconvenience. Also, her first heat may not be as heavy as later in life. You also have to consider the situation of an inverted vulva. Give it a chance to fully correct itself.
Just some insight and my opinion.
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doubledip1 (05-02-2016), Maxx&Emma (05-02-2016)
I have my girls wear panties when they are in season as they do like to get up on the furniture. You can get them at Petsmart, and put a human panti-liner in which can be changed as needed. For us, the real inconvenience is that they can’t use the doggy door - other than that it hasn’t been a big deal. We’ve never had packs of intact males stalking our house! In fact, for most of Chloe’s life (she was spayed this past winter at age 6 after having the puppies), we also had her intact father here in the house without a problem. I mean, yes, we had to separate them, but it’s not like he was breaking down doors to get to her.
I think as long as your girl is not out in an unsecure yard for hours on end unattended, the risk of accidental pregnancy is not that hard to avoid. If you live in an area with lots of intact loose dogs you might need to be more vigilant, but it’s really not that big a deal. As for the mess, it’s inconvenient but not like they are gushing blood everywhere. Depending on what works for you and what your house is like, either have her wear panties or keep her on an easy to clean floor.
I feel pretty strongly that it is best for them to fully mature with all their hormones in place which means let their brains and bodies be exposed to at least one heat cycle so that any developmental things that need to happen can happen.
Annette
Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009
And remembering:
Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015
And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014
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Charlotte K. (05-04-2016), dogmom (05-05-2016), Maxx&Emma (05-02-2016), windycanyon (05-02-2016)
Aowyn had an inverted vulva and we waited through one heat cycle and it fixed the issue. We just bought her a heat diaper and there were no issues with blood going everywhere. As soon as she went into heat we scheduled here surgery for as soon as possible and everything went well. It was really no big deal. i don't think we had any messes and we just supervised her outside breaks.
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I would definitely wait. There is too much information supporting waiting to have a bitch spayed. I waited until Sophie had her second season, and waited even 2 months after her cycle finished. I've dealt with intact females and have found the mess to be minimal at worse. They usually do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean. I feel the benefits of allowing them to mature both physically and mentally far outweigh the minimal mess.
I won't reiterate each point of others before me with the exception of one; please wait!
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Maxx and Emma Jean
Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.
Abulafia (05-07-2016), doubledip1 (05-02-2016)
Also, if you're worried about inconvenience, with all of the data on early spaying contributing to dysplasia and TPLO surgery, I'd be more concerned with the inconvenience of spending thousands of dollars, having my dog crated for 6 weeks other than supervised visits to the yard on leash and rehab after said surgeries. Not to mention a greater chance of incontinence issues and UTIs.
Abulafia (05-07-2016), Charlotte K. (05-04-2016), dogmom (05-05-2016), Maxx&Emma (05-12-2016)
It is really no big deal. Get the undies, keep her leashed when outside and it will go just fine. Think there are even sprays you can put on the undies to mask the heat cycle smell from boy dogs (didn't ask the lady in class what is was exactly but my intact male and none of the other 2 males noticed the girl dog heat cycle smell in class the other night and the one boy has been used at stud before so he isn't ignorant).
All, thanks so much for sharing your own experiences. It sounds like perhaps the heat cycle isn't as over-the-top problematic as everything I've read.
Yes, I trust the breeder who knows her dogs. But I also trust my vet who is a medical professional specializing in dogs writ large. When situations arise where we get differing advice between the two, DH and I have to make the best informed decision that we believe is right for OUR dog. No different than for our child, or for our own medical care. Both have our dog's best interests in mind, but sometimes those recommendations don't align, so we are doing all sorts of reading and research to evaluate for ourselves if the advice ends up being different.
Thanks for giving us additional data points to consider.
Lots of good advice given. I think most of the general advice you will find on the internet, with the exception of forums like these with many savy and experienced dog owners, will make you believe that a dog in heat is BAD and will completely blow the whole experience out of proportion so that you will be swayed to spay early.
Abulafia (05-07-2016), Annette47 (05-02-2016), doubledip1 (05-02-2016), Maxx&Emma (05-12-2016)
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Luna, born 6/14/13, gotcha 8/18/13 and TDI certified 5/12/2015
Comet, born 4/3/15, gotcha 6/9/15
Double Dip, 25 y/o Draft/Welsh pony
Gracie, 17 y/o DSH cat
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