Heat

[cyndann]

I have several questions: At what age does a female go into heat? I have a six month old fawn female and I am not sure if she is or not. What are the signs? I know I may sound ridiculous, but I am trying to learn, because I also have a 2 year old flashy fawn male and I certainly do not want my female having a litter at such a young age. I have never had a female and I do not know much about them. On the other hand, I have thought about having her fixed but I have heard different stories on this issue too. If one has their pet "fixed" at an early age it affects their maturity. Is this true? (My 2 almost 3 year old male still acts like a big baby, but I do not mind at all) I just want to do what is most healthful for my little furbabies.

[JulieM]

Start watching for her to come into heat at any time. That said, my brood bitch didn't come in the first time until she was 21 months, her litter sister was 20 months. The most obvious signs will be a swelling of her vulva and a bloody discharge (but there are "silent heats" where they don't show any signs....). If you're observant, before you even notice the swelling or discharge, you may see that she begins to act more needy/clingy and perhaps a little depressed, she may skip a meal or vomit a few times, and your male will take quite an interest in her! (Thorough ear-washing is a common courting behavior.)

As for having her fixed - I had a female spayed at 6 months and a male neutered at 2 1/2 years - no changes in behavior for either one, neither of them got fat or less active or anything. It is better to have her fixed now. You won't have to worry about an accidental pregnancy, you'll almost completely eliminate the risk of mammary cancer if she is spayed before her first heat, you'll eliminate the risk of pyometra, and you won't have to deal with her mood swings, mess, and false pregnancy. (And of course, if you're not showing/breeding your male he should be neutered, too )

This site gives a bit more detail on reasons for spaying:

http://www.y2spay.com/CanineNeut1.htm

[cyndann]

thank you for the information. She has already started to show such signs and as for my male, well he has been pretty attentive. I just have not seen any sort of discharge.

[JulieM]

Check her bedding when she gets up from a nap/sleeping/out of her crate, and you can gently press a white tissue to her vulva when she comes in from outside. The discharge starts out straw-colored to light pink - if you're seeing red, she's already in full-blown heat. I'd suggest not letting the two out of your sight when they're together (and not letting them together at all if you start seeing a discharge). If she is coming into season and you don't/can't get her spayed beforehand, they'll need to be separated for 3-4 weeks. (Remember, dogs *can* mate through fences, gates and crates. And, as someone else on this board learned the hard way, a male dog will chew through a door to get to a female in season - and a female will do just about anything to get to a male.)

[cyndann]

Ok now I'm afraid.

[Jan]

It may be too late to spay your female as I believe vets don't like to spay when they are in the middle of a heat. You could get your male neutered tomorrow, that would solve the problem. Otherwise, you had better keep them separated as Julie suggested. Preferably crated in separate rooms. I have heard of a dog bouncing his crate accross the room to get to a female in heat and actually managing to mate. I find this difficult to believe, but that was what the website said.

Take care,

[Sabrina Jay]

Call your vet to see if they will spay during a heat. Some will, some won't. My vet will, but charges $10 more for the procedure during a heat cycle.

As the others have said, you can go on and neuter your male right now.

[cyndann]

I want to thank all of you for your responses. I have learned quite a bit. I am making a phone call today to see if our vet will spay Laila while she is in heat, if not we have made arrangements with a family member to take in Tyson. Again, thank you all.

Cynthia