Dogs First Heat - How Long?

[skybluestu]

Hello,

Our 7 month old puppy started her first heat cycle 19 days ago (hasn't been confirmed by a vet but she has a swollen vulva, bigger nipples and bloody discharge) and from what I read there should only be blood for 7-10 days but she has had the bloody discharge every day so far, is this normal or should we take her to the vet? She is a Rottweiler if size makes any difference to the length of time.

Thanks in advance

[elcent]

about three weeks from my observation

[bina]

a bit long, but maybe rotties are different... most cycles are with red bloody discharge, slowly fading to rusty coloured by the 9th or so day which is usually when u should plan to start putting her with her mate )not recommened at her age) and the proper breeding times are usually from the 9th day to the 12 th day, with an other week of torture even if she has been bred .. torture for us cause the smell sticks around and males will still be interested even if she is after the main part of the heat.

the problem is that bitches can develop pymetra which is life threatening and not always symptomatic so a visit to a good vet would be a good idea (blood test can show if there is infection, as , sometimes vaginal swipe but mostly vets go by symptoms). if she has pymometra the usual treatment is usually a hysterectomy, so make sure u have a good vet before making uninformed decisions.

if u notice changes in food intake (less then usual), lethargy, or changes in the discharge, get her checked for pyometra (womb infection-- google for the two types open or closed, and symptoms),

but before u get nervous, : how are the males in the area acting, and how is she acting?

licking her self , wanting to roam, general 'bitch in heat' behavior (trying to get out of house, more 'nervous' or 'energetic' pacing, 'hormonal')?

if there are no males in the area borrow one with balls, put on leash and bring over, see how she responds (but dont let him loose on her, u dont want mixed mutts at 7 months old. let her skp a heat or so before breeding if u are planning to breed her. rotties need time to grow.)

i had a major panic with my lhasa bitch, it turned out the blood and discharge was a thorn that had worked its way in right around her vulva, causing infection locally but swelling the whole area up, this was two weeks after her heat had finished.

maybe some of the rottie people think differently??? 7 months is not the usual age for this, could be just screwy hormones in young bitch?

bina

israel

btw, i am hysterical about the pyometra i admit since in the year i worked at the vet clinic, i saw five bitches with pyometra, one died (owner waited too long to bring her in), three had emergency hysterectomies with one almost dying, and one the owner refused , the bitch survived but it was expensive and very long haul. it traumatized me a bit since i also was the assistant during the operations and hand nursed all of them.

[ralfbkk]

I have a Labrador Bitch and do not see any difference or anything out of the ordinary in your dogs case.

Remember, the first heat is always the longest and it took around 24 days for my dog to get over with.

Her first heat was with 9 month and it was terrible. Roaming around, males everywhere ...awww. Well,

she had 2 litters ( 1 x 7 , 1 x 9) and have spayed her after that. She is 5 1/2 years now and our 6th lab.

My experience with large breed dogs is, that they tend to have a longer period than smaller breeds.

Bina's post is certainly a very good advise and you should not overlook any symptoms. However,

wait a few days more. After that, make sure she is with you all the time, or protected from male dogs

as this is the perfect time for her breed.