doggie period

[alex303]

so my baby got her first period ....i did not expect this to happen yet - she's 9 mo old - i was certain it doesn't start before they're a year old! i suppose i was wrong. i was planning on getting her spayed before she got her first one! i have heard that letting the dog have its first period increases the risk of health problems - like certain types of cancers? is this true?! i am completely mortified!
i would like to hear from ppl who have had their dogs have their cycle as well as from those who spayed them.

also, i do want to get her spayed but as far as i know from the experience with my cat - you have to wait till it's over...right? and well it's been going on for 3 weeks now - which brings me to another question - how much longer!?! also, it seems like she is bleeding less but her hipples are just huge! please help - i have had only male dogs my entire life!

[Moo]

Some breeds can go into heat as early as 5 months.

Yes, it is true that dogs who go into a heat before spaying are at higher risk to certain cancers. Some vets will spay during heat, others will not. Talk to your vet. A season is 3 weeks, give or take.

[micki]

Waht breed is she? some dogs have swollen breasts with the heat and some even go into false pregnancies so watch her. But check with the vet she should be about finished her heat but if she is in a false pregnancy you may have to wait a little longer to spay .

[alex303]

she is a boston terrier. she is acting totally fine - i have been tolld that if they go into a false pregnancy they act a bit funny...i don't know. but i will be taking her to a vet next week probably.

[BabyElephant]

Dogs spayed after their first season are at a slightly higher risk of mammory cancer than dogs spayed before their first season. But some vets won't spay before their first season anyway.

I know in the UK you have to wait 3 months after the season before having her spayed. Watch out for a false pregnancy because they shouldn't spay her if she is having a false pregnancy as it can cause long-term problems.

Dogs are usually in season for 3 weeks but they shouldn't bleed for the whole time - is she bleeding heavily? If so I would take her to the vet sooner rather than later as there could be something else going on.

[alex303]

First of all thank you all so much for your replies!

now, in the reply to the last post - the bleeding isn't heavy at all - and i think that today it finally stopped completely! but i think that she did bleed throughout the whole thing....i think. but as i said - it was pretty light.

does anyone know how do you determine if she is in false pregnancy or no? can only the vet tell you that?

thank you everybody, once again.

[whimzikal]

If she is in a flase pregnancy she will act pregnant. She will be very lovey, gain weight and even have sickness. (like human morning sickness) Iy's tough she can have all or no outward signs. Your vet is your best bet here.

[BabyElephant]

She may also produce milk if she is having a false pregnancy, take toys to her bed to "nurse", may go off her food etc.

Sometimes the bleeding it quite light so you may not have noticed if it stopped in the middle.