Author Topic: Bitches seasons  (Read 87220 times)

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Offline spanielcrazy

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Bitches seasons
« on: May 28, 2008, 01:46:17 AM »
Cocker bitches can come in season any time from about 6 months of age and up; however the average is between 8 months and a year. If your bitch goes beyond 2 years of age with no season you may want to discuss it with your vet. She may also have had a silent season where there are no obvious signs or symptoms.

Bitches can show behavioural changes before a season that can run a wide range: clingyness or moodiness; wanting to sleep more or hyperactivity; increase or decrease in appetite and so on. Housetraining may also slip as she marks urine to advertise her condition. Any behavioural changes at this age should be considered possible signs of impending season.

As the time gets very close, her vulva will swell. In some bitches it is quite noticable and in others it is very subtle. Her teats may also swell, particularly the back ones.

At this time the bleeding will begin. It is important to note the start of the bleeding as best you can, as this is when your "countdown" will begin. Some bitches are very thorough about keeping themselves clean, so you may need to do a daily wipe of her vulva with a white tissue to check. If she is not as good about keeping herself clean, or she is spotting where she sits, you can buy specially made pants for bitches, or you can just use a pair of childrens knickers.

The bleeding lasts for approximately 10 days, but do not be alarmed if she goes more or less than that. Blood colour will be normal "fresh" red to pale pink tinge, often tapering off to a clear liquid toward the end of the bleeding phase. Any other colours such as black, green, yellow, etc, should be seen by a vet, as they could be signs of infection.

Males may or may not take an interest in her during the bleeding phase. Most bitches are not yet receptive to males or fertile yet, but there are exceptions, so it is best that she be confined to garden, or if you live in a city, kept on lead at all times and walks shortened as a courtesy to male dogs and their owners. Entire male housemates should be separated at this time.

After the bleeding stops, at approximately 10 days, she is now ready and receptive to male attention. This is the danger time ! Bitches must never be left unattended, even in their own gardens, as both males and females can become quite clever and persistent about escaping over or under fences, bolting through open doors and gates, etc. City dwellers should just take their bitches out for their business, then right back in - areas such as parks where there are lots of offlead dogs are best avoided for the duration of the season.

This fertile, receptive phase will last approximately 10 days after the bleeding stops. She will gradually become less and less interested in males and other dogs, she may become grumpy. Her vulva will go back to normal, her teats will come down too, but some bitches remain "pouchy" after their first season, which is fine and normal.

It is probably best to continue with the confinement for another week, or 15 days after the bleeding stops, just to be on the safe side. So all in all, about 25 days total for the "whole show".

If she should accidentally be bred, consult your vet immediately. There is a "mismate" injection called Alizin which can be administered up to several weeks after the unwanted mating. It is safer and more effective than the old mismate injection.

It is very important that she be watched for a month or two after her season, as she could develop a uterine infection known as pyometra. Any sign of illness within a couple of months of a season should be seen immediately by a vet, as pyometra is life threatening.

The above should be considered a rough guide to the average cocker season. Deviations from this rough timetable; such as split heats (where the bitch has vulvular swelling and bleeding, then goes out of heat without being receptive, then comes back in heat again in 2-10 weeks); prolonged heats (where it goes on for more than 25 days); or intervals between heats of less than 4 months should be discussed with your vet.

The only way to really know how long she will go between cycles is to wait till her second heat, and count the interval. But even that is not absolute, just an idea of when the next one will come.
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