My little girl maybe showing signs of her first season

[rwasinski]

Blodwen is almost eight months now and I think she is showing signs of her first season. She is my baby and I am so apprehensive! She has been uncharacteristically grumpy over the past few days, a bit out of sorts, tired with no energy, sleepy, withdrawn (she would normally be bouncing off the walls for two walks a day and now she is just not interested), she has a bit of a funny smell and her 'lady-bits' are pink and a bit swollen. She usually loves a good old play with Llewelyn but he has lost his playmate as she takes her self off to lie down elsewhere. I have wiped her bits twice already today but no sign of blood.

She slept with us on the bed last night because I was so worried about her (Llew coped excellently without her in the kitchen thank goodness - the first time in his life he has slept alone in a room, bless him)

In a way I hope it is her season and she isn't ill (she was sick on Christmas eve and Christmas day due to munching on too many twigs and leaves which caused a blockage in her tummy).

Her first season also means that she will be going for her girl operation soon after, which I am dreading. She is the puppy love of my life (Llew-llew catching her up!) and I hate the thought of her having an op at all.

No questions, just wanted to share...

[MegandMolly]

Sounds like she could be, Meg was really grumpy when she had her season,
(and have since found out that Roobs was speyed before I had here as the vet recognised her  - she was the norty one who pulled at her stitches!)


what time do you want me to pop down to dognap Llew from you?? 

[tots]

i feel the same, jet is my baby and shes 7mnths now , im dreading her season as i know its neutering time then

[Rats and Dogs]

Aw, Blod is becoming all grown up now. I know how you feel though, my vet asked me 2 weeks ago if I would be getting Duggie neutered, and I said I would be, but not yet as he is still a baby and doesn't even cock his leg - and of course, the very next day he started cocking! Since then, he has cocked his leg on everything out on walks, but I still want to wait until he is a little more grown up. However, if he was a bitch, I would do it a couple of months after the first season.

It's so scary when it is your own though.

[rwasinski]

It's true Fiona. Our vets encouraged us to get her spayed at 6 months when we took her in for a once over health check after picking her up from the breeder at 10 weeks. Of course at that point, we had no idea what she would be like at 6 months and so at that time it seemed sensible.

Like you, to me, she is still a baby at 8 months and couldn't imagine having had her spayed at 6 months as to me she still seems to have a lot of growth and development to do (although it is personal preference though I understand that and growth and maturity differs from pup to pup).

Our circumstances do mean that she will have to have her op after her first season.

It is strange how poignant and how significant and marked the passage of time becomes as you watch your little baby develop and grow and undergo changes. It's strange to feel that you will only have these things happen once in their lifetimes -  the initial learning, awareness, first time to the park, first time off the lead, first season, first cocking of leg. So precious. My little girl is quickly growing up and there is nothing I can do to slow time!

[sharonmansfield]

I can't believe the little golden angel is 8 months old already, it seems like just a few weeks ago when you posted the first pics of her.
Its does sound very much like her season is imminent, Bella was 8 months. They grow up so fast don't they. 

[rwasinski]

Not sure what is going on with Blodwen at the moment, we have our breeder and family on stand by to take Llewelyn in, when she starts to bleed but since Friday, her bits seem to have gone from swollen to back to normal and she is back to her cheerful, enthusiastic self. The thing that has remained is a very strange, distinctive, metallic smell coming from her bits and licking. Have washed her behind gently once but the smell is deffo back. It's not her anal glands.

Is this normal in the run up to a season? Am checking for spots of blood every hour-ish!

If this continues tomorrow, I will whizz her to the vets just to make sure. Am sitting next to her on the sofa right now, and she stinks bless her!  

[MegandMolly]

Meg smelt 'metallic' when she was in season, and was constantly washing her bits, so it was difficult to see any discharge. So sounds like she might be starting, have you 'wiped her bits' with a piece of tissue to check??

[rwasinski]

I am wiping her bits quite frequently to check (she is very patient with me and allows me to do so without a grumble - she is very understanding of her neurotic mam!), but still nothing.   but something must be causing the smell   (I hope Blod doesn't mind me describing her bits in such detail this way!)

[Jeanette]

Indie had her first season at 7.5 months but there was never any mess or blood anywhere as she kept herself clean.     Sounds to me like she is in season.   

[rwasinski]

Indie had her first season at 7.5 months but there was never any mess or blood anywhere as she kept herself clean.     Sounds to me like she is in season.   

Jeanette, how could you then be sure at the time it was her season?

Still nothing today except for her whiff. Blodwen, please show me a sign??!!!!

[bajoleth]

Really don't wish to cofuse you even more but I thought Belle was coming into season when she was 7 mths, she became very grumpy and grumbly, was off her food, constant licking etc, but within a week or so was back to normal. Can.t say I remember her smelling but as her breeder had checked her over and assured me she was not in season I sort of relaxed about it. She is 10 mths today and are still waiting, try not too worry she may or may not be coming into season, but going by our Cavie Georgie (RIP ) You will def know when she is in season. I know its more of a worry as you Llew, but she won't be fertile till its over IYSWIM, try not to worry

[Jeanette]

Indie had her first season at 7.5 months but there was never any mess or blood anywhere as she kept herself clean.     Sounds to me like she is in season.   

Jeanette, how could you then be sure at the time it was her season?

Still nothing today except for her whiff. Blodwen, please show me a sign??!!!!

She went really miserable and withdrawn at first and I thought she was ill, constantly licking herself and then there was no mistaking the huge doughnut     She then proceeded to act like a complete hussy, trying to escape the house to find a mate - it was a nightmare and they say its the boys who go after the girls 

[mezzaj]

I thought my Lucy was coming into her first season last week (she is now 11mths old) but nope nothing as yet. She was very tired last week, and I had to gently coax her to go for a walk, (she decided that once she got to the end of the drive that was enough ) but there are no other signs at present, apart from she has a 'smell' about her (might be her feet!) and if I go to look at her bottom she definately doesn't like it. With her colouring I would definately know when the bleeding starts but there is nothing there at the moment.   Her tiredness seems to have worn off now as she seems to be back to her old self where she is up for walk anytime.   Lucy will be getting spayed later this year but I'm not looking forward to taking her for the op. Poor baby.

[rwasinski]

I took Blod to the vet today for a second opinion (I wanted to rule out other things) and they think that it is more than likely she is coming into season.

Llewelyn will be going to Nan and Grandad's on the weekend for a week and then the breeders most likely for another two