Sophie has come into season

Sophie is exactly eight months old and has just come into her first or second season. I say first or second because abut two and a half months ago she went very crabby for a couple of weeks and had a very slight milky discharge but nothing else. We spoke to the vet who said it may be a juvenile season???? but as she was fit and well not to worry.

This week though we noticed her lady bits were quite swollen and again a milky discharge. In case of infection we popped her down the vets yesterday and he confirmed hse is in the early stages of her first 'proper' season. We have not found any 'spotting' on her bedding yet and so far just the swelling and discharge are the only signs. She is extremily fit and very well in herself but the vet did advise us to just keep an eye on her in case she develops an infection.

This is Bob's missus typing this, and what we have noticed is she is very cuddly towards me but anti Bob at the moment. She is fine with him most of the time but will get up on his lap looking for a cuddle and somehow appear to blame him and give him a small nip. Not marking the skin at all, but definitely showing displeasure in him at the moment when she has been previously very affectionate to both of us.

Has anyone experienced anything similar and what can we expect, apart form the obvious outward signs? Do you think it is hormonal?

We will be having her spayed as soon as the vet feels the time is right, probably late September.

Yes, her behaviour seems very hormonal & that's perfectly normal!

I've had bitches before that were demons when they came into season, and some that were absolute angels.

Just be patient, but don't let her get away with too much or she might think she can carry on when it's all over! Don't let her off lead for the next 3 weeks or so. After about 10 days you'll have to watch her like a hawk - try to take her out at times when there are fewer dogs around or they'll all be after her & she'll want them to!

I would stongly advice getting pants, Lola had her first season and it was a mess.

http://www.mikkipet.com/?page_id=1050&paged=2

lackeman wrote:I would stongly advice getting pants, Lola had her first season and it was a mess.

http://www.mikkipet.com/?page_id=1050&paged=2

Couldn't agree more!

Oh Gawd, advice needed please. Bob's missus here again. Sophie still hasn't any blood loss and appears to be perfectly fit and healthy. The vet was adamant she is starting her first season.

I have just noticed a distinct 'fishy' smell around her back end? Is this normal, or should I be looking out for infection?

I would hasten to add I don't make a habit os sniffing animals nether regions, it was she was just snuggled up beside me and noticed the smell. She has not been anywhere 'fishy'

Dont worry her bits swell a while before she will start to spot and yes she has the famous pmt

The spotting (if thats what you call it) doesn't start straight away, her lady bits will swell and if I remember rightly mine did have a whiff to her, it will happen in time, its only been 2 days? Xx

Cheers for the prompt response

Dogs must have a funny sense of smell if they find that odour attractive

I would'nt panic, if the vets happy.

Its the right age to be having her season and some bitchs discharge more than others. Some go very lazy tired and behave better than ever some get really groutchy and snappy. Some are more loving some are very distant during these times.

If you still are not happy in anther couple of days just go back the vets to double check, but I would not panic just yet personally to be honest.

If you need some more info about bitchs first season and what to expect there is loads of info about on the internet.

http://www.padsonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=41

I don't want to worry you, but it shouldn't smell of much at all! If anything, it should just be a 'blood' smell. If it smells fishy I'd go back to the vet as it could be an infection.

Many thanks everyone. She is very fit and not showing any signs of infection though I will be proactive and take her to the vets immediately if she starts to be 'off colour' in any way.

Nothing to panic about. Lola took ages after her vulva swelled to actually bleed, I thought it would never happen, but I promise you, you'll be back on this thread soon saying OMG what a mess

We can't get her to wear a harness, let alone knickers

Our vet's own dog is an English Bull Terrier and is incontinent. I don't think she is that old, but wears nappies all the time she is indoors. The first time we visited the vets we thought they were a fashion statement

bobs wrote:Many thanks everyone. She is very fit and not showing any signs of infection though I will be proactive and take her to the vets immediately if she starts to be 'off colour' in any way.

She shouldn't be smelly at all, really, and especially not a fishy smell. The problem with infections is that they can go undetected until they're really bad - ie pyometra.

Just a thought, have you checked her anal glands? It could be that they are impacted & need emptying. A job for the vet cause it's messy & SMELLY!

Morning all. To put my mind at rest I phoned the vet and had a chat. They said the smell was perfectly normal, just more noticable in some more than others.

Just to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't develop an infection. Apparently, if an infection in the womb does occur, it is likely to be towards the end of her season rather than the beginning. Another sign of infection to look for was lethargy and drinking excessively.

There is NOTHING lethargic about Sophie



Many thanks for all your help and advice.

Glad she's ok!

Afternoon all.

I reported on here on the 5th July that according to the vet Sophie was starting her first season. We took her to the vet as she had a slight milky discharge and her vulva was swollen. We took her as a precaution in case she had developed an infection.

Anyway, again I asked your advice as she had not shown any sign of blood loss, but had developed a dodgy 'fishy' smell. The vet also said that was perfectly normal.

Right, update. The smell only lasted a couple of days, if that, but she still has not shown any sign of blood loss whatsoever. We keep peering under her and checking where she sleeps and her bedding and still nothing.

The vet said he was 100% sure she was starting her season and was as thorough as he could be (she was very excited to see him).

She still has an occasional milky discharge but is definitely not ill or anything, so does not warrant another trip to the vets. Her vulva is still swollen.

She will be nine months old next week.

Any suggestions as to what is happening?

I really wouldn't be very happy.

What did your vet do when you went to see him?

A first season can be almost unnoticable apart from the swelling, and if that's the case here she'll be coming towards the end of it now. They usually last for about 3 weeks.

If it hasn't cleared within another week, I'd be down the vets again.

Hi Caryll, the vet gave her quite a thorough examination (bearing in mind she is a little lively). He checked her vulva, also had a good look at her chest and nipples. He also felt her tummy.

There has definitely been no blood loss. We have checked her, the furniture (cream leather sofa) and her bedding whick is again plain and very light.

The creamy discharge again is not there all the time, just occasionally, perhaps one or two drops every couple of days.

I think because of the swelling/discharge was how he determined she was in season. As I say, she will be nine months on the 28th July.