Kiki is in heat for the first time

Good news, Kiki is in heat for the first time. She's growing up so quickly...

When I went to the vet for her second shot against Leishmania on the 1st of January (vet insisteert that the shots are given with a three weeks interval, great vet btw) she did not present any signs.

Since her shot, she was not so active anymore only restless, just sleeping a lot, chewing on her rawhides but with little to no conviction, not wanting to play but eating well though. I thought it was because of the vaccin until I noticed the bloody secretion from her vulva this morning.

Any tips on how to cope, I already put on a special pants so the blood does not get smeared out over the whole house.

I will have her spayed once she's grown up, so probably after her second or third heat cycle when she's about 2 years old. I read all the pros and cons and think that it is best to wait until they are adult. In my opinion, the reduced risk on breast cancer does not weigh out the other increased risk when spayed at a young age.

Any tips on how to cope are welcome!!

This is now the eigen day Kiki is in season. She is bleeding a lot more. Just wondering if this is normal.

yes this is pretty normal that they bleed more the 2nd week,how has she been?i remember sash wanting extra cuddles and staying in her bed alot more,aww Kiki your turning in to a beautiful young lady

She is taking it a bit slow. Where we could play for over half an your, it is now reduced to barely five minutes. Going to the dog park or going on walks/running not possible now because of the high number of dogs in theneighborhood.
For the rest she is pretty lame but eating and drinking well.

Just no chewbone or rawhide is save for the moment. Yesterday I bought her a nylabone that she destroyed in barely ten minutes....

The only thing I am scared about now is that her lady parts are going to fall off, they are huuuuge.

i would always walk sash early in the morning so not to met any other dogs just to be on the safe side,mmm her lady parts will go back to normal size

Loving this post, you seem like you really have your head on and your dogs best interests inn mind rather than the vets pockets telling you what to do! Lovely girl. I hope you don't get too much mess

How much 'mess' can there be/is there?  I mean, whats the worst that I can expect with Elsa?  I know all dogs are different but just want to be prepared really.     I'm hoping that I don't need to put a nappy or anything else on her because she would just tear it off..  x

all are different,it took sash a few seasons for her to realise she was the one making the mess!!!we would show her the blood on the floor and she would just look at it as if to say,its nothing to do with me after a couple of seasons thou she used to clean herself you can buy proper doggie pants for them if you are worried about the mess

I must admit I expected worse. Apart from some drops and a few smears, it was very much ok. Kiki was and is cleaning herself very Well. We do not have carpets in the houseso that is a big help, just her matrass and her pillow in her basket had some more staining, but washing them every other day works fine. She is now in her third week and the bleeding has stopped, she is just sometimes secreting a clear fluid.
And Kiki has regained her former energy level but unfortunately long walks and runs are still out of the question for the next fortnight
Because of the other dogs in the neighborhood. Luckily she loved to play retrieve in the garden and tug of war.

glad to hear Kiki is doing well and has'nt been too bad in her 1st season,not long now Kiki and a nice walk is waiting

Almost over. Her lady parts are not hanging out as much anymore.

The poor girl had her third shot against Leishmania on Friday and was really sick until last night. Trembling like a leaf and muscle spasms.

All is well now. She had her first Zoomie in three weeks :-)

Pleased to read Kiki is feeling better and returning back to her normal self. Zoomies are a sure sign for a happy pup again
Awful to see them off colour though