First season

Yep, new year and new challenge (for me )
Nifty has just come into season, discharge first noticed today.

Any advice, precautions, help greatly appreciated !
Currently reading anti parasite notice to seeif I can treat her as planned or not ...

I have no recent experience that I can share but do remember when we had our first Staffy she used to wear a pad type thing which I think worked (was a long time ago).

I guess the main things are to remember that this is all new to Nifty so she might want some extra reassuring and love as well as keeping any unwanted boy attention well away.

Day 2 and back to work after a long week at home
She seems very clingy and has short aggressive outbursts.
Not many boys in the area (that I know of) and within protection of home and supervised garden toilet runs, hoping it’ll be enough to keep her safe.

Thought about the pads but worried about rubs/chaffing.
Looking forwards to vet appointment for spaying in a couple of months !

Just a personal opinion, but it's still way too soon for spaying.

As to now, the pads are fine as long as they fit right & changed regularly. However, some bitches won't put up with them! She can be walked, but only with the greatest care, on lead & away from normal dog walking routes, especially the park! After about 10 days be especially careful cause she'll become a tart!

She'll probably be a bit irritable, but it'll only last as long as the season.

Afterwards, be aware of any 'off' behaviour - it could signal a phantom pregnancy (about 6-8 weeks after the end of the season) or even (more rarely) pyometra.

gillybrent wrote:Just a personal opinion, but it's still way too soon for spaying.

I respect your opinion, however the age to spay is one of those taboo subjects which no-one seems to agree on.
My vet says they spay as from 6 months old (a bit too young for me) or generally 2 months after last season.
Nifty will be practically a year old if I book her in for easter time.

There is absolutely no desire for puppies here so all precautions must be taken.
I will also admit that I want the peace of mind, convenience and comfort for us as well as Nifty.

I used the nappies on Katy to her disgust No rubbing or chafing occurred but if left out of sight for a minute she would rip them off!! Plenty of throws on beds & furniture to allow for leakage. She wont be interested in males until the end of her 2nd week & as said she will then turn into a complete tart!! Just keep her close & cuddled as she will be confused as to what is going on with her body

Nifty staffy wrote:

gillybrent wrote:Just a personal opinion, but it's still way too soon for spaying.

I respect your opinion, however the age to spay is one of those taboo subjects which no-one seems to agree on.
My vet says they spay as from 6 months old (a bit too young for me) or generally 2 months after last season.
Nifty will be practically a year old if I book her in for easter time.

There is absolutely no desire for puppies here so all precautions must be taken.
I will also admit that I want the peace of mind, convenience and comfort for us as well as Nifty.

I do understand that, and I know she'll be nearly a year old. Just as long as you're fully aware of the drawbacks as well as the pros, which the vets don't mention.

It isn't so much a taboo subject, it's more a lack of info subject (both pro & con) especially as to optimum age. I'm not against neutering, far from it, but I wish vets would give all the facts, not just those that support neutering from 6 months, and in some cases 3 months.

It really is a question of how long that piece of string is ...
I’ve read that spaying as early as before weaning was not so rare in the US but honestly, a novice like me is totally lost as to understanding even more or less when a good time could be.

I read someone saying that at least 1 season but better 3 was a good indication. But how to know if this is realistic or not ?
Some say that spaying makes females more agressive, some say that waiting makes them more agressive.

I think I’d have more luck finding that needle in the haystack

Neutering of either sex doesn't make them aggressive,  whether early or not & that's definite!

However, if a dog or bitch has nervousness issues it's unwise to neuter because they need the hormones to develop self-confidence & maturity. If a nervous dog or bitch is neutered early they are likely to remain nervous.

It's the mental & physical growth hormones that make all the difference when neutering. For example, a bitch's vulva may not develop fully if she hasn't finished growing before neutering. This can lead to urinary incontinence & an inability to completely empty tge bladder which in turn can lead to repeated UTIs. At nearly a year old, Nifty shouldn't have that problem, though. But I bet your vet never mentioned that, or the nervousness issue (again, not a problem with Nifty, I know)?

Castrated males suffer more from prostate cancer, and both sexes have an increased level of bone cancer. Again, not something your vet will have mentioned.

You see? Although vets are, literally, lifesavers, they have their own agendas when it comes to neutering.

Just do one thing for me? Read the article on neutering by The Dog Listener...

www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/spaying_neutering.shtml

It's an interesting & informative article which will be useful even if you don't change your mind!

Thanks for the link.
I have already read other articles that the author has written.

I am trying to keep an open mind but I admit that I’m struggling.
For squeamish OH, we have tried pants with pads as well as “nappies” for Nifty but they slip off. So it’s cleaning Nifty’s bedding and the floor every day.
TBH I wonder who’s having the biggest adaptation issues, I’m not sure it’s Nifty.

But above all, I took the responsibility of doing the best I can for her the day I reserved her.
That’s where the biggest frustration is coming from, the impression of never getting a straight answer for questions.

I'm afraid there ARE no straight answers, just a careful study of the pros & cons & then making a decision according to your concience.

I would personally wait one more season, but that's just me! You, unfortunately, are the one who has to decide!

Sorry - it's such a hard decision.

They lied !!

We have just survived 20 days of continuous bleeding.
Cushions and throws on furniture cleaned daily, floors cleaned twice daily.
Now we enter the stage when she’s howling for treats and being rather clingy as well.