Hello pet people

Attentive readers of this forum will know that we are the newish caretakers of a rescued staffie (thrown out of a car, nothing official). Well, I was under the misguided impression that a bitch comes on heat every six months, so thought I had plenty of time to get her, ahem, sorted, as she was on heat when she arrived, and that was approx three months ago.

Apparently (though I've seen no sign yet) she's coming on heat (not sure if this terminology is correct, but I'm sure you get the gist). Now, if she is (and my niece/daytime dog owner says that she is), is it too late to have her spayed? She's obviously right at the beginning of it, as at the moment, now we're home, there's no sign.

I've had a look on Google, and apparently this is a bad time to do it.

What are your thoughts?

If she is then it's really bad to spay her now and can cause her a lot of problems, I doubt that a vet would do it, just out of interest what is it that makes you think that she's in season?

from what i can remember when my bitch was spayed, she was done half way between seasons.

I think the vets like to do it in between seasons because it gives the womb chance to settle down and it lessens the chance of complications of bleeding during and after the surgery. this may be total bosh and i might have made it up though:-)

Hormonally it can cause problems when she's spayed in season or too close to a season, but it can also risk the bitch's life because the blood supply to the womb is much higher during her season than at other times, so spaying can cause a huge loss of blood if done at the wrong time.

Molly went into season in the week she was due to be spayed (calculated at 12 weeks from her last season) and it took a lot of arguing with the vet for them to agree to spay her at anything other than 12 weeks after that season. My argument was that if she was having seasons at 12 weeks apart (and hating every moment of dogs coming too close to her too) then what was the point in planning to spay her on 12 weeks?

In the end the vets made me sign a disclaimer about it being against their advice to spay at that time and stating that I understood that there was a higher risk of complications than doing it at a time guaranteed to be in the middle between her seasons, but they did do it at 8 weeks after her season, so either 4 weeks or 18 weeks before her next one.

I don't think that it's likely that you would find a vet who was prepared to spay a dog either in season or close to her season, and if you could I would regard them with suspicion.

Same here a no go area 1 to 2 months after season ends.

If she is then it's really bad to spay her now and can cause her a lot of problems, I doubt that a vet would do it, just out of interest what is it that makes you think that she's in season?

According to my niece, blood. Although, I've seen nothing since she's been home this evening so hence my suspecting that she's only just started.

Rats! The last time (which was the first time with us) it lasted for a couple of weeks and wasn't easy to cope with.

Can anyone who knows more than me advise as to the likely frequency with staffies? Sounds like it's 12 weeks. not the six months that I thought...

Our rescue staff came in season a few months after we got her, then was spayed 12 weeks after, with no problems. Don't think it is a staffies thing, just your little one! Best to speak to your vet and take it from there......good luck over the next few weeks, it will be fun!

Normally ALL dogs come into season twice a year.
Best time for spaying is 10 weeks after the start of the season - as rightly said earlier - so that the womb and all the blood vessels can settle down.

If she is coming in again - and its only 3 months (which it sounds like it is) - a) her hormones may be to pott? or b) are you sure it 3 months and not 2 months and that she isn't pregnant? ie - got caught on the season before hand - because she may be doing some leaking and not all dogs swell up when pregnant - but i would normally expect signs (swollen tummy, leaking nipples)
or c) is she having a phantom pregnancy - because there again - sometimes they do when they are hormonal - omg these ladies eh?

So, keep a real good close eye on her - write down in the diary what you notice - check for swelling - and if things look a bit uncomfortable - get her checked over by the vet just in case.

Staffies are no different to other and usually don't even notice anything themselves.

Well done you for giving her a lovely home - no doubt she thinks she's in heaven.

I would get her checked over by a vet... my bitch came in around every 6-10 months, not all bitches are every 6 months, some are known to have one every 3 months (and are usually spayed as a result).

You are supposed to neuter half way between seasons not only to make the operation easier, but the hormones have settled half way between and you are less likely to experience hormone related behavioural issues after the spay (supposedly).

However, she may not be coming into season - the blood may be something else in which case she needs to be seen and if she is coming into season, it's probably a good idea for her to be seen anyway.

The vet should be able to tell you if she's coming into season or whether the blood is possibly due to a bladder infection or otherwise.

Good luck!

Phew, false alarm. Not a sign of anything happening. On the day that my niece noticed the blood (it was only a trace) their own dog had had a scrap with another dog in the park, and although they'd checked him over thoroughly it's possible that he had a scratch that had bled a little.

Nothing at all showing with mine.

However, it's prompted me to get a move on and get her booked in.

Thanks very much to all for your responses!

Having read a lot of the advice on here about spaying, I was of the opinion that my bitch should be spayed after her first season and not before as she could become incontinent in later life (I think Lottie gave that bit of knowledge).

We went to the vet last week for her 6 month check up and everything is fine. I asked about getting her spayed and was given the exact same advice - don't until after her first season.

When I said her first season must be almost due now (around 6 months), the vet told me that not necessarily. She said that because Coco is a small dog, she may not have a season until springtime.

Has anyone ever heard of this?? I certainly haven't. I just thought that it was a 6 month thing.???

Having read a lot of the advice on here about spaying, I was of the opinion that my bitch should be spayed after her first season and not before as she could become incontinent in later life (I think Lottie gave that bit of knowledge).

We went to the vet last week for her 6 month check up and everything is fine. I asked about getting her spayed and was given the exact same advice - don't until after her first season.

When I said her first season must be almost due now (around 6 months), the vet told me that not necessarily. She said that because Coco is a small dog, she may not have a season until springtime.

Has anyone ever heard of this?? I certainly haven't. I just thought that it was a 6 month thing.???

All of mine have been spayed before the first season without any of them becoming incontinent, its just important that they are developed enough physically, maybe your girl is not hence the vets advice.
Like humans dogs all develop at different ages so yours could take longer to start her season its all a game of wait and see.

Having read a lot of the advice on here about spaying, I was of the opinion that my bitch should be spayed after her first season and not before as she could become incontinent in later life (I think Lottie gave that bit of knowledge).

We went to the vet last week for her 6 month check up and everything is fine. I asked about getting her spayed and was given the exact same advice - don't until after her first season.

When I said her first season must be almost due now (around 6 months), the vet told me that not necessarily. She said that because Coco is a small dog, she may not have a season until springtime.

Has anyone ever heard of this?? I certainly haven't. I just thought that it was a 6 month thing.???

my small terrier had her 1st season @ 61/2 months, my cocker not till 9 months, they all differ, like us humans:)

The 6 month thing is to do with cats rather than dogs and it's when you spay a queen, hopefully before her first season to avoid unwanted pregnancies (because cats have seasons every 3 weeks ish).

Just a reminder that people on benefits can get their dogs spayed for £30 with the assistance of Dogs Trust. Take a look at their website.

I know lots of dogs are being spayed very very early these days. In fact many rescues are also spaying puppies before they are rehomed.

Shocking I know, but I'm sure they will have listened to veterinary advise about it all to make sure its ok for the dog to be done so young, and before any season at all.

I think that so many dogs get rehomed, and then used to produce puppies upon puppies, and once they have gone - they have no chance of being able to control them all to make sure the new owners get them spayed - so they will have looked into it for health reasons.

I think smaller dogs its much easier than the larger ones - as they mature so much faster. Mastiffs' and the like don't finish growing until they are about 3 - whereas terriers are almost finished by 9 months.

I know that they need to be done well before and well after any season, to ensure that the womb and blood have settled back to normal to make it safe - but once its done - its so much easier for them and the owner.