[Stu C]

Hi

My Mastiff cross is in her first season at the mo. Is this normaly a very messy time as she is bleeding quite heavy and has been for about 10 days?

Also is this a yearly thing or six monthy thing?

Thanks in advance for any help on this

[UnderDog]

The bleeding shouldn't be very heavy, the dog should be loosing a maximum of 1 cup-ish of blood per day for a maximum of 4-6 weeks. If the bleeding is heavy then keep a close eye on her and give her extra food (I find the best thing to do is give them fresh beef marrow bones throughout the day to gnaw on for slow-energy release to keep BS up and keeps them content), and obviously take the normal precautions, don't let her outside alone, keep her on-leash, walk early in the morning and late night to avoid other dogs and owners and so on.

[Stu C]

Thaks for the reply. Going by what your saying she is bleeding normaly. It was just me thinking it was alot as all i seem to do is clean up everywhere she has been. Nappies on order as the pet shop does not have her size. poor girl LOL.

Is it an annual thing or every six months the season?

[Lunareclipse]

Have you considered spaying?

[Stu C]

Thats the plan once her first season finishes. The only reason I ask if it is a yearly thing or six monthly thing is I need to know how long I have to save up the £300 to get it done.

[Lunareclipse]

I have no idea how often a female goes into heat. I have always had mine fixed before that happens. Have you tried to find a low cost clinic to do your spaying rather than take her to your vet? Your local humane society should be able to give you the names and addresses of all the low cost clinics in your area. It might only cost you 50 or 75 pounds to do it. But do it soon, because the longer you wait, the more chance she has of developing cancer and other ptoblems when she gets older.

[Stu C]

Thanks for the advice but as far as i know we only have Vets in the uk but I will check into it. I was told by the vet to let her have one season before she gets done. I dont plan on letting her have anymore. Are they really more likley to get cancer if their not done??

[Lunareclipse]

They are more likely to get cancer if they are not fixed.

[UnderDog]

Originally Posted by Stu C

Thaks for the reply. Going by what your saying she is bleeding normaly. It was just me thinking it was alot as all i seem to do is clean up everywhere she has been. Nappies on order as the pet shop does not have her size. poor girl LOL.

Is it an annual thing or every six months the season?

Can I be honest without sounding like a total b****? Don't bother with nappies. They get you nowhere, and are of no use to the dog. They cause sores and are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria - now considering where they are, you do NOT want bacteria building up! Restrict her to the garden and a couple of rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen that are easily cleaned up and you shouldn't have problems. Unfortunately this is the downside to have an entire bitch, however I see it as no straight reason to get her neutered.

Originally Posted by Stu C

Thats the plan once her first season finishes. The only reason I ask if it is a yearly thing or six monthly thing is I need to know how long I have to save up the £300 to get it done.

It depends on the individual dog how often the season is, we have a 1 year old chi x here and we are still waiting for her to have her first season. Please keep in mind, you shouldn't have her neutered until she is fully grown and matured (depending on the cross, 14-25 months) otherwise it can cause more problems and can stun growth in certain places (she will also more then likely become "leggy". Read up on the facts if you haven't already and don't just listen to all of the pro-neutering facts.

Originally Posted by Stu C

Thanks for the advice but as far as i know we only have Vets in the uk but I will check into it. I was told by the vet to let her have one season before she gets done. I dont plan on letting her have anymore. Are they really more likley to get cancer if their not done??

If you'r in the UK talk to the dog trust teams and RSPCA, they will give you a neutering voucher to get it done free or cheaply if you really want it done, but the heat shouldn't play the major part in your decision - MANY things can go wrong with neutering which often times over-ride the pro's of it. Obviously they are more likely to get uterine/mammary cancer if they aren't neutered for obvious reasons (lol).
Pro's of neutering bitches:

No seasons
Lessened chances of pyometra
Lessened chances of phantom pregnancies
No "oops" litters (whether you like it or not, dogs WILL try to get into your garden and your bitch will try to get out, that is why you need to supervise outdoor time at all times when she is in season)
Less hormone-related aggression
Lessened chances of Ovarian Cysts and Cancer


Con's of neutering bitches:

Anaesthetic risk
Stunted growth if done young
Affects growth plates
Increased chance of incontinence (don't under-estimate this, it can be heart wrenching and very painful for your bitch despite what you may hear and often times it can't be controlled by drugs)
Slower metabolism
Higher risk of urinary tract cancer
Higher chance of bone cancer
More prone to ligament injuries
More prone to luxating patella
Can have an effect on Hip Dysplacia
Risk of post-op infections around surgery site (sometimes internal)

Just to name a few.
PLEASE, for the sake of your dog, properly read into this and make an informed decision - if the only reason you want to get your bitch neutered is because of seasons, then quite frankly, I wouldn't say you are a good candidate for a home for the dog.

[Lara's mom]

That's interesting. I've always been told that it is better to spay or neuter before the first heat - 6 months.

[UnderDog]

I would never neuter at 6 months, when we re-home puppies they go on a neutering contract and they are also micro-chipped with the rescue details on and vets all over are notified of this just in case the owners try to get them neutered before they are properly grown (but we have never had an instance where there has been any issues). Or if we re-home to a single-dog home we give them the facts of neutering and leave them with the option, we don't force anybody to neuter and if they are in a single-dog home we prefer them not to neuter under normal circumstances, but again it's up to them.

If a vet told me to neuter before the first heat I would find another vet, lol!

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by UnderDog

Can I be honest without sounding like a total b****? Don't bother with nappies. They get you nowhere, and are of no use to the dog. They cause sores and are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria - now considering where they are, you do NOT want bacteria building up! Restrict her to the garden and a couple of rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen that are easily cleaned up and you shouldn't have problems. Unfortunately this is the downside to have an entire bitch, however I see it as no straight reason to get her neutered.



It depends on the individual dog how often the season is, we have a 1 year old chi x here and we are still waiting for her to have her first season. Please keep in mind, you shouldn't have her neutered until she is fully grown and matured (depending on the cross, 14-25 months) otherwise it can cause more problems and can stun growth in certain places (she will also more then likely become "leggy". Read up on the facts if you haven't already and don't just listen to all of the pro-neutering facts.


If you'r in the UK talk to the dog trust teams and RSPCA, they will give you a neutering voucher to get it done free or cheaply if you really want it done, but the heat shouldn't play the major part in your decision - MANY things can go wrong with neutering which often times over-ride the pro's of it. Obviously they are more likely to get uterine/mammary cancer if they aren't neutered for obvious reasons (lol).
Pro's of neutering bitches:

No seasons
Lessened chances of pyometra
Lessened chances of phantom pregnancies
No "oops" litters (whether you like it or not, dogs WILL try to get into your garden and your bitch will try to get out, that is why you need to supervise outdoor time at all times when she is in season)
Less hormone-related aggression
Lessened chances of Ovarian Cysts and Cancer


Con's of neutering bitches:

Anaesthetic risk
Stunted growth if done young
Affects growth plates
Increased chance of incontinence (don't under-estimate this, it can be heart wrenching and very painful for your bitch despite what you may hear and often times it can't be controlled by drugs)
Slower metabolism
Higher risk of urinary tract cancer
Higher chance of bone cancer
More prone to ligament injuries
More prone to luxating patella
Can have an effect on Hip Dysplacia
Risk of post-op infections around surgery site (sometimes internal)

Just to name a few.
PLEASE, for the sake of your dog, properly read into this and make an informed decision - if the only reason you want to get your bitch neutered is because of seasons, then quite frankly, I wouldn't say you are a good candidate for a home for the dog.

It must be noted though, that none of this has actually bore out "spaying" or not spaying. In actuality, if you spay there is nothing that actually says any of the cons will occur. I have raised and bred for over 50 years with males neutered and females spayed at 6 months (before their first season) and not once has any of these issues occurred. Making an informed decision is crucial but at the same time, do not be veered away from spaying based on general information that has no certainty. These cons have been around for years and were initially meant for those to view as potential problems no matter how slight of a chance. They were not meant to be basis in fact or to be interpreted as a guarantee this will happen which unfortunately many have read into this. Just take your time and discuss with your veterinarian. If they say 6 months than it is safe to go ahead. If they feel waiting til a year or 2 years of age than again, this is your decision. But again, to note I have never had an issue at all with regards to the items listed on the cons list and all mine over the time I have been involved with now going on approx 300 dogs, of which approx 250 were spayed and neutered as not bred, ever had any of these issues and mine were neutered and spayed before their first season. Others may have living proof to the contrary so it is wise to discuss with your vet, especially if it is an established veterinarian. Have trust as those ones know far more than any of us here. We can only relay what we know from experience or provide you with common links to information that is around or has been around for some time in hopes in the end you will make an informed decision. Goof luck.

[Lunareclipse]

I think it's best, if you are not going to show your dog in conformation, to get it fixed. Go to your local shelter. I'm sure you can find a litter of pups there that were oops puppies. We really don't need more puppies ending up in shelters.

[UnderDog]

Originally Posted by Yogi

It must be noted though, that none of this has actually bore out "spaying" or not spaying. In actuality, if you spay there is nothing that actually says any of the cons will occur. I have raised and bred for over 50 years with males neutered and females spayed at 6 months (before their first season) and not once has any of these issues occurred. Making an informed decision is crucial but at the same time, do not be veered away from spaying based on general information that has no certainty. These cons have been around for years and were initially meant for those to view as potential problems no matter how slight of a chance. They were not meant to be basis in fact or to be interpreted as a guarantee this will happen which unfortunately many have read into this. Just take your time and discuss with your veterinarian. If they say 6 months than it is safe to go ahead. If they feel waiting til a year or 2 years of age than again, this is your decision. But again, to note I have never had an issue at all with regards to the items listed on the cons list and all mine over the time I have been involved with now going on approx 300 dogs, of which approx 250 were spayed and neutered as not bred, ever had any of these issues and mine were neutered and spayed before their first season. Others may have living proof to the contrary so it is wise to discuss with your vet, especially if it is an established veterinarian. Have trust as those ones know far more than any of us here. We can only relay what we know from experience or provide you with common links to information that is around or has been around for some time in hopes in the end you will make an informed decision. Goof luck.

It's just down to personal preference, but a lot of the time people see neutering as a 100% pro and it is often people who haven't owned an entire dog or not many for any extended period of time. I have experienced various problems from neutering, some serious some not so serious, it's just a fact that some of these things that CAN happen, and IMO the heat is not a good reason to get a bitch neutered. It's just like people thinking getting a dog neutered will stop scent marking and humping.

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I think it's best, if you are not going to show your dog in conformation, to get it fixed. Go to your local shelter. I'm sure you can find a litter of pups there that were oops puppies. We really don't need more puppies ending up in shelters.

I can honestly say I have had many, many entire dogs and bitches and I have also re-homed plenty of entire dogs and bitches and none have escaped to find a mate/none have had "oops" litters. Any responsible owner would insure this wouldn't happen, it's part of owning a dog.