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First Heat, 9 months what to expect?

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
For the past week I noticed her nipples much larger and then last week I thought her "area" was puffier. And yup, a few days later some light spotting. So far nothing too bad, she mainly leaks when shes sleeping, but she still wants to get up and play every morning and evening when I get home. She has been leary of new people for the past few weeks, but a little more so now. Hung out with my family, and my two guy cousins who she has never met kept wanting to play and touch her and she was not having it. I told them to leave her alone as I am not sure what she would do. So far we haven't used a diaper because we tried to put one on and she didn't like it. We have a few old blankets we have put on her multiple beds, so we just have her lay down while in the house, thank goodness most the house is tile as well. I did notice she has been shedding quite a bit more, just like she was a few months back when it got hot out. Is that normal?

Any other tips or suggestions, I am hoping my husband can work from home for the next two weeks, but if not, I hope that she will be ok in her crate for a few hours while I am at work.
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
Oh I also wanted to mainly ask about spaying her after this. I want to wait until 18 months as that seems the average age that we should be waiting to spay her. BUT i don't want to go through another heat with her if we don't have to, is it really every 6-8 months? She is just about shy of 10 months, so I was thinking maybe around 16 months, or if its better to wait. I get so worried because everyone mentioned the cancer rate going up if you wait to spay after their heats... so many dos and donts I get confused and worried about doing the right thing for her.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
You'll have one more heat, then wait three to four months (no longer) and have the procedure done. Us???? Well, depending on how bad the next one is (July!!!), we might err on the side of extreme caution and wait for 24 months. I want her brain and body fully mature. I don't want to hurry into a procedure that will leave her susceptible to harm.

Wait it out, invest in your pups extended health, not just reproductive, but mental, hormonal, longevity, cancer fears, the whole nine yards. It's a small price to pay for your fur child's highest, best outcome.

Alcohol helps...you, not the dog. Chew toys help the dog...lots of them.

Best of luck.
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
Shes pretty good anyways, and usually she lays on her bed (if hubby works from home) and sleeps, and then a quick walk or play session after work, and shes on her bed either sleeping or chewing her nylabone until bedtime... so that has been easy keeping her on her bed for the most part.
 

DMikeM

Well-Known Member
I call it 21 days of hell. Jade bleeds on the second week through to the end of the third week, nothing real bad though. She gets swollen titties and her girl bits get real big. She slows down her eating the first week then eats like a pig through 2nd and 3rd. All my boy dogs lose their minds and hardly eat at all.

Wait until after her next cycle before you have her spayed. She will be healthier in the long run for it.
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
Is it normal for them to be really thirsty too? it seems like she just wants to drink a ton of water, and the problem is I have to limit how much water she takes in at a time because she will go and throw it up lol
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Bailey was indeed thirsty, not hungry, and her nipples became quite prominent. They are still large, they never did go back to pre-heat size. We didn't have a shedding issue during the winter, it may just be a spring/summer warm weather issue.

Mine does tend to gulp lots of water, but she has never thrown up from it.
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
yeah she tends to probably drink too much too fast and then takes a few steps and its all over the floor and she keeps moving like nothing happened but theres a puddle of water and sometimes a few kibble pieces... i feel bad but i have to pull her away for a min let her calm down and then she can drink more