my dog has just started her 1st season

judyreid

Hi
My dog has gone on heat for the first time - is it usual for dogs to be sick when this happens?

thanks in advance

Judy

Curbside Prophet

Can you explain a little about what symptoms you think are signs of sickness? BTW, welcome to our forum.

drfong

I don't think it's common for them to be sick, but they can act differently. She is have alot of hormonal changes happening for the first time. Please explain what is going on and welcome.

britishbandit

Welcome!

To your question - It differs from dog to dog. My girl Tysa never got sick, but she did get the runs during her first heat. Their bodies are going through so many things, that it's common for them to be a bit "off". Whatever is going on, give it a couple of days, and if there is no improvement, then see a vet. She will progress if it is due to her heat, but if it doesn't, then you have to worry it's possible something else is cause it.

Dogged

Ideally it is best for the dog to be spayed before her first heat. If she had been, there would have been almost no chance of her getting breast cancer later in life. With every heat she goes through, the chances of her getting it go up.

Please be sure to keep her properly confined because male dogs will do the most amazing things to get to a dog in heat, and there are already so many unwanted dogs in the world that will be killed because there aren't enough homes for them, that we don't need more. She could certainly get pregnant during her first heat.

Please consider spaying your dog as soon as possible. It will be healthier for her.

Pyometra is another disease that unspayed dogs can get. It is an infection of the uterus and the uterus fills with pus and eventually causes a systemic infection they can die from. This can happen at any age, and is more common while in heat or shortly thereafter, so if she is not feeling well, please get her to the vet.

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