Female dog in heat

Yuki&Kodi

I just became a foster and have a female dog who is apparently in heat. I say apparently because the shelter said that when we transferred her. I've only every had neutered male dogs. How do I tell when her heat is over so I can arrange her spay? I've had her a week and a half and there's been no discharge -- some swelling. Obviously since she's new to me I can't tell if her behavior is different from usual. My neutered males try to mount her occasionally but it's not like they are crazily at her. Thanks for any tips....

Binkalette

You can get her spay while she is in heat actually.. it's just harder for them to do, and takes a bit longer because everything is swelled up down there. Otherwise you should wait a few weeks.. Three months is best, but I don't know if you are willing to wait that long.

Cesare Borgia

I went through that with my two female dogs recently, just keep them off the furniture and be prepaired for a little bit of clean up from time to time, they will not bleed the entire time.

Yuki&Kodi

Thanks -- I will proceed with her spay surgery this week. Somehow I had expected heat to be a big messy affair, but I guess that's the human perspective!

Binkalette

It can be. Just like in people it varies from dog to dog. I know many people don't notice any discharge at all, while my poor Zoey had so much I had to make her little diapers out of old underwear and stick some Maxi-pads in them

It was sad one day when we weren't home.. we left her alone for what was supposed to be just a little while.. Well it turned into a long while and poor Zoey couldn't hold it anymore and she peed inside of her little diaper

poodleholic

You are aware that it's definitely riskier to have her spayed during her heat cycle, no? It's recommended to wait 3 months after, before spaying. Yes, it *can* be done, but why?