Puppies first "season"

[valleygirl10]

My puppy bitches are nearly 8 months old and so will soon come into season for the first time. They are from the same litter - but I wondered how closely the timing of their first season is likely to be? It is very difficult to walk one without the other and I'm not looking forward to their seasons being out of sync and so keeping us largely housebound for 6 weeks or so!!!

[lankeela]

I have two litter sisters and their seasons were nowhere near each other. One came in at six months, the other was nearer eleven months, and they were in at different times after that. I have them both jabbed to stop the seasons, as I don't want to have them spayed as I may want to breed from them, but I have male dogs in the house. Unless you are planning to breed from one or both then why not get them spayed either now or about three months after their first season?

[valleygirl10]

Hi thanks for your reply. I've considered spaying but they are red setters and I don't want them turning into fluff balls - and I may decide to breed from them in the future - my vet who by coincidence breeds setters has advised me against it. I hadn't heard of injections before - could you tell me more about this? Are there any risks/side effects and is it expensive?

[lankeela]

It is called Delvosterone, and you give it about a month before they are due in season (or even when they come in if you don't know when they are due) then after three months, then after four months then after five months, and thereafter every five months. There is a very minor risk of pyometra, but no more than in a bitch that has seasons. There is a risk they may not come into season, or have very odd seasons. I have had my two bitches done now for about three - four years, one of them was not jabbed when due in January, and she came in season last week, with a view to mating her. My friends Rottie came in about a months after her jab would have been due. We always used this for greyhounds to keep them racing, as they have to be off the track for three months after a season in case they come into milk and are not properly fit to run. We never had a problem getting them in whelp after being jabbed for several years. It can also be used to stop them if they have come in season, or to stop the symptoms of a phantom pregnancy. Some vets will not advise it, but many do - have a chat with your vet. It costs me about �16 per jab, and I have an arrangement with my vet where he doesn't charge me for the consultation, as it is an ongoing treatment and he doesn't need to examine them.

[lankeela]

http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Intervet_UK_Lt d/Delvosteron___100_mg_Suspension_for_injectio n/-28776.html


Have a look at the 'uses' and 'contra indications and warnings' from the menu on the left.