thread: Lady dog bits

  1. #1

    Aug 2009
    Yarra Valley, Victoria
    1,215

    Lady dog bits

    So our dog is now a year old, and for the last 2 weeks she has had her 6 monthly ie. her period.
    I have now decided that we should get her fixed as our decking has turned bright red and she has started to sleep on the treadmill, resulting in a blanket of blood all over it.
    So does anybody know how long a doggies period goes for?
    how much roughly does it cost to get them 'fixed' ? And will it hurt her?
    TIA

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    My dog was only in heat once when we first got her. She was in heat for a few weeks, from memory, but her blood loss was nothing like you have described, just a bit of spotting here and there.

    I'd take your dog to the vet if I were you. That amount of blood loss sounds excessive. My understanding is the bleeding/spotting is a sign they are fertile, not like for humans when it is after our fertile period.

    Our dog was de-sexed immediately after the bleeding stopped, when she was no longer on heat. She was in a bit of pain for a few days, although she tried to valiantly follow us around as soon as we brought her home! She had her op in the morning and we picked her up in the afternoon. The cost will vary from area to area, I'd check with your local vet. She had painkillers the day after, from memory, but not after that. The vet said she'd be more careful if she knew when it hurt, if that makes sense.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    pakenham, victoria
    3,660

    the cost will depend on the size of the dog, so what type do u have?
    it cost me about $110 to get our girl fixed, but she's a teeny tiny jack X chawawa(sp?)
    i was quoted about $150 for our goldie to get fixed at 6 months old.
    But a friend of mine got charged $350 for her cav X maltese, so shop around first

    As for her period, it should stop over the next week or so, they can do it as soon as she's finished but there could be a bit of excess bleeding if u do. Thats what happened to our girl, as soon as i booked her in she went on heat! lol
    Her loss was more spotting but it was fairly constant and if she slept in one spot for a while there was a nice big red patch.
    A good way to tell if she's going to be finishing up soon is her girly bits wont be as swollen
    HTH

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Add Cupcake on Facebook

    Nov 2008
    North Haven, NSW
    3,474

    I have a Rottweiler we need to get desexed and have been quoted from $230 - $310 for a weight of up to 30kg, if she is on heat or pregnant it will cost more, i think they add an extra $50-$60.

    HTH

  5. #5

    Aug 2009
    Yarra Valley, Victoria
    1,215

    Thanks!
    She is a medium size dog. She was on heat at 6 months and it was just a drop hear and there, but this time it looks like a few cups worth over the decking, not sure of the blood on the grass. I might call the local vet up and ask them about getting her fixed. Poor dog, she keeps licking up the blood, its making me sick so i'm staying away from her.
    And when she rolls on her back you can see blood all down her tail and on her bits. But It doesnt look swollen

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Caroline Springs
    2,341

    The bleeding during a female dog's heat cycle usually lasts between 10 and 14 days, so if she continues to bleed it would be a good idea to have her checked over by a vet. Especially if it still seems to be an excessive amount. Also, if her demeanor changes or she becomes lethargic have her checked also.

    In regards to having her desexed, firstly I think it's a great idea It reduces her risk of things like mammary cancer and also removes the risk of ovarian cancer as well as other things. The vet clinic that I work at (I only do some work from home since having DS though) generally recommends waiting a couple of months after her heat cycle has finished before having her desexed. There's no risk of pregnancy still because she's not going to come back into heat for another 6 months. The reason for waiting is because during her heat cycle her female bit become rather swollen and the blood suplly to them is hugely increased. Waiting a couple of months gives her time for everything to shrink back down to normal size and she'll have a reduced blood supply in the area. The reason we prefer not to desex without waiting in because there is an increased risk to the dog. She would need a bigger incision in order to remove larger organs, and also the amount of blood loss is much greater (as the organs that are removed have blood in them).

    With regards to the cost of surgery... Hmmm, well I watched a program on one of those TodayTonight/A Current Affair type shows, and I was appalled at how the presented the information about the differences in costs of desexings. Ok, so yes, there are definitely some clinics that will cost more/less than others. But the program didn't look into the reason that some of the quotes they were given were much higher or lower than others. There are questions that you should definitely ask including:
    ~ Cost
    ~ Does the cost involve pain relieve for your dog? Your dog should receive some kind of pain medication either before/during/after surgery, and sometimes some to take home (but not always depending on the drugs used)
    ~ Does the cost involve having your dog put on and IV drip? Some clinics offer this, others don't. We always recommend it as any anaesthetic drops blood pressure, which can have detrimental effects on other organs. The IV drip maintains their blood pressure, and also helps them recover faster after surgery.
    ~ Is the dog given a pre-medication before surgery? We give a pre-med which has some sedation as well as pain relief before the dog goes into surgery. It helps them remain calm when inserting the catheter used for the IV drip and anaesthetising, and also ensures that they have pain relief that's working as soon as they wake up.
    ~ Does the cost involve pre-anaesthetic bloods? These aren't always necessary, especially in a young and healthy dog, but can always be done to rule out any health problems your dog may have that is not yet showing symptoms. It's more likely to be recommended in older dogs, or dogs with previous health issues, but occasionally it will show up a serious condition in a young dog that may not have been found until much later, but that can be treated early. I'd never push it on someone with a young dog, but if money is no issue then it can provide piece of mind.

    Hmm, there could be more that I'm forgetting, but that's the main stuff.

    I hope I haven't bombarded you with too much info Good luck with everything.

    Oh, and in regards to pain afterwards, my clinic always tells owners that if they think their dog is in pain the next day and onwards, that they can come back for pain medication. I think I've only seen one person come back for them (and it was a sooky little poodle/maltese type dog ). Most people find it hard to keep their dogs on "bed rest" because the dogs just want to get back to normal

  7. #7
    Registered User
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    Sep 2006
    Dandy Ranges ;)
    7,526

    Poopie - I have a really good vet we see in Belgrave South, I'd recommend him any day. Else if you're after a cheaper option the RSPCA does desexing at reduced costs.

    your poor dog sounds as sooky as I am during my period!

  8. #8

    Aug 2009
    Yarra Valley, Victoria
    1,215

    Thanks girls!
    I will take her down to the vet this morning and just have her checked over, Im starting to think now, she has been a little lathargic, I thought it may have been the heat. The vet tells me she is overdue for some vacinations anyway so it'll be a good idea to bring her in. I think i'll be putting her in dh's car though, dont want to make a mess in my car. lol.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Caroline Springs
    2,341

    How did you go this morning? I hope it's nothing sinister like pyometra (infected uterus). Hopefully she was just having a heavy cycle and the heat was tiring her out.

  10. #10

    Aug 2009
    Yarra Valley, Victoria
    1,215

    Well they took her in for the day to monitor her because she had a high temperature as well, they took samples and they said it is just a heavy heat, but it may go on for yet another 3 weeks.
    So the vet said it would be best to just get her desexed today, so we did. Poor puppy has been sooking all evening and cant walk. but they said she'll be fine now, she just needed extra drugs because she was on heat.
    Thanks for all your help, Im glad I took her in as even the vet was a bit concerned about her. Hopefully she will recover okay.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Caroline Springs
    2,341

    I'm actually glad that they desexed her today despite the extra risk involved. With her having a high temperature I would definitely not want to even take a slight risk that it may be pyometra. I've seen too many dogs die from it

    I'm sure your gorgeous girl will be back to her normal happy self in no time

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Hope she's better soon. You sound like a wonderful doggy-Mum!

  13. #13
    BellyBelly Member

    Mar 2005
    Limestone Coast, SA
    2,671

    poor puppy, glad she has had it all over and done with and she can just get better now

  14. #14
    Registered User
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    Sep 2006
    Dandy Ranges ;)
    7,526

    Good to see she's on the mend, its so awful they can't tell us what's wrong!

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Add krysalyss on Facebook

    Feb 2007
    on the move.....
    2,745

    Just caught this thread. Hopefully she is recovering well. They usually bounce back amazingly well but if you think she needs more pain relief then I am sure your vet would be happy to give her provide her with some. Did they think the temp was an infection? Did they give her antibiotics? It does seem to be heavy but I think you did the right thing. Poor little love.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    North Northcote
    8,065

    hope you pup is doing well post op. they do tend to be a bit sooky for awhile post de-sexing...lots of cuddles and reassurance that she is still loved and beautiful is on order lol!

  17. #17

    Aug 2009
    Yarra Valley, Victoria
    1,215

    Thanks girls, she seems to be recovering well, she just wants to play but doesnt have the energy. She'll be laying down and I'll come out to her and her tail wags like crazy, but she doesnt get up.
    The vet gave us lots of drugs for her, thank goodness. the poor dog was crying in her sleep so I sat outside with her for a few hours to comfort her on her bed, she seemed to be happier when I was out there. I think she is probably putting on the sookyness a bit just for the attention, but I dont mind giving it to her
    The vet says she would have been worn out from being on heat for so long, that may have been why the temperature was so high.
    All up it cost 350, but that was because they tested her discharge and blood etc. just to make sure there was no infection. Good for peace of mind, now I can just give her cuddles.