I would be very grateful for your advice, please. Elsie is in season, and is still bleeding (almost two weeks) and I have very successfully kept Joseph away from Elsie. Elsie comes to work with me, is walked separately, and sleeps under my bed...so she is under constant watch! Until tonight....I was just preparing their dinner and I heard lots of screaming, only to find Joseph and Elsie tied! I feel dreadfully upset as I've always been so careful when she is in season, and have never had any mishaps before. How likely is it that Elsie could now get pregnant whilst still bleeding? They were tied for a good ten minutes. Until yesterday, Joseph had shown no interest whatsoever in Elsie! I am a responsible dog owner, I promise....so feel very upset this has happened.
Re: Help! Kate, you must take Elsie to the vet, preferably today. Yes, she can get pregnant whilst she is still bleeding. You really need to talk this through with your vet who will explain the options you have.
Re: Help! Oh dear... Yes, take her to the vet immediately. When Poppy first came into season, I had Bones go and stay with a friend for the entire three weeks, because the general advice was it is really not possible to keep an entire male dog in the same house with a bitch on heat, and not expect accidents to happen. Next time, you will probably either have to separate them like that, or else have one or both neutered. Hope she (and you) are ok.
Re: Help! Accidental mating Elsie is in her fertile period now and is highly likely to conceive. Your vet may be able to prevent this progressing with hormone injections. The timing of the injections is important, and there are risks involved. For safety's sake, I believe vets now do this much later on in the pregnancy than they used to. Lochan will be able to elaborate if she sees this post. Another option may be to spay her. Please do take Heidrun's advice and see your vet today. Good luck Pippa
Re: Help! Accidental mating Hi Katie, yes unfortunately Elsie could very well conceive to this mating. Have a chat to your vet as there are a variety of options for treating misalliance like this varying from spaying Elsie once her season is finished to various different injections to prevent pregnancy progressing. Mostly in these circumstances (and depending on the injectable product chosen), we don't start injections until the season is finished (in case there are any more accidental matings in this season - boys will be boys-) but before 20 days from the first mating. The most commonly used product is probably optimally used at the end of season with a second injection 24 hours later. It is near enough 100 per cent effective when used like this. However, there are other products available which require injections at days three and five after mating, but there can be some problems afterwards including shorter intervals between seasons, and with some products there can be an increase in false pregnancies and pyometra at the next season. Because of these potential side effects, some people elect to wait until 3 weeks after the mating and have an ultrasound scan to see if the bitch is actually pregnant and if so, use injectable products to induce abortion (some can be used up to 45 days after mating) or spay. Have a chat to your vet though as the specific advice depends on which misalliance product they routinely used and whether they have facilities to preganacy diagnose by ultrasound scan in early pregnancy (much harder than it sounds and remarkably easy to miss one single pup....). Hope this helps.
Re: Help! Accidental mating Hello everyone Just to let you know that Elsie is being scanned next week. She was going to be spayed, but the poor girl became unwell with her ears which had to be prioritised. I've had another long chat with my vet, as Elsie has become increasingly aggressive towards Bailey, which he feels could be due to hormone problems, but also because she has a dominant character too. I'm hoping it is hormonal and also due to the discomfort her ears are causing her, as I got to the point yesterday when she attacked Bailey whilst he was sleeping, of seriously considering having her put to sleep...dreadful I know, but I think it was a stressed out me not thinking straight at the time. Elsie is now wearing a very trendy muzzle which Bailey appreciated, and Elsie hates! Anyway, back to pups, Elsie may or may not be spayed next week, she may end up having hormone injections instead, and hen spaying a couple of months down the line. We are off to the vet next Wednesday, so will let you know what is going on. Best wishes to you all
Re: Help! Accidental mating Oh Kate what a difficult time you're having I think you've been very sensible. Hopefully when Elsie feels a bit better she will be a lot less grumpy. One of my friends with a group of female spaniels regularly uses muzzles if there are new pups around or children and one of the girls is feeling a bit grumpy as they can do from time to time. In the main they are perfectly lovely dogs and very friendly and trustworthy but every now and then they're having a tough time through illness or hormones and it's better safe than sorry.
