I've been pretty absent from here recently due to lots of changes and some tough things going on... but I have a bit of an urgent question... So Poppy is only 3 months old and she has been going out side for the last 10 days having had her vaccinations but this week.... well she must be giving off something because she has been really pestered by the boys. I thought it was just me reading into it, but I joined a friend and her dog walking group this morning and there are 3 females and 2 males - one of whom hasn't been neutered.... and he was constantly after Poppy. Licking her bottom, chasing her and attempting to hump her. She kept tucking her tail under and sitting down when he came near. Apparently he isn't normally like this. In the end his owner stopped the walk and just met us for coffee at the end once she had put her dog in the car. I felt awful. Now could it just be the dog and not Poppy? But like I say it isn't the first time it's happened...just not to that extent. Can Poppy be giving off something already??!! What do I do?
I think 6 months is usually when you might expect a first season, though can be much later - 18-24 months. Has she been weeing a lot more? Can you see any swelling of her vulva? If she has any discharge, I would get her checked by the vet I think. Just in case she has an infection. I think 3 months would be very very early for a season, but I guess she may be producing some hormones? Some of the others with more experience will hopefully chip in. Lilly was spayed at 6 months before her first season so all my info is second hand. jac
If that has happened quite a lot, which is sounds like it has, I would be getting her checked by the vets. I've never heard of a 3 month old being in season, but it could be some sort of infection.
How are her anal glands? That can sometimes give off an attractive aroma to other dogs, though I would have thought she was too young for anal gland problems, but something to think about.
I've read that dogs - male or female -with a uti (urinary tract infection) can give off a scent which some dogs interpret as on heat. Snowie has gone crazy for some rather old spayed bitches. I did get a very offended look by an owner when I asked perhaps did her dog have a uti so I don't ask anymore.
Thanks guys. She doesn't have enlarged vulva or any discharge. And she isn't weeing more than normal. She isn't licking herself and she isn't wiping her bottom along the ground (which I understand can be another symptom). She seems well in herself. So no signs of infection but I am going to take her to the vets tomorrow just to have her checked.
Apparently best wee sample is first wee of the morning. First prepare yourself: you need a sterilized glass jar - pour boiling water into it to sterilize it. Then follow her out when she goes to wee. As she squats, place the jar under the stream of urine. Apparently best to catch the midstream urine, but it's tricky to catch any at all if you're inexperienced, so just try your best. I'd recommend watching YouTube videos on how to catch urine - you get good ideas. One vet nurse uses a soup ladle - it has a long handle, you don't need to bend as much, hand is clear of urine splash! Make sure ladle is sterilized as well. We got a really bad reading (vet said Snowie had bad infection!) the first time cos we used a dirty container. Second sample in clean jar showed no infection!!
I used to have to collect urine samples from our old family lab - I used a clean and sterilised take away container (one of the foil ones a chinese takeaway generally comes in) to slip under her while she was weeing, then you can bend it to form a spout to pour into the clean jar. The look of disgust on Suzi's face when I used to do this was hysterical! Poor old girl
