Jbea Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 My bitch is 22 months old and her last three seasons have been only three months apart. I want to breed from her this season, which has just started 3 days ago, my question is - will these seasons be 'normal' I.e. fertile, Or will any of them be a 'false ' season. Any opinions will be great fully received... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I would recommend you get her hormone levels checked ..so you know then what's happening :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Unless you get progesterone levels checked by a vet the only way to find out is to mate her, if she is willing & ready. The first 2 seasons only 3 months apart would not concern me but the 3rd one so soon I would wonder why. If she swells as normal, flags her tail to the side when stroked down her back & attracts the male go ahead & see if she has puppies. If she does not you need to see a vet with good expertise in this area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murmarstaffs Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 my bella cycles every 5 months sometimes even 4. But she ovulates early too which makes it difficult with breeding her too. I would highly suggest skipping this season and get her prog tested and then her next heat try to mate her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I find that sometimes alternate seasons are fertile in bitches that cycle every 3-4 months. I have had them come to my stud dogs, miss on the first attempt but conceive with no problems on the next season. In many cases letting them have a litter will sort the hormones out and lengthen the seasons but not always, so be prepared for her to possibly come back in when the litter is only 6-8 weeks old. My last one that had 4 month seasons went to 5-6 months after a litter as did her dam who we mated on her 5th season at just 22 months. If you have a convenient stud dog it is worth a try to just get a mating this time. If not prog test her during her cycle and find out what is going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbea Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 Thank you for your help. She will be of today for a prog test, even tho it is early in the 'heat' but we have to start somewhere so a pattern can emerge! I will keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomsNZ Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I had a pom bitch who would coe in every 4 seasons.. she came from a line of 4 monthly heats, unfortunately it was so they could breed more often. I had no idea until much later. She had 3 C sections, uterine inertia, which might or might not have been caused by so much activity in and around her uterus. I got her speyed and she was fine afterwards, put on weight, and was fine. (is still fine last i heard) but OH so annoying having them come in so often! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystiqview Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I had a bitch who cycled every 4 months. Pain in the bazook to have around. I would do as other suggested Prog test her and also check her hormone levels. When faith went into labor, she had full uterine inertia and required a C-section and was later desexed. She was a healthy 2.5-3 year old bitch at the time and it was her first litter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 (edited) How much time does she spend outside? If she spends a lot of time inside during the day it may be worth getting her outside more and/or making sure your lightbulbs are full spectrum ('daylight') bulbs so they get 8 to 12 hours of direct light. Myra Savant Harris (see her book "Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care" for example) has a lot to say on the role of sunlight when it comes to moderating seasons and affecting fertility. Edited November 9, 2012 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystiqview Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 How much time does she spend outside? If she spends a lot of time inside during the day it may be worth getting her outside more and/or making sure your lightbulbs are full spectrum ('daylight') bulbs so they get 8 to 12 hours of direct light. Myra Savant Harris (see her book "Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care" for example) has a lot to say on the role of sunlight when it comes to moderating seasons and affecting fertility. Um, I can see what you are saying, however in my case, the dogs live outside during the day, and maybe on a weekend while we are home etc be inside with us. Faith's mother also cycled every 4-5 months, whereas her grandmother and great grandmother whom I both owned, cycled every 6 months like clockwork. Also in my case, I know a couple of the bitch's aunts on the sire's side were also 4 month cyclers whereas the bitches on the dam side were all "normal" 6 month cyclers. Maybe also something to look at with genetics and what the relatives of your dogs are doing. Not discounting any individual hormone imbalances etc of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 (edited) Yes, it may not be the only answer. Genetics can sure play a part in some cases! Something to put out there though as in some situations it may be relevant. Here is an article by another author that discusses the issue. The article jumps around a lot and is a bit strange in places, but it does talk about some of the things to consider in relation to light exposure - either lack of it, or exposure to the wrong type at the wrong time: http://www.thedogpla..._Andrews-06.asp Edited November 13, 2012 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkeyre Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 My girl cycled every 3 months, and successfully whelped a good sized litter. Puppies are nine weeks old today and she still has yet to come in. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystiqview Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Parkeyre Great news. I know plenty of other people whose bitches cycled every 3 to 4 month who whelped normally. I only just had bad luck. The vets had no real idea why she had complete uterine inertia or what possibly caused it. We chose to desex after this as it would almost be guaranteed another C-section if bred again, and I did not think she deserved to be put through it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbea Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 This all has been most helpful thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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