Skip to content

Missing a heat?

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Hello All,

    Just a quick query for Lycia. She is coming up on 5 years of age, and is an unspayed girl. Each year she has always come into season somewhere between July-September without fail. This year I have noticed the normal signs of a swollen vulva, moodiness etc, seeking out unneutered males for attention, for almost 2 months now. Therefore she has been kept on lead since the last few days of July…but unusually she has still not bled at all. Is this typical as they get older to bleed less, so much as I wouldn't notice? I have her booked in to see her vet next week because its bothered me so much, but I wanted to ask the experts. :D

  • I would take her in as she could have had a heat in July with little or no bleeding and have pyometra or other issue. Please post when your vet sees her. Five is certainly not old enough to be the issue.

  • I agree with Debra. She needs to be seen by a vet to check for pyometra (infection of the uterus). Pyometra is deadly so please don't delay. If she is negative, then she may have a problem with her thyroid or her hormones.

  • Lauren, how is Lycia ?

  • OK - well we went to the vet .. and of course she started her heat, that morning! Typical typical Basenji. :P Had a normal check up anyway and she it fit as a fiddle (but mummy needs to brush her teeth more, oops). All and all she is absolutely fine.

  • I swear by Plaque Off….. just add a small about to their food every day... Then I brush 2 or 3 times a week

  • I have some actually!! Just haven't been the best at remembering to put it in her bowl.. bad mummy. : /

  • So pleased that all is well - these non appearances as normal are such a worry.

  • Lauren, i'm glad Lycia is ok

  • I bought 2 bottles of Plaque Off, didn't help. Then I read their OWN RESEARCH that says helps for 5 wks then plaque increases. When their own research doesn't support it, cheap though it is, you have to wonder if it helps. But every vet site says none of the sprays, additives or anything helps more than minimal– brushing is critical. I should also add until I stopped feeding raw, I never had to brush a dog's teeth. Now even Cara at almost 3 has a bit of plaque so am now brushing HER teeth (though only 3 x a week, not every day like Arwen). :(

  • Certainly some have different results, mine have been on it for over 2 years and no plaque… used with brushing a few times a week.... And yes I agree, brushing is critical regardless of what else you use.

  • I REALLY wanted the plaque vaccine to pan out. When it came out, my vets (who are cautious) said to wait a couple of years. Well, it has been found safe, but they discontinued it as it doesn't work. I really need a miracle. Though the truth is, she is good about it now and heck, I spent more time grooming the chow 2x a week than I do brushing her teeth every night. I still have to get them cleaned every 3 mos though. My vet recommended trying a water pik. ROFLMAO, me and what army? Sigh. So we just keep getting them cleaned. For the record, she isn't forming tartar, it is the actual plaque her gums react to.

    http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Breaking+News/Pfizer-discontinues-production-of-veterinary-perio/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/718560

Suggested Topics

  • Heat cycles

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    1k Views
    ZandeZ
    She's very young. It does take some bitches a couple of years (cycles) before they settle into a routine - which is another reason not to neuter them until everything has really settled down !) I wouldn't worry too much, just keep a close eye on her. She was born 'out of season' - but will probably revert to one proper season a year in time.
  • Heat cycle

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    6k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    I learned about bulldogs from my friends Norma and Frank Hugo of Hugo Bulls. They have over 150 specialty wins since 1967. I have seen the trauma of heart disease, cleft palates, and idiots who don't know they require c-sections until their bitch starts to whelp and crush the rib cages of their puppies.. or die because they can't deliver them. Breeding basenjis is a breeze compared to bulldogs. You say you have read for years, but I would bet I learned more from hanging with Norma over 30 yrs ago than you have. For the record, it is "bred" not "bread". <to self.. don't feed the trolls>
  • Spaying while in heat

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    Most Vets will not recommend spay during season and unless there is a medical reason for doing it now, will recommend waiting till she is at least 3 to 4 weeks past the end of her season. I would also agree you should put it off and wait. Keep in mind however the neutered males can achieve a tie with a bitch in season, however considered "safe sex"… but since you have two males, this could present a problem, so something to keep an eye on
  • Two heats in a year

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    G
    My first Basenji had 2 heats a year, and then she'd always have a false pregnancy after each heat. And she was bitchy for the month she was in heat… and bitchy for the 2 months she was "pregnant". So that meant, with 2 heats a year, she was bitchy for 6 months out of the year. Talk about a good reason to spay a dog! And Pat is right, there is no good reason to keep a bitch whole if she doesn't need to be. Never mind just the convenience of it,,,,, Pyometra IS a threat. I had 2 bitches get Pyometra. I lost one, the other was saved with an emergency spay. -Joanne
  • First Heat Cycle

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    8k Views
    tanzaT
    @Buddys: all those male dogs at your front door! I mentioned to my brother who is a first time girl puppy owner, and he laughed when I told him to look out for the male dogs. The other day, a blind dog who never goes outside ended up sniffing at his front door from down the street!!!! talk about a sex drive! Exactly, most people do not believe you when you tell them that male dogs will do most anything to get at a bitch in season. Years ago when I had 3 bitches in season at one time, there was a very old in-tact Lab that lived 4 blocks away… He had to be at least 14. But as soon as the girls were "ripe" and ready, there he would be walking back and forth in front of the house.... never saw that dog any other time
  • First Heat as a Spring Heat?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    Please let us know what he/she says…