Skip to content

Heat cycles, the Basenji way

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • I need to know about the Basenji heat cycle.

    As previously mentioned, "doodle" came to my home after she was spayed, I noted (April 20th) on another thread/topic that she seemed to be in season this year, and she has had a bloody vaginal discharge. It seems better, but she is still marking (every yard we pass). I thought that the Vet may have just removed the ovaries... but I want to make sure that this doesn't seem "abnormal" to any of our more experienced owners/breeders.

    Based on your observations/experience/knowledge, is 6 weeks of discharge unusual, or normal?

  • @elbrant
    From googling I see there is a chance she has "ovarian remnant syndrome", which apparently can happen weeks or years after the spay. "It occurs when a small amount of ovarian tissue remains inside your dog after spaying and starts to become functional." I would think this is something you might want to check out with your vet, especially because it could also be caused by other medical issues, including tumors. More info here .

  • You should talk to her breeders, they can tell you about the spay... it would be very, very not normal... it is NOT usual that this would happen with a regular spay and I am sure that it was just that. Since I know her breeders I doubt very seriously that it would not have been a complete spay done. What did they tell you? You first course is to contact her breeders. And have you taken her to the Vet? Should be a repo specialist Vet that would be able to evaluate this... and would most likely want to do an ultrasound. But again, your first course is to contact her breeders.

  • @eeeefarm, @tanza, Thank you. I thought maybe someone might have first hand experience with such a thing. I think I have a copy of the spay bill. I might be able to contact the Vet directly.

  • @elbrant - Did you contact her breeders? They would know best and not sure the Vet will be able to tell you anything without their approval. And have you taken her to the Vet, that really is not normal I would believe (NOT a Vet) that something else is going on.... and again contact the breeders/prior owners and also a Vet visit would be in order.

  • It is not normal, for sure. You should talk to the breeder - the vet who carried out the spay is unlikely to divulge anything to you without the breeder's permission - as others have already said. But having found out as much as you can - take your Basenji to your own vet with as much information as possible.

  • Thank you everyone, I'll let you know what happens...

  • Vet has decided "UTI" and doodle is on 2 weeks of antibiotics with probiotics (1 tsp ACV [Apple Cider Vinegar] in her water and plain [Greek] Yogurt) to help maintain her natural biomes.

Suggested Topics

  • Heat Cycle Timing

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    @zande - That is so true Zande, when you have a pack of bitches, the one "low" on the totem pole may be the last to come in heat in many cases... "want a be's" many times will come in first... depends on the pack.
  • Heat cycles

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    3k 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

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    D
    @tanza -- I know. They also don't typically have one in June, which is why I was asking about whether she had whelped last cycle. I don't think we have a lot to go on. Not being critical, but "my dog seems to be in heat for over a month" doesn't provide a lot of information and could mean a lot of different things.
  • Early heat

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    7k Views
    ColoradicalC
    We had Juniper spayed about a month ago at 8 months old. Everything went well and her scar is almost healed…thankfully she doesn't seem to have lost any of her zeal! The vet said her sex organs looked as developed as a 3 y/o dog and it was they were the most mature looking sex organs he'd ever seen in 20 years of spaying and neutering. Believe it or not she went into a false labor after the spaying; about a week after the surgery her teats swelled up and when we took her to the vet he apparently squeezed out some milk! She was acting fairly normal but it was just as odd as it sounds! The vet said its rare but it can happen after a spaying because the hormone changes are similar to that of post-delivery. I did some research online and apparently false labors are common among wild wolves where the non-pregnant females will go into a false labor to provide milk and nurturing for offspring in the pack that are not their own.
  • Itching Basenji!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    10k Views
    nobarkusN
    It's most likely a yeast infection. They get it in the ears quite often. Buddy has a yeast infection right now on his stomach.
  • Behavior during heat cycle?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    5k Views
    QuercusQ
    Just a word about pyo….the ones that are the most deadly are called a 'closed pyometra'...meaning the infection is sealed in the uterus...nothing comes out..the dog just crashes. When their is fluid leaking you can catch it, and treat it. I think it is unlikely that Jazzy has a pyo, because her activity, and appetite are still relatively normal. A lot of bitches change a little during estrous...some get more crabby, some more clingy. Then when the added change of bringing in a boy, I would imagine she is just subdued :)