What do I do about my 4 month old puppy in heat?

Question

She is a mini dachshund, and she is only 4 months old. I rescued her brother and her two months ago. They have never been apart, and, at night, they sleep in their crate together. I just this morning realized that she began her first estrous cycle! I was just at the vet's a couple weeks ago, and he told me to bring them in to be spayed and neutered when they were six months old. I haven't noticed any mating, but they were crated together all night. She may already be pregnant. I plan to call the vet in the morning, but I was reading online that most vets won't do a spay while a dog is in heat. Is that true? I know I can get the male neutered, but what if the damage is already done? Am I stuck with puppies? Isn't she too young to have puppies? My friend told me they would spay her even if she is pregnant, but that just seems wrong considering they wouldn't spay her two weeks ago because she was too small. She weighs less than six pounds. What should I do?

I have absolutely no intention of mating them, not to each other, not at all. I told my vet I wanted them fixed ASAP, and he told me to wait until 6 months because with small dogs they need the hormones to grow properly. I crated them together because he told me I need not worry about her estrous cycle until later ... If I didn't make it clear, the dogs are separated now and will remain so until at least one of them is fixed.

Thanks for all the info so far!

angi, I know she is in heat because I have had dogs all my life, and I have seen a dog in heat before. I, like you, have never had a dog go into heat before 7-8 months, but her genitals are indeed swollen and she is bleeding a bit. I'm pretty sure she began her heat before today, but I just noticed it today. I didn't realize that small dogs sometimes go into heat early, so I haven't been examining her for it regularly. I intended to have her spayed before this was an issue.

Answer 1

Vets will spay a dog in heat if it's possible she's pregnant. We did one just yesterday. Being in heat will make the operation more difficult, and probably more expensive, but it's not so bad, it's not like it's as hard as a caesarean or anything. It's just that out of choice, vets prefer to spay when not in heat.

Call your vet and tell them there's a chance your dog is pregnant. There are a couple of injections available to abort puppies, depending on what stage of pregnancy she's at - but as I say, the vet may be willing to spay.

Chalice

Answer 2

Are you sure? 4 months is very young for a first heat - but first you need to find a vet who is not so old fashioned. Most vets these days will neuter or spay a 4 month old dog, actually even younger dogs are regularly altered - it is easier on them when they are young and it certainly should be done before sexual maturity.

She's not pregnant at the beginning of her heat, she won't be receptive just yet - but keep the two dogs apart anyway and get them spayed/neutered NOW. There is not reason to wait - your vet is working with some very antiquated notions - I rescue and have had dozens of pups neutered before they were even 4 months - with absolutely no problem.

Keeps females from unwanted pregnancies and males from developing annoying habits like leg lifting and humping.

Don't wait - ask around and find a vet who is up to date in his practice.

Good luck, and 6 lbs is not too small, I have a dachshund who was 4 lbs. 4 ozs when she was done - and many who were around 6 lbs. (I foster).
What would really hurt her is to have puppies at her age - could literally kill her.

Answer 3

The vet will spay when they are in heat, it's not ideal but they will do it. Also if a dog just went into heat, bleeding then she is not in her fertile time yet since a dogs heat starts with bleeding and when it starts to taper off they ovulate and are ready to be bred. Separate them now, phone your vet and make a appt for the male now immediately then once the heat is done have your girl spayed as well. If they are rescued it may be possible they are a little older than 4 months...maybe 5 and some small dogs do have earlier heats around 5-6 months than larger dogs.

Answer 4

This is a classic example of how young a dog can be going into the first heat.

Were it me, I would have the dog spayed while in heat if you are not willing to risk aborting possible babies. Vets WILL spay a dog in heat.

Normally I would not suggest this, but it is really the only solution to your situation given you don't want to abort and you don't want her pregnant. Heaven knows, the last thing we need are more dogs.

Furthermore, you just cannot, and should not, abide a sister and brother breeding...

It will be about three weeks or so until you can have her spayed assuming her heat is a normal one (ranges a bit) should you choose to wait..

Thanks for being willing to spay your girl.

Answer 5

No, no, no! Bad! Call the vet, they shouldn't breed until their second heat, or after a year, depending on their heat cycles, I raised mini dachshunds, mine had irregular cycles, so I had to keep a close eye on her. Actually, if she just started bleeding then she's not ready to breed, it's usually after the bleeding that they're ready to breed, you'll know when she reaches her estrous stage, because she'll get all flirty wth the male, but you don't want to wait for that in this case, just keep them apart, and see about a pregnancy test. My female almost died her last litter, it was too much for her, she had to get a C-section, and her uterus removed :(

Answer 6

I'd make an appointment with your vet and then discuss what your options are. 4 months old seems very young for a female to go into heat so maybe it isn't a heat at all but something else going on. I'd keep them seperated until you can get her into the vets so see exactly what is going on with her. If she shows any signs of becoming ill than I would get her in ASAP!

Answer 7

for one, your dog is WAy to young to have puppies. she could even die! you should get her spayed. the dog should be atleast over a year old,(maybe wait a lil longer then a year) if having pups. and you should know, if you were a responsible pet owner, NOT to keep a male and female together in the same cage, especially if neither are nuetered or spayed. you should get seperate cages. i sure hope that your dog is not pregnant! go tothe vet and have them run tests. i hope you will learn from your mistakes, and seperate them at night. or just get them fixed. good luck.

Answer 8

By all means keep the female and male apart. A 4-month old female is too young to breed. Meanwhile, put your female in doggie diapers. Sounds crazy but the male is going to have a rather difficult time, and any secretions to female has during her cycle will get caught in the diaper instead of elsewhere.

Answer 9

Out of 6 females, I have never had one that has been in heat earlier than 7-8 months.. What would make you think she is in heat? the first thing that happens is usually swelling with her privates then the bleeding(if she even bleeds) comes later...

Answer 10

Call your vet immediately and separate the two dogs! Get the male neutered ASAP.