delayed puberty in dogs

Question
My 20 month old rare breed dog, a Coton de Tulear, has not come into heat yet. The veterinarian examined her and felt the uterus and the thyroid test came out very normal. What should we do now?

Answer
Are you sure she didn't have a silent heat?  I am not very familiar with this breed so I would suggest that you contact the breeder you bought her from.  Most small dogs should start cycling by one year of age and with the exception of Basenjis, that I know of, all dogs go into heat twice a year.

I would advise to have vaginal cytology done at several different times as well as checking estrogen and progesterone levels if you are planning on trying to breed.  If you are not going to try to breed, then I would just have her spayed.