Spay?

Question
Hello Sir,

I recently purchased my first Dane from a woman whose intention was to breed her.  She is 11 months old, and has a horrible smell!!!  She is beginning her first heat, but the smell is retchid!!!  I don't plan on breeding her, and she is scheduled to be spayed however the vet doesn't want to spay her until after she finishes this heat cycle, I guess it is not too safe.  With this smell, should I push to have her spayed now instead of later? Thank You..Heather  

Answer
There are physical reasons why vets do not like to spay during the bitch's season.  They prefer to wait until the middle of the cycle when everything has settled down including being past the risk of phantom pregnancies.

I assume you have bathed the girl to get rid of the smell.  Danes are usually very clean and not overly smelly  You could try a perfumed dry shampoo or a babies one if the doggie ones don't work.

Has you vet checked her annal glands?  These can often get blocked and cause a bad smell.

Are her stools hard?  If not that could be the cause of her not emptying the glands when she ppos.

Hope that is helpful.

Ken