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my jack russell going into heat

20 9:29:18

Question
what do i look for for her 1st time going into heat. she is due to be fixed the 27th of nov. she is licking herself more back there. i know to look for swelling which i dont really see yet. are there other signs to look for.

Answer
Hi Sandy,

I wonder how old she is. Usually the first heat cycle is between 6 months to 1 year - so if it's earlier than that she is probably not entering into heat. Constant licking and cleaning is definitely a sign, as well as the swelling of the vulva. You can also take a white tissue or piece of toilet paper and dab at her vulva to see if you notice the start of any bleeding. A heat cycle can last from 7 to 25 days, every dog is different. If she goes into heat before her scheduled surgery just be very very careful not to let her out or near any male dogs. She should be finished with her heat cycle by the 27th of November. The vet may charge you more $ to spay if she has already been through a cycle so maybe you could change the surgery date to right away?
Either way it won't harm your dog - it's just a little easier on everyone to have her done before her first heat.
Best of luck with everything!
Carol