black lab

Question
Hi, my question is about when black labs get their "period". My dog is 8 months old and has started leaving spots of blood on the floor. I was just wondering if this is normal, how often it happens, and if there is a way to limit it without having her spayed. Thanks.

Answer
I can't understand why you have waited until now to check on this.  That is around the usual age for females to have their first heat cycle as it is referred to.  Responsible pet owners get their females spayed at 6 months to avoid the mess, hassle, and risks.  Once started, most vets will insist on waiting until she is all finished to spay her.  

The second and third weeks are when the most risk of accidental breeding is.  Don't take this lightly.  She will do anything to get loose and get to a male.  Once loose, an accidental breeding and an unwanted litter is far from the worst that can happen.  Such breedings can also result in fatal infections.  She can get killed when she dashes heedlessly across the road in front of a car.  Other dogs or coyotes may kill her.  

You can expect the same thing about every 6 months for the rest of her life if you don't go ahead and get her spayed.  There is no other answer, and no good reason not to.  Besides saving the hassles, it reduces the chances of cancer later in life.  Please make life easier for yourself, her, and society in general by getting her spayed as soon as a vet will do it.