Is my dog in heat???

Question
Hello!  I have never owned a female dog, so my 8 1/2 month old beagle is having to bear with me (and we just added a 2 month old lab to the family too!)  My question is about the beagle though. Today she has been throwing up and has had diarrhea.  I cannot track down any thing she might have eaten that would cause this.  But when I was cleaning her up, I noticed some blood(a small amount and it was dried) around her vagina.  I suspect she is going into heat, even though the vet told me that beagles don't go into heat until Mid-September and Mid-March. If she is how will I know?   When will male dogs notice her???  I DON"T want her getting pregnant, but have not had the chance to neuter her just yet and had planned to do so after she went into heat this time.  Thanks!  Laura  

Answer
HI LAURA
GET HER SPAYED NOW EVEN DURING HER CYCLE.  SHE IS IN HEAT AND THERE IS NOT SPECIAL TIME OR MONTH, IT IS A 21 DAY CYCLE TWICE A YEAR, SHE IS DRIPPING, NOW THE NEXT STEP IS SHE CAN GET BRED WHEN THE DRIP STOPS.  WHEN IT TURNS TO ALMOST WHITE OR NOTHING, THIS IS WHEN A STUD OR MALE WILL CATCH HER THEN ITS TOO LATE TO FIX HER.
GET HER FIXED NOW, VETS DUE IT WHILE IN HEAT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER DOG.  MALES SMELL THIS SOME THREE MILE AWAY.
IT WOULD BE SO BAD TO HAVE A MIX OF UNWANTED PUP AND SHE IS TOO YOUNG ALSO.  DOGS COME INTO HEAT THE FIRST TIME ANYTIME, I JUST HAD ONE HER FIRST AT ONE YEAR OLD, SHE GOT BRED, MY OOOPS LITTER NOW BEING SOLD.  THANKS GOD SHE IS MATURE ENOUGH SHE CAN HANDLE IT AND IT IS AKC PUP OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERDS.  I WAS NOT HAPPY BUT HER DRIP LASTED OVER TWO WEEKS, I FELT SHE WAS GOING TO NEED A VET CHECK FOR I NEVER HAD A BITCH BLEED SO LONG, LEFT HER OUT FEELING WITH THREE BRIGHT RED DROPS SHE WAS NOT GOING TO STAND, SHE DID AND TIED AND TOOK.
BEING A BREEDER WE CANNOT BE TOO CAUSIOUS, BUT WITH SPECIAL CARE SHE WILL BE OK FOR I WHELP EACH PUP MYSELF AND HELP MY BITCHES WITH EVERY LITTER.
I HAVE ALSO SPAYED AND NEUTERED SOME 8 DOGS PLACED IN ADOPTION HOMES TOO.
GOOD LUCK AND CALL THE VET FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND GET HER FIXED TO BE SAFE.

WARM REGARDS
PATT
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