need help with a bloodclot issue

mamabear_34 · Member Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 95

Hello everyone, I know that I havent been here in months but I just got a new addition to the family and I have a question. On Saturday I got a pure breed 13 inch beagle from our local animal control. She has swollen mammories and vulva and my vet said that he thought she had probably went through her first heat cycle. She is scheduled to be spayed within the next two weeks but my question is, she sat this morning and when she stood there was a blood clot on the floor. It was old blood as it was brownish and not bright red. Could this be a left over of her heat cycle? Should I be worried? Any help with this will be appreciated cause I have never had a dog that has been through a heat cycle before.

DeLaUK · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject:

Hi, havent been here for months either, ( I miss you guys).

Has the vet actually examined the dog? Is it your own vet or the shelter vet? Did you get any history from the shelter? How old is the dog? I would have a vet examine or re-examine the dog but I wouldnt wait for a week or two.

charmedagain · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 2238 Location: uk

Without knowing how long it was since her cycle started you would have no way of knowing without an examination by your vet.
When a bitch is having a split season you will usually notice a dark brown discahrge which is because the blood is coming from high up and because its taking so long to leave the body it oxidises with the air turning it brown.

Alsong as there is no foul smell and she is not off her food, not drinking more than usual, not lethargic or restless then chances are its nothing to worry about.

But still have her checked over thoroughly.

Since her vulva is still swollen then i would say she is still in heat.
You should not have her spayed while she is in her cycle or until 12 weeks after the cycle ends.

All dogs go through some degree of a false pregnancy so spaying after the heat ened is not advisable as her blood vessels in her womb and unterus will be swollen and this can cause some serious complications...

I would talk to the shelter and ask them when she started her cycle.
Also talk to your vet and ask if you can put off getting her spayed until atleast 12weeks after first signs of her cycle.

Mike

Sara · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:01 am Post subject:

"Alsong as there is no foul smell and she is not off her food, not drinking more than usual, not lethargic or restless then chances are its nothing to worry about."

I just wanted to specify that the above list of things to look for should be looked for independently of one another...meaning that if you have a bitch who had a recent heat go off her food but isn't lethargic you still need to worry, or if you have a bitch who's not TOTALLY off her food but isn't eating with as much gusto, is lethargic and drinking water, take her to the vet... If only a foul smell exists...take her to the vet...

The above symptoms are those of what's called a Pyometra and it's an infection of the euterous. I had a female who died with the illness just over a year ago mostly because we missed signs and she didn't act sick until she was septic. Generally if a dog has Pyometra it's three months after their heat cycle ends. I doubt your Beagle has this condition but if she's off her food or any of the above you need to take her in and even if you have to insist they need to do bloodwork to see if an infection is present.

Dogs can be spayed when in heat or shortly after they are in heat, it's usually more expensive because of the extra time and effort required due to the inflamed tissues and whatnot so check with your vet and together you should make the decision to either wait 12 weeks or not.

Just my opinions.

Sara