Hello. My puppy seems to have just gone into heat (i say “seems” because once before i thought she had gone into heat but i took her to the vet and the vet said it was ambiguous but probably not — so I don’t trust my own judgement now). She is licking her vulva a lot and I did pick up some blood twice when I pressed a tissue against it (something the vet suggested). I know most of the basics as I have been preparing a lot but I am wondering:
1) did you take your puppy to the vet when she went into heat?
2) we live in an apartment so not taking her outside isn’t really an option. obviously I’ll try to keep her away from risky places like parks and schedule walks for quieter times, but if there are other dogs around but they are girls/desexed is it still best to avoid them? (I presume yes but the time I thought she was in heat I noticed people would say “oh, don’t worry, she’s a girl” etc about their dogs when I told them we had to stay away) (obviously in any case we wouldn’t deliberately socialize but living in the city it can be hard to completely avoid other dogs, esp when they’re with owners who are used to briefly saying hi)
3) similarly, she’s meant to be being dogsat next week but the dogsitter has an older desexed female dog. Is it okay for them to be together or is there a risk the scent will create issues? Should I cancel my plans to stay home with her instead?
4) at what point in the heat cycle does the frequent urination begin?
5) if the dog is fastidious about grooming herself, how can you tell how far through the cycle she is?
Thank you! and also just in case people are wondering I do plan to get her desexed — the vet advised to wait until she’d been through a heat cycle.
submitted by /u/Apprehensive-Bus6757
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