Female Not Coming into Heat? - Page 1

Is this something I should take her to the vet for? This female 3 1/2 years old had a litter over a year ago. All was fine 6 healthy pups, quick delivery and not much discharge. Female is healthy, not overweight lives inside the house. She hasn't had a heat cycle since the birth of her last puppies in July 2003. What I need to know. . . Is this common? Any suggestions? Thanks, Melody

I have never heard of this before... none of my girls ever miss a heat Does she normally have discharge on the lighter side in quantity? Is it possible you missed it if she is not a heavy bleeder? I take it you have no intact males... they usually tell you something is up so you can be expecting it... Anyone else ever run into this? I guess I'd get in touch with a reproductive specialist vet if it were me..... just start asking questions....

Yes, I have had some experience with this - a female I imported from Germany - I waited for her to be shipped to me until she weaned a litter for her previous owner - she arrived in US with lots of milk - I think they weaned her early and then just shipped her off, poor thing. But, she did not come into heat again until over a year from when I got her. I was very careful to check her, also having 2 experienced stud dogs here who always let me know when one of the girls is in heat. When she finally did come into heat, she was bred and had a normal litter - now it's been over 4 months and so far no heat - hope she doesn't wait another year!

wow, that is really interesting... you think maybe she used to live with Basenjis?? They only cycle once a year!! Just kidding! I have heard of bitches whose cycles will change when shipped... learn something every day!!

I saw a bitch do this very thing, her next heat was almost 5 years after whelping a sinlge litter of 6 puppies. She was then bred only to get pyometra and get spayed. Over the years the owner consulted several vets, had blood work and cultures done; all appeared normal. Too bad since she was a quality bitch producing pups even better than herself. A bitch pup was kept back from her 1st breeding, and she too has fertility problems. Sue-Ann

some collies also cycle only once a year... ;-) because of her age, i would rule out thyroid problems. if present this type of problem often shows up at 2 - 4 years of age. your vet can draw blood & send it off (most go to specialists at univ of michigan). you'll get the results in 10-14 days. good luck to you.

Always possible that she went thru a silent heat. No outward signs but still in heat. I did have a bitch do that, luckily my stud male at the time picked up on it and bred her they day she was ready and had 7 puppies.

I think the SV is doing or wants to do a study on fertility problems in females. It is a ever wider spreading problem everywhere. I do believe it can be genetic. If she does not come into heat, then the hormone level does not surge enough to have a normal heat cycle. They then have a "silent heat", whatever that is. I never quite understood that erm. Could she still conceive during that silent heat, or not? Or what is it? Do males notice that a female has a silent heat? A couple of people in Germany told me that some people swear the cause is hormones in the meat producs. The EU bans hormone-treated meat in the human food chain, but not really in dog food. Does that sound crazy? But people are serious about it. If there is some truth to it, I think poultry is routinely traeted with hormones. Also, please check out www.canineherpes.com . Solo had this article posted on his website earlier in the year. I find that very interesting, so I saved that under "Favourites" - please also look at "Fading Puppy" threat. Anyway, they think that infertility can also be caused by the herpes virus! Any thoughts? Chris

I also have heard that the dog food that you feed could have something to do with a female coming in heat. I have heard the meat that they use to make some dog foods have to much steroids in it and can cause a female not to come into heat. I do not know how true this is, but I had a few females on a particular dog food years ago and none of my females came into heat until I changed the dog food. Someone told me about to much steroids being in the meat could be the cause and I changed dog foods and the problem was solved. I do not know if this is your problem, but it can't hurt to try another dog food. By the way what type of dog food are you feeding?

Another suggestion is to put her on Solid Gold's "Concept a bitch". THis is an all natural herbal suppliment that can bring a healthy cycle. You just add it to their regular food. You can find it at better pet stores and on the web. YES, absolutly some dry kibble does contain steroids that can effect a bitch's cycle.