Heat and Breeding Question - Page 1

My GSD bleeds like a stuck pig and has good swelling during her heat. Also, her whole body actually swells some and she gains 2-3 pounds during her heat. After her heat is done, she loses the weight and swelling and reverts to her normal lean state.

But... her heat lasts f o r e v e r... the last one lasted almost two months! The first spot of blood was either 2nd or 4th of January (calendar is packed away right now) and ended the last day of February! Yikes!

She doesn't "flag" until late in the heat, so the instructions to breed on certain days counted from the first bleeding don't appear to be right for her.

The drive to the stud is several hundred miles, so I want to make sure we're there in plenty of time, but at the same time, I don't want her there f o r e v e r. And then, there is always the issue of getting time off from my "real" job.

When do I start testing hormones and when exactly do we need to start the drive? I'd like her to have at least a day or two to relax/get used to the surroundings before breeding.

Is there an issue related to her long, heavy heat that could also cause problems conceiving and/or carrying to term? Or is this a good thing/sign? Is she likely to have larger/smaller litters than usual?

Thanks, in advance.

These are all questions that should be directed at a veterinarian, not on an opinion board.
A reproduction veterinarian would be the best place to get reliable answers.
Good luck.

Boy, I'd sure want to have this dog checked for a clotting factor disorder before I'd consider breeding her...the things mentioned that are associated with her estrus are NOT the norm, not at all.

Thank you joanro and hexe.

My vet is not a reproductive specialist/vet, so I've been looking for one. The one my vet recommended is getting ready to retire and the two I talked to I didn't get a "warm and fuzzy" about, so still looking.

Thanks, again.

In case you can find a Stud dog owner willing to let you keep the dog at your place would help alot and doing a pap smear looking under a microscope can help, normaly females that flag can also be of value getting in the ball park for prime time i find that my own females that have short or long or split heat often times have a harder time or cant get preg. Good luck

Just a suggestion , but you may want to try getting in touch with Dr.Hutchison. He is one of the leading canine repro specialists in the US and does telephone consultations. Perhaps he could provide some insight ?

Best of luck !

Provided you're not exaggerating in the least, I totally agree with hexe. I would do a FULL work-up before considering breeding this dog. This is highly unusual and could signify anything from hormonal or endocrine disorder to clotting disorder.

RE: Bundishep's comment, split heats will surely mess you up in terms of breeding, but longer or shorter can certainly be normal for certain individuals. It's not something I would deliberately seek (abnormal duration in either direction), however, my foundation female cycles every 4 months (so 3x year instead of twice) and was ready to breed between days 7-9 and never missed a breeding. So, don't write one off just for duration being not the norm.

Thank you undishep, dshlerner, and Jenni78.

Is it possible the food I'm feeding her is contributing to the length of her heat? Orijen Puppy Large (38 percent protein)... planning on changing to Orijen Regional Red (very similar and also 38 percent protein) when she's fully mature, but would consider Acana Heritage Red Meat or Lamb and Apple if lower protein might help. Obviously after labs and consultation with repro vet.
 

Dogs are meat eaters, lower protein is counter to their needs, as long as it's meat derived protein, they can't get too much.
I'd get off the orijen and go with Victor Nutra-pro.

But I doubt the dog food is causing the problem. The veterinarians to to school for many years to learn about the stuff talked about here....their education should trump any speculating or guessing being sought here.

Good luck.