Zastava's first heat has arrived.

[Katyusharocket]

Since last Friday, Zastava became, restless, maybe is the word? She was just standing all day in the dining room, if she wasn't pacing around (she is usually on the couch, resting with, or barking at squirrels with, Katyusha). Had been noticing some swelling, too. So I knew something was up. Turns out today is the day. At lunch time I put her Pants for Dogs, with a pad installed, on her. She hadn't had tons of practice wearing those, and she seemed like she was wanting to take them off, but I told her to leave it a few times. Now, an hour later, I can see on camera that she is actually sleeping in the dining room, with them still on and they look undamaged. I had her on a long lead to go outside and she was absolutely baffled as to why, the poor thing. Her mood seems fine so far, just being her normal, playful, energetic self when I am home. So all in all, this could be going a lot worse, so far. The part I am really thankful for is the forecasted warm-up, because I really didn't want to be out there holding her leash when the wind chills were -40 or worse. Good timing, Z! Toby has been attempting to play with her for the last few days but he hasn't been physically or sexually aggressive towards her yet (he has been neutered for 9 years). So, here she is in her undies, and this time, THIS IS NOT A DRILL! A little mixed emotions for me. I mean we all love the calm, adult Dobermans when they become that, then again, this is just another marker that eventually we have to leave the puppy stage behind and just have the memories and photos of it.

 

[JanS]

Wow you're lucky she waited this long. Most of our girls have been 8 - 10 months for their first ones.

 

[Katyusharocket]

Wow you're lucky she waited this long. Most of our girls have been 8 - 10 months for their first ones.

She did wait a while. Her breeder said the longest she had ever known was 11 months, so she was kinda surprised, too. I was going to check in with her doctor if I hadn't seen anything by 13 or 14 months.

 

[GennyB]

She did wait a while.

She may have had a cycle without you noticing. I think they call it silent heat.

 

[GennyB]

Yep silent heat it is, just looked it up.

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/what-is-a-dogs-silent-heat

 

[Katyusharocket]

She may have had a cycle without you noticing. I think they call it silent heat.

Indeed I am not ruling this out by any means.

The good news is that while I took Katyusha to the university tonight to help students connect with dogs, Zastava's Pants for Dogs are still intact, and not chewed off! Whether this is her first heat or second, I'm thrilled that she left her pants on! Like I said before, this could be going much worse!

 

[MichiH]

Since last Friday, Zastava became, restless, maybe is the word? She was just standing all day in the dining room, if she wasn't pacing around (she is usually on the couch, resting with, or barking at squirrels with, Katyusha). Had been noticing some swelling, too. So I knew something was up. Turns out today is the day. At lunch time I put her Pants for Dogs, with a pad installed, on her. She hadn't had tons of practice wearing those, and she seemed like she was wanting to take them off, but I told her to leave it a few times. Now, an hour later, I can see on camera that she is actually sleeping in the dining room, with them still on and they look undamaged. I had her on a long lead to go outside and she was absolutely baffled as to why, the poor thing. Her mood seems fine so far, just being her normal, playful, energetic self when I am home. So all in all, this could be going a lot worse, so far. The part I am really thankful for is the forecasted warm-up, because I really didn't want to be out there holding her leash when the wind chills were -40 or worse. Good timing, Z! Toby has been attempting to play with her for the last few days but he hasn't been physically or sexually aggressive towards her yet (he has been neutered for 9 years). So, here she is in her undies, and this time, THIS IS NOT A DRILL! A little mixed emotions for me. I mean we all love the calm, adult Dobermans when they become that, then again, this is just another marker that eventually we have to leave the puppy stage behind and just have the memories and photos of it. View attachment 152685

She’s adorable! The month will go by quickly for you guys. Glad it’ll be a bit warmer for you all too.
The second heat for Pepper seemed much easier and faster. I guess the experience from the first helped.
She did become a lot more loving after her second one and still is such a cuddle bug. Definitely a little calmer and not getting into all the things. I know what you mean it is bittersweet this means she’s now a woman! But more things to come for you all and they always keep us on our toes.

Will you spay after she has her second heat?

I have Pepper going in April and that has me a bit stressed. Getting her blood test done in March to check for her VWD blood flow.

 

[MyBuddy]

She did become a lot more loving after her second one and still is such a cuddle bug

I think Annie learned how to whine with her first heat.

 

[Katyusharocket]

She’s adorable! The month will go by quickly for you guys. Glad it’ll be a bit warmer for you all too.

Thanks! I do love this little girl and we are all looking forward to spring, or at least weather that isn't arctic.

The second heat for Pepper seemed much easier and faster. I

I love reading this and knowing your experience. The first one hasn't been horrible so far (stand by for updates to that ). But as always, I hope her future is easy and smooth for her, and your experience gives me hope that it will be.

She did become a lot more loving after her second one and still is such a cuddle bug. Definitely a little calmer and not getting into all the things

I wondered way back if you would see a correlation with cycles and adulthood. This is good to look forward to also. I can't complain about Z getting into things as far as tearing them up or eating them. What i will say, for her, is my goodness, her use of her nose is... wow! Like trying to get anything done while her nose is right there checking it. Can't safely open a box with a knife or successfully tie my boots or use any lotions or you name it, her nose is in the middle of it, slowing it down. Maybe that is something I will see slow down for her? I'm so glad I got her into nosework and this is our first week of class, we are having so much fun (thanks Pepper Pampelmousse and @MichiH For the inspiration)!

I have Pepper going in April and that has me a bit stressed. Getting her blood test done in March to check for her VWD blood flow.

I am so happy you are going to get the VWD numbers. And hopefully they are good and ahe doesn't have it. But just knowing them, I have learned since almost losing my niece dog Karen to it, is the one thing that will help you and her clinic be ready and equipped with the right additives in the event she has a mishap or needs surgery. Like having a bleed specific first aid kit in the car, for example. And knowing she might need platelet enriched plasma. Now that 4 sisters locally are known to have VWD, our clinic is going to keep that on hand. And I am putting together a bleed kit to keep in the car. Pads and ace bandages for pressure.

I think Annie learned how to whine with her first heat.

Zastava has always been an exquisite whiner and is honing her skills now!

 

[MichiH]

Thanks! I do love this little girl and we are all looking forward to spring, or at least weather that isn't arctic.

I love reading this and knowing your experience. The first one hasn't been horrible so far (stand by for updates to that ). But as always, I hope her future is easy and smooth for her, and your experience gives me hope that it will be.

I wondered way back if you would see a correlation with cycles and adulthood. This is good to look forward to also. I can't complain about Z getting into things as far as tearing them up or eating them. What i will say, for her, is my goodness, her use of her nose is... wow! Like trying to get anything done while her nose is right there checking it. Can't safely open a box with a knife or successfully tie my boots or use any lotions or you name it, her nose is in the middle of it, slowing it down. Maybe that is something I will see slow down for her? I'm so glad I got her into nosework and this is our first week of class, we are having so much fun (thanks Pepper Pampelmousse and @MichiH For the inspiration)!

I am so happy you are going to get the VWD numbers. And hopefully they are good and ahe doesn't have it. But just knowing them, I have learned since almost losing my niece dog Karen to it, is the one thing that will help you and her clinic be ready and equipped with the right additives in the event she has a mishap or needs surgery. Like having a bleed specific first aid kit in the car, for example. And knowing she might need platelet enriched plasma. Now that 4 sisters locally are known to have VWD, our clinic is going to keep that on hand. And I am putting together a bleed kit to keep in the car. Pads and ace bandages for pressure.

Zastava has always been an exquisite whiner and is honing her skills now!

You guys will be good and do great with the heat. Get those extra snuggles and naps in with her, I will miss that part!

She is affected with VWD, but they want to make sure she’s ok before the spay. I sure hope so and thank you for the support. So far she seems to be fine when she’s injured herself and with her heat. Her dad was a carrier and her mother was not and so a few pups are carriers

As for the whining, hers got worse when she had her false pregnancy and thankfully gotten better, but we’ve worked on being “quiet”.

Still it isn’t a cure lol she knows it makes me batty when she whines and her speciality is at 5:45-5 am, pretty sure that means I need to get into your bed. So now working on that and not allowing the bed…

You’re doing great with your crew!

You remembered Peppers full name too

 

[Katyusharocket]

She is affected with VWD, but they want to make sure she’s ok before the spay. I sure hope so and thank you for the support. So far she seems to be fine when she’s injured herself and with her heat.

It will be good to know her numbers. Katyusha's vet wanted the specific VWD test rather than the result of affected from the DNA test. apparently there is a whole range of how affected a dog can be. Katyusha's number was in the low 30's and her sister Squid was in the low 20's. With the test we got, you want higher numbers. IIRC, Katyusha's test outlined that up at around 58 up to another number was considered borderline. hoping for high numbers for Pepper! Glad she does ok with injuries and heats so far. VWD still baffles me, though. All 3 of these sisters were spayed before their first heat, and not a single one had complications. I wonder if it is a disease that changes how much it can affect dogs over time, or if perhaps a spay is a procedure that doesn't get near any major veins or arteries? In any case, we got lucky until Karen's surgery, and we got even luckier that she survived afterwards. It was really touch and go for a while. Thankfully that prompted the tests for the rest of them and now we know.

Still it isn’t a cure lol she knows it makes me batty when she whines and her speciality is at 5:45-5 am, pretty sure that means I need to get into your bed. So now working on that and not allowing the bed…

It's funny they absolutely know how to get our goats. I try not to tell mine where I keep my goat tied, lol, but they still figure it out.

You remembered Peppers full name too

Yes, growing up, I was told that Pampelmousse is the French word for Grapefruit. I will eat vegetables all day long over fruits, but Grapefruit I do like, and I will go out of my way to find pink grapefruit. It was easy, for that reason, for her full name to stick in my little brain.

 

[MichiH]

Interesting about VWD with your girls and yes, wonderful they’re all good to go! So scary with the sister and so so thankful she is ok!

They’re doing a gum test on her the nick the gum to see how fast she bleeds. I forget the medical name. Never heard of it though.

You’re goat hidden that’s a good one! lol I’m not very good at that yes it is a grapefruit!

Funny my husband then bf at the time were in CA and we ran into a restaurant called the Pamplemousse Grille. That’s when it came together I was 23… so I had that name in my head for a long time. Plus, ruby reds are delicious!

 

[Katyusharocket]

They’re doing a gum test on her the nick the gum to see how fast she bleeds. I forget the medical name. Never heard of it though.

Oh! I was assuming, wrongly, that she would have a blood draw. Katyusha had a blood draw and I didn't know of any other test. The test they used on the sisters here required enough blood that they drew from the jugular vein, because the standard leg vein draw would have taken forever. Turns out I was comparing apples and oranges in my head, which is embarressing.

That’s when it came together I was 23… so I had that name in my head for a long time.

it must be so satisfying that it all came together for you now, and you have the embodiment of that name!

 

[MichiH]

Oh wow ok good to know! I am a doofus, Pepper is type1 carrier. Just pulled her paperwork because it all me!

Yes it did I got my girl

Sorry didn’t mean to hijack your thread

 

[Katyusharocket]

Sorry didn’t mean to hijack your thread

Nah! don't worry about it! I am happy to share experiences and if that leads us to learning about things like VWD and tests (which I did learn today), its all good with me that it happens here.

Carrier is better than affected, as I understand it? Still I like that she will be tested before her spay. Seems like a Doberman-tuned clinic you have, to be doing that.

I can report, that it's almost noon here when I will go home and let them out, and the cameras are telling me that she is tolerating her panties really nicely! That is a relief to me, I thought she would protest them more or even shred them. She is still standing and pacing a lot, very little laying down. It's not like signs of distress, but I can't tell if maybe she is slightly uncomfortable? Or just thinking WTF? Everyone is being peaceful with each other so far, and that was slightly on my mind, but I also realize we are only roughly 24 hours in on this event, so watching a lot on the cameras from work.

 

[JanS]

Carrier is better than affected, as I understand it?

Carrier doesn't affect anything unless it comes to breeding. It's best to breed a carrier to a clear but I've seen lots of people breed carrier to carrier. Like our breeder said, even if they do come back as affected, not a lot of them are clinically affected.

 

[MichiH]

Carrier doesn't affect anything unless it comes to breeding. It's best to breed a carrier to a clear but I've seen lots of people breed carrier to carrier. Like our breeder said, even if they do come back as affected, not a lot of them are clinically affected.

Yes, her mom is clear and her dad is the carrier.

I don’t know why I can’t grasp this information and always confuse it lol

 

[MichiH]

Nah! don't worry about it! I am happy to share experiences and if that leads us to learning about things like VWD and tests (which I did learn today), its all good with me that it happens here.

Carrier is better than affected, as I understand it? Still I like that she will be tested before her spay. Seems like a Doberman-tuned clinic you have, to be doing that.

I can report, that it's almost noon here when I will go home and let them out, and the cameras are telling me that she is tolerating her panties really nicely! That is a relief to me, I thought she would protest them more or even shred them. She is still standing and pacing a lot, very little laying down. It's not like signs of distress, but I can't tell if maybe she is slightly uncomfortable? Or just thinking WTF? Everyone is being peaceful with each other so far, and that was slightly on my mind, but I also realize we are only roughly 24 hours in on this event, so watching a lot on the cameras from work.

That is wonderful she is not messing with the panties! Awesome!

 

[JanS]

her mom is clear and her dad is the carrier

Then she will be either clear or carrier.
Someone posted this a while ago and it's pretty informative.

 

[MichiH]

Then she will be either clear or carrier.
Someone posted this a while ago and it's pretty informative.
View attachment 152706

Thank you to see it is helpful for my brain.