Zola is an 8.5 mth old ridgeback girl
noticed very swollen vulva a few days ago plus she was very busy licking and stuff. Weeing in odd places.
Infection ruled out by vet.
Said it's likely her first season
Sure enough Saturday morning  her hind legs and tail and bits were bloody, so we took all precautions and...
Nothing more
Ok she is very soppy and clingy, bit off her food and just much less bouncy, but not ill or anything
I have heard about silent seasons?
Is it possible that she is having a light one?
she is my first bitch so I have no idea!
TIA
Jane and Zola

Hi my pup started her season today (8.5months also) I'm certain she is, as are my boys. She's been peeing at every opportunity last couple of days & peed up a tree yesterday LOL so expected it soon. She has been separated from the boys since the peeing started. There is swelling but no bloody discharge but she is very clean. She has slept for most of today and didn't want to come out for a walk earlier much prefering her bed (know that will change very soon ). My daughter recognised her mood and said she has PMT LOL. All my bitches have had lighter first seasons than later ones.
Angela

Hi Jane!
Your girl seems to be growing up. Sad, in a way, isn't it? I always get a bit sentimental when they start their first seasons,
puppystage is over.
Silent seasons in RRs isn't common at all. But their first season can start off, like your girl's, and then you might not see anything for a couple of days.
But you'll probably see blood again any day now, and it'll progress normally. The first season can be a bit longer than later ones, and also
wity more discharge. I try to encourage my girls to tidy up after themselves, and they tend to help each other as well.
HTH
Karen

She may just be a very clean girl.  Some don't bother (umm mine) but others can over clean.

> Is it possible that she is having a light one?
>

She could be, but more likely that she will lose more later into her season.  Just had a 9 month old girl start today.  My boys actually told me, she isn't losing a lot yet, but, like you, seperated!!! 

The amount of flow and how well they clean up varies from bitch to bitch and to some extent (with the flow) from season to season.

In the past I have had bitches that I checked daily from the marking stage otherwise I could easily have missed them being in season they were so clean and fussy. 

With some of my current ones you'd think my kitchen floor was an abattoir!

The starting light and then getting heavier is pretty usual too.

Oh and don't assume she will be safe in 21 days, safer to keep her from your males a full 28 days from the first signs of blood.

still no more blood though she is licking a lot.
Where we usually walk we rarely meet another dog and they are usually little toy dogs on harnesses with elderly owners.
We are due to show on 11 Oct and on 25th Oct at Midlands...
If she shows no signs how on earth do I know when she is done?

oh and she is an only dog here, no males here or within 1/2 mile of our place. Not a doggy neighbourhood apparently, but over run with cats and rabbits and budgies

Keep a close watch on how her vulva changes in shape and texture.
It will at first be rather big and held high. Later, it will
"drop" and be more soft to the touch. (this is the optimal time for breeding) Then it will shrink down to a
little bigger than normal size. Usually all this happens within 21 days.
Don't count on that, though. It's not unusual for the first season to be more prolonged than later ones,
also heavier. I still think what you saw was the start of her hormones kicking in.
It's not impossible that her season doesn't start properly for a while yet.
If you really want to know, keep a white paper tissue with you, after first wee in the morning, wipe off the last little drop,
if it's pink , she's bleeding without you seeing it.
Karen

Thanks for that info! She is not impressed with me checking her parts but at least I've got an idea of what's going on.

Well her we are 3 weeks later and still bleeding heavily, very swollen down below and pretty depressed with it.
I hope her next seasons are easier for her.

My pup is 7.5 months and i noticed her back end was all sticky and she has a creamy discharge, slightly metallic smell. Could this be pyo at such an age? Or is this signs of her first season? She isnt unwell and is her usual self, isnt drinking to excess either, could it be vaginitis?  Ive cleaned her up but just wanted to know what others think. Her lady bits are quite inverted (normal no change) and tucked up, will this change and 'pop out'? As you can tell this is my first bitch from this age.

Louise

my girl has always had a creamy discharge and was fully checked out, apparently it can be common in some bitches and stops after their first season.
Pyo I think can leave a girl feeling very unwell, if it has just started might be worth a check up just to rule out infection? Or could she be approaching her first season too?

oh and as for tucked up and popping out, god I was shocked at how large Zola has got. Talk about advertising! Like one of those baboons you see at the zoo with sticky out pink bottoms!
No way would you not notice!

Im expecting her to come in any time now so thats probably it, but i will get her to the vets to see what he thinks. Shes definitely feeling herself, throwing her teddies up in the air and stealing the rabbits/cats food nothing out of the ordinary.