[caracroft]

Hi, I have a Dogue de Bordeaux. She started her first season on Christmas day! That is the first day we noticed spots of blood on the carpet anyway! She is a year old on 17th January.

I must admit I have found it a bit difficult to deal with the amount of blood involved, I really hate dressing dogs and have thought that any so called hygiene pants were not fair.

She lives indoors, which is carpeted apart from the kitchen which is tiled, we did have mats covering most of this to avoid hip injury when she was younger but all have been removed and are washed and drying in the garage after all the blood. She is now shut in the kitchen and let out in the garden as and when and taken for 1/2 hour walk at least each day. 

I am really interested to know how others deal with this - I am currently getting up each day letting her out whilst I mop the floor and wash down all the bottom cupboards, walls radiator etc as there is blood splashed up everywhere .  We are giving her thick bath sheet towels each day to sleep on and she is more sleepy which helps. These are changed daily too.  I feel sorry for her and end up washing her daily or every other to get the blood of her fur.  She is constantly cleaning herself so she isn't being dirty just can't keep up with it and doesn't know what's going on I think .

Any advice would be helpful
Thanks
Cara 

[devonlady]

Carpets are the worst thing when you have entire bitches, we use Rhinofloor, piddle proof and bitch proof. Poor old love, it's not something she can control and as unpleasant for her as it it is for women.
You could put down newspapers, turning it up at the sides to protect the walls a bit. You could also use a giant sized crate at nights lined with thick newspaper and easy to wash vet bed (ask friends and neighbours to save newspapers for you)
It is hard work, I know but really doesn't last long. She should be "showing clear" after a couple of weeks. Do you want to breed from her? If not and you don't want the work and trouble best to have her spayed. Good luck

[caracroft]

Thanks so much for your reply, yes we do plan to have a litter with her, once she is about 2.

It's been 18 days now and the blood is getting more watery so, hopefully, we are  on the way to the end!!  Just want to be better prepared next time!

Thanks again

[Mammyshaz]

The first seasons do tend to be very messy, I don't think the youngster quite cleans up as thoroughly as the older bitch. I agree with the crate, it will limit the spread. Use puppy liners on her bed too to help absorb what she doesn't clean up.  I'm afraid the mess comes with the unneutered bitch unless you get one of the hormone injections which prevent it.

[Old Shep]

Not all seasons are that messy even with big dogs.  There are SO many ddbs in rescue unwanted and very hard to rehome that i hope you think long and hard before making the decision to breed. 

[farmvet]

Kennel? At least if you get her used to one before next season you have options! I'm quite surprised at the amount of blood though, most bitches you hardly know they're in season

[in the hills]

Is it worth mentioning the amount of blood loss to the vet .... just in case?

We have retrievers and with our older bitches you hardly see any blood anywhere. My young lab seemed to be a bit messy during her first season though. She didn't seem so intent on keeping herself clean as the older bitches. I'm hoping this will improve next time around.

I do know a lady who keeps retrievers and a tiny JRT. She uses some sort of pad on the terrier as she says the mess is so bad. She says her retrievers are no problem though. Guess some may lose more and some are just not so clean.

[doganjo]

I'd be concerned too if there's a lot of blood.  That would also ring bells for me for breeding, she might have problems whelping apart from the problems of selling DDB to the correct knowledgeable homes.  I take it you'd do the requisite health tests and have a waiting list prior to mating?

[caracroft]

Thank you all for your replies. It seems that today it is all over.
I re read my initial message and understand that I might have made it sound like the blood was pouring from her which is not the case. 

She was cleaning herself a lot but everytime she stood up she was dripping as she walked around and then treading in it etc and after a sleep, standing and shaking made blood spatters all over the bottom units of the kitchen. Also she is very excitable when people come or we come home from being out and wiggles her bottom like there is no tomorrow which all have increased the mess!!

I will be more prepared next time, I do have a giant crate but nowhere it will fit in the house! Don't laugh I bought it for when we go caravanning, it fits in the awning easily!

As for the comments about breeding her, I am keeping my options open at the moment as I do realise it is a huge responsibility.  I would never breed from a bitch that is not health tested, nor use a dog that wasn't also health tested. Also she would need to be at least 2, have a full vet mot before going forward.

Thanks to you all again

Cara

[Mammyshaz]

I still stand by the first season being messy due to the young inexperience and wouldn't worry about the blood unless she was unwell which you hadn't said and since you didn't t mention so assumed she's fine.  Hopefully by next season she will be more mature to clean efficiently for you  glad it's over for you.

And if you do breed in a year or two don't forget piccies.  I love DDB, such a lovely dog. Wouldn't have one because of the breed problems we see putting me off but they are poor specimens coming to us usually so I'll never say never