Setter's season complications

[Hrimfaxi]

Our Gordon Setter bh has just finished her season, of about 3 weeks.

Drops of blood were clean and clear, and began to slow down and stop.. However earlier, I noticed a few darker blood spots, very dark, almost brown like old blood.

She's also diabetic, which doesn't help things Because of this, we're worried sick.

Any more and I'll get to the vet ASAP.

Her previous seaons have been a bit touch and go, because of the Diabetes.

Oh, and she's 8 years old.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[moorx]

I've never had an unspayed female, so I can't advise re seasons but an older female dog with unusual symptoms would worry me simply because of pyometra.

I'd be phoning the vet sooner rather than later. Hope everything is okay and please keep us updated.

ETA - might be worth looking here http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-owners/...

Edited by moorx on Thursday 29th June 20:28

[Hrimfaxi]

Thanks for that link - reading up now.

We would have had her spayed, if it wasn't for the Diabetes. Treatment for Pyometra is also looking like surgery - which again, we really don't want to do that to her, because of the damned Diabetes again.

I don't quite understand how if a dog's season is coming to an end, and without dropping blood since Tuesday, how it make a return today and be worse? The last few drops were extremely clear and healthy - to suddenly turn to an infection is odd. Wouldn't an infection be likely to occur as she comes into season?

Will keep this thread updated!

Edited by Hrimfaxi on Thursday 29th June 21:00

[moorx]

As I say, I'm no expert on seasons in dogs. I may be completely wrong.

I have had a dog with diabetes, so understand your concern, but I'd be wanting it checked out.

[Thevet]

Hmm, bh 8 years old unspayed with odd seasons and strange discharges.......think you should have had her spayed .....ages ago! Sorry just my twopennyworth after 30 years

[Hrimfaxi]

Thevet said:

Hmm, bh 8 years old unspayed with odd seasons and strange discharges.......think you should have had her spayed .....ages ago! Sorry just my twopennyworth after 30 years

We've had nothing but Setters in our family for 44 years, a mix of Irish and Gordons - some have been bred, others haven't, but we've never spayed any of our dogs. We know Setters well!

However, Gracie, our current Gordon, is the only one we've had to be diabetic, of which she's had the condition for around a year and a half. Diabetes and seasons is a huge complication and is new to all of us.

Edited by Hrimfaxi on Saturday 1st July 19:24

[moorx]

How is she now? Did you have her checked out at the vet?

[Hrimfaxi]

moorx said:

How is she now? Did you have her checked out at the vet?

Yes, sorry I took her yesterday. Was all over the place and didn't get to update this thread. Our vet doesn't think it's Pyometra, as she isn't showing any other related symptoms - and she's still eating like a horse! Which is normal. And she isn't physically ill.

He mentioned a urine infection and came away with a course of antibiotics for her - Can't remember the name offhand.

It's a slight relief, but if things progress or get worse, she'll be back in a blink of an eye.

In the last two days though, I haven't noticed any more drops.

[Thevet]

Sadly diabetes and seasons are self-complicating. Our last rescue PBT went into a dramatic downward spiral due to these two issues in may, and I so miss Daisy. Hey ho none of these things are black and white, you just play the odds and you have successfully done what nature intended for as many years as you have. The simple rules to avoid uterine/season and diabetic probs due to progesterone are sadly simple. Always exceptions to the rules with particular breeds and lines but at the end of the day statistics talk. I do not believe that every bh should be spayed but if we want less problems then this is what should happen. You choose, coz I am not saying this to tempt you into paying vet surgery fees.

[moorx]

Hrimfaxi said:

moorx said:

How is she now? Did you have her checked out at the vet?

Yes, sorry I took her yesterday. Was all over the place and didn't get to update this thread. Our vet doesn't think it's Pyometra, as she isn't showing any other related symptoms - and she's still eating like a horse! Which is normal. And she isn't physically ill.

He mentioned a urine infection and came away with a course of antibiotics for her - Can't remember the name offhand.

It's a slight relief, but if things progress or get worse, she'll be back in a blink of an eye.

In the last two days though, I haven't noticed any more drops.

Hopefully it's something simple - keep us updated

[bexVN]

Hi, I hope she responds to the treatment

I am surprised spaying wasn't advised when she was first diagnosed as diabetic though. It is often advised to help stabilise especially during a season. Why won't they do it?

[Hrimfaxi]

An update! Sorry about the delay, family health issues now.

But my Setter is well and good! There's been no more drops and she's in good health since my last post. Phew!

Regarding spaying at the start of her Diabetes, our vet said it'd still have complications and wouldn't risk it. It's to do with blood loss during surgery and would affect her blood/sugar levels.

[bexVN]

Glad to hear she is doing well

Looking back, my last post wasn't written very well!

I meant to say female diabetics aren't always very stable during a season so spaying can remove that issue (due to hormone changes at the time of a season)

I don't understand the blood loss explanation tbh, as long as she is spayed in between seasons blood loss should be minimal, if at all. The monitoring of her glucose levels would be vital pre, during and post is essential though and insulin levels would need altering probably but the risk you have as she gets older is needing emergency surgery if she develops a pyometra on top of being diabetic, knowing the pros and cons is always vital in this situation, it can be hard to know what to do for the best sometimes!

[Hrimfaxi]

Thanks

As I say, this whole diabetes/seasons problem is completely new to us - still have a lot to learn about it, which we are attempting to do.

However, we completely trust our vet - he's helped us out on many an occasion with our previous Setters. Infact, we see him over our local park and has become a friend of the family. So we'll always trust his word.

Gracie's back to her usual level of Setter madness, so all's well! But yes, we'll continue to educate ourselves on this matter.

[Thevet]

My advice is get her spayed unless other health issues intervene. It is so black and white simple unless there is an overriding problem. Our rescued pit bull at 10 yr old-ish with diabetes took a terrible crash with season and diabetic issues in jan and all i could do was ease her passing, still upsetting to think of daisy-duke but rescuing an old deaf PB with diabetes and season issues led to blindness and then .....crash hey ho they are all different and tug on our hearts.