My dachshund is about 7 yrs. old. She's housebroken and went into heat about 10 days ago. She still is very swollen. Three days ago she started having to pee all the time. Instead of 5 times a day, about every 5 minutes. She keeps trying to pee when she doesn't have any urine. She is drinking much more too. Is this all about her being in season, or could it be an infection or something else? She's only gone into heat about 5 times total since she was born. Thank you.

labman

I have no idea why anybody keeps an intact female. They can decide to do almost anything when they come in heat. If she didn't do it is the past, she could have a bladder infection or something. Take her to the vet.

Otherwise, try watching her carefully and taking her out when you think she needs to go.

doggie_poopie

Please take her to the vet's ASAP. A dog this age unspayed could have a life threatening disease called Pyometra. It would be better to be safe than sorry!

From http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proce...A2002&PID=2686
"Canine pyometra is a diestrual disease typical of adult intact es whose development is strongly influenced by sequential progestational stimulations (normal diestrus or treatment with progestins) of the uterus. es whelping rarely or never in their lives have a greater chance of developing pyometra with rare or no occurrence of pregnancy. For unknown reasons gestation has a protective action on the canine endometrium, causing pyometra not to develop in areas of the endometrium where placental attachment has occurred (although pyometra can occur in one horn with pregnancy in the opposite horn). During a progestational stimulation the canine endometrium proliferates and starts secreting the so called "uterine milk" while the cervix remains closed and myometrial contractility is inhibited (Table n° 1) . Fluid accumulates into the endometrial glands which then dilate becoming fairly large (up to 0.3-2.0 cm diameter). "

emallin

Thank you both for your advice. I have made an appointment for Friday morning. It's difficult to tell what's wrong, as she otherwise is completely normal and friendly and eating and drinking. I will check on the disease those, I appreciate the information on it. She's intact because I was first going to show her and when those plans were interrupted by a move, I waited. At her last vet visit, the vet said there would be no health benefits to spaying her now and I am hesitant to subject her to anesthesia and surgery. That may be moot now if something serious is wrong. Thanks again for your advice.

doggie_poopie

I got this from an awesome website in regards to senior dogs.

Is it appropriate or beneficial to perform neuter or spay surgery on an older dog.?
Our survey of veterinarians indicates that, unless a dog is extremely old or medically unstable, the surgery can only be of benefit. Dangerous conditions such as pyometra and prostatitis can be avoided by spaying or neutering. As one veterinarian summed it up, it is better to spay a healthy 9-year-old than to do an emergency spay on a 9-year-old who is ill with pyometra.

Spaying or neutering a senior dog is a decision that always depends on a careful exam by a veterinarian, including bloodwork and other tests. If the exam shows a dog to be healthy and in condition to successfully undergo the surgery, there is every reason to proceed with it.

Good points, but also if you spay your dog before she gets mammary tumors and not at the time of their removal you almost double the length of her life.

Good Luck, let me know!

labman

Although it is well before 9 years, the dog guide school I volunteer for always spays their breeding stock when they retire them.

GTM

To me, this sounds like she has frequency of her bladder or possible and infection causing her to attempt to void often. I am a nurse, not a dog specialist but I would take your dog to the vet. This may only be coincidental that she is in heat.