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Question
I've read that Ovaban should not be used for a female's first heat cycle. I have a 12 month old female Boerboel (South African Mastiff) due to attend our annual Championships in 2 weeks (she has qualified as regional Grand Champion) and she is just showing signs of her first heat. Her litter sister came in last week and is now on day 9 so it was not unexpected, but is there any way of delaying this heat cycle for 2-3 weeks that would not be harmful to the dog? Females in heat are not allowed at the show, so we would miss out completely for another year if I can't take her.
Submitted: 32 days and 14 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Pet's Sex: Female
Posted by
Dr. Gary
32 days and 14 hours ago.
Answer
Hello,
You have a couple options:
1. Wait it out and hopefully she won't be showing signs in 2 weeks. Many first heat cycles will be rapid and she may not be showing signs in 2 weeks.
2. Ovaban- you do run the risk of inducing pyometra (infection in uterus) requiring an emergency spay and it also increases the risk of mammary cancer in the future.
3. Milbolerone (Cheques Drops)- this is a safer medication to prolong anestrus and something you can talk to your vet about getting.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
32 days and 14 hours ago.
Reply
Hi
Thank you for your answer. I think I will hang on and hope for the best as she is potentially a very nice breeding prospect for the future and I wouldn't want to risk any harm to her. It just seems a shame that we might miss out on the one show a year we have in South Africa! I don't think we have "Cheque Drops" available over here. If you wouldn't mind just answering why the treatment is more risky for the dog's first heat season and less risky thereafter? I'm not sure why this would be? The dog weighs approximately 120lbs and is 12 1/2 months old, this is a slow maturing breed and 12 months is pretty normal for a first heat. Her mother had her first heat at 11 months old.
Thank you for your time, I will be accepting your answer as you have saved me a trip to my own vet today!
Accepted Answer
I have never heard of it being more risky based on which heat cycle it is. I don't think there is any evidence to support that. There is plenty of evidence showing that this is not a benign treatment at any time and the biggest risk is inducing a pyometra. Many vets in the states would refuse to perform this treatment due to the risks and others would make you sign a waiver showing that it's against medical judgment and basically covering their ass for any potential side effects.
If you think she's a good breeding dog, then don't do it. I know it'll suck to miss that show, but you'd feel horrible if it induced pyo and required emergency spaying or worse yet death from not having an ER vet available to do the emergency spay.
Hopefully it's a short estrus cycle and she's cleared for the show.
Expert:
Dr. Gary
Pos. Feedback:
99.5 %
Accepts:
Answered:
10/21/2009
Dog Veterinarian
DVM, Emergency Veterinarian; BS (Physiology) Michigan State Univ
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