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I AM JUST SICK ABOUT THIS!!!!!

My male and female littermates are currently 8 months old. I allowed the female to be slightly more dominant of the two, since she is smaller than he is.

The vet advised that I shouldn’t have them neutered until at least 8 months of age due to their size. They are both only halfway through teething, so I didn’t expect her heat so soon. I also thought I should wait in case they also needed dental surgery if their baby teeth didn’t all fall out. Their canines are only 1/4 way in.

4 days ago, I noticed that the female’s vulva area was engorged and she was spotting red blood. No stains on sofas, etc., since she was keeping herself clean. However, for the last 2 days, she has only rarely spotted a very light pink fluid.

At no time have I seen the male show any interest in her condition. Neither has whined or acted abnormally, except fore a little more affection towards each other, such as lying down close together a couple of times a day. There is absolutely no craziness, as most dogs will do around a fertile female.

They have been together when I’ve been able to watch them and I’ve tried to keep them separated when I haven’t, but she snuck over the baby gate when I had to go to the doctor a day after she started spotting.

The male has RARELY shown ANY interest in sex, although his “boys” had descended about 6 to 8 weeks ago. He has only been around an adult male dog a couple of times about 3 months ago. After those visits, my two would start to try to hump each other 2 or 3 times, but “No” made them stop. Usually, SHE was the one that was on top of HIM! He hasn’t shown any signs of sexual behavior since then, and he hasn’t witnessed any human or other animal’s sexual activity either.

From what I have read, I believed that the female would be “safe” for at least the first 7 to 10 days after starting to spot red blood. Since it’s recommended that a female should not be spayed while in heat, I had made plans to have the male neutered early next week, which was as soon as I could get the appointment. I planned on being very vigilant in separating them over the weekend.

1) Since her heat has been so unusual, could she be pregnant or could it be because a first heat doesn’t always follow the normal course?

2) Could she have started her heat without a swollen vulva?

3) Do males need a role model, or do they automatically know what to do around a fertile female?

4) Are males as turned on by their sisters as they are by other females? Could the scent of his own “flesh and blood” make him more immune to her hormonal state?

5) Are increased signs of affection an indication that they have mated?

6) Does a pregnancy test and/or a “morning after” pill exist that I could give her?

7) Should I have her spayed ASAP even though she is still swollen and is lightly spotting? How safe is a hysterectomy it if she is pregnant? Is an abortion (do they do them on dogs?) and having her spayed afterwards a better alternative?

8) They were both treated with Revolution shortly after I got them, due to finding fleas in the house. Could this affect her fertility cycle?

I FEEL JUST AWFUL!!!!! I have tried my hardest to be a responsible pet owner in every way, and now this has happened. I would be feeling rotten enough even if they weren’t brother and sister. I can’t bear the thought of a bunch of deformed puppies and the risk to my baby’s life is terrifying me!

What a nightmare! Your advice would be most appreciated. Please don’t beat me up about it, although I deserve it over and over again. I’m doing that enough to myself already.