We are somewhat frustrated, newer to breeding and trying to learn and everything good for our dogs and the breed. Still trying to get heat cycles down is a trouble we have. We bred one of our females once before and I calculated approximately when she SHOULD come in this time around. (Even though we didn't breed her on every cycle I kept track of when she came in). Anyways- after getting groomed last Thursday I noticed she was slightly bleeding bright red- no swelling- other female with her was sniffing her and she was lifting her tail sky high. This would be about a month early according to my records. Friday morning took her to the vet for a vaginal smear- he said too many red blood cells- no bleeding or swelling bring her back Monday. Brought her back today to the same clinic- different doc said no red blood cells at all- no swelling- either we missed her or better breed her today. That made no sense to me to say she is not swollen but breed her today. We brought a male in (not a stud) just to see how she was and she sat down- he paid no attention. Does anyone have any advice- did we miss her or could she have just spotted?

How old is this bitch? How many heat cycles have you observed with her?

Some very young bitches have some really funny cycles and on the far end some older bitches have as well. As far as bringing in a male dog but not a stud (I assumed fixed) he may pay her zero mind at all depending on when he was fixed. I know my two fixed boys have no clue what to do.

I'm inclined to think something else entirely was going on if it wasn't acting like a normal heat. Watch her over the next few weeks and see if she has a false pregnancy but it's possible you may never know if it was a heat or not.

It could be one of a million things, she's out, she hasn't come in, split heat cycle.........

I don't mess with smears, if I need anything done at all I just get a prog. test. More accurate, more expensive but worth it.