I have a problem that I hope the dog lovers will know about.Our female was fixed when she was a pup, but she still cycles pheremones every so often.

our male dog is a coonhound with the required excellent nose that goes with.Because of this he gets all worked up, and pesters her, and gets us all irritated with his randy behavior.I tried vasoline and vapor rub on his nose to interfere with the scent he was getting, but he just licked that off.I didn't put it on her,because it would be pretty messy on her pillow and,I hate to admit, the furniture that I let her highness sleep on.

Is there any other home remedy to put on the female to interfere with the ability for the male to scent her?I know there is a commercial product that dog hunters use,to mask the female in heat, but don't have a source available nearby.

They are in the house, and his whining,etc., drives me crazy.I asked the vet about it before, and he said it wasn't possible for her to be cycling, bc she's fixed.Well, we've been thru it often enough to know otherwise,as far as the pheremones go.They both sure act like she's in heat.His keen nose just exacerbates the situation.Any help is appreciated.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 04, 2000

Answers

Sharon, I have been around dogs all my life! My dad and brother bred and trained hunting dogs for 35 years. All dogs from time to time will "ride" another to show dominance! We have a female part boxer who does this to any new dog that comes around-- She licksand licks and smells and then mounts them. My female dachshund "rides" my male dachshund. After I give her a bath, he chases her for several days doing the same thing you have described! They are both "fixed". I don't know of anything that you can do! Good luck!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), December 04, 2000.

We have three fixed females and I sometimes think the oldest has gone lesbien (she mounts the other two). The vet says its not uncommon, so we just ignore it.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 04, 2000.

It's very possible that she is experiencing a hormonal problem that is causing this. Not all of sex activity is contained exclusively in the sex organs, but throughout the lymphatic system as well and that is not removeable. There are also tumors that work on the pituitary that can cause this in other animals. You didn't say WHERE you were thinking of putting the Vicks on your bitch -- please don't put any anywhere near her genital region!! It can be incredibly painful to mucus membrane areas (chemical irritants).

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), December 04, 2000.

Sharon, a number of years ago I had a spayed female who looked perfectly healthy, no discharge or swelling in that area. I knew something wasn't right because of the way the males were carrying on, acting just like she was in heat. I took her to the vet and they diagnosed her with an internal infection. Also, I have a small female dog who mounts my male cats-boy, does that look silly! Daisy isn't much bigger than Bubba, but I've never seen this happen before. Good luck with your girl.

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), December 05, 2000.

Some good possibilities here.I should tell you I've been around dogs,male and female fixed and not,all my life.Behavior I'm dealing with is not dominance part.They do that too,at other times,female is dominant despite smaller size.She's older and well frankly just the biggest Bi**h I've ever had.Watched her bite Bubba"s butt one day just for walking by.She's real sweet with us, but really puts that Bubba in his place.

But this that I deal with every so often is definitely the stance and craziness of a dog in heat behavior.

Yeah Kathy our male dog is named Bubba like your cat! The name fits him to a tee, big, and dumb as a post.Loveable oaf tho,when he's not driving us crazy with his obsessions....like a dog in heat.He's a slow witted coonhound and as such, is hard to train.

Cathy-That idea of an infection is a possibility.Did your dog seem chunky too? Beebee likes to call herself "solid" so that she has the weight to throw Bubba around. She really doesn't eat alot although who knows what "daddy" gives his favorite daughter.I've taken to calling her "Rotunda" and "Daddy's little fatty".

Did it occur all the time or just on cycles? Same questions for you Julie, on the gland problem.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 05, 2000.

Darn i keep hitting the submit button before I'm ready!Maybe my creator is trying to hint around maybe that I talk too much.HOHOHO.

Anyway I wanted to assure you that I didn't put vicks on her.I wouldn't do that and besides she'd probably never forgive me if I did! She has a very good memory.Right now she's on the way for her yearly vet visit.She loves to go ride and go visit,every bit of it, right up to the point that you open the vet's door and she gets a wiff and knows where she is.then the b**ch emmerges.I don't take her anymore.It's too embarrassing.I make hubbie do it.Each time we try to explain to the vet how really sweet she is to everyone else.I don't know if he believes us.I wouldn't.

Actually I tried a bengay like arthritis cream on bubba's muzzle to try to overwelm his smelling ability,but it didn't work and he just licked it off.

It made me laugh though, because I remembered a story I'd read in my folk remedies book.Seems a fella mistakenly grabbed the bengay instead of the hemeroid cream. Apparently it gave new meaning to the phrase "fire down below"!

But guess what? He said it cured his hemmeroids.No pain, no gain.What a hoot!

Anyway I will have the vet check out the possibilities.You've been better help than he."Well,he gets nipped, so maybe he deserves it,the nerve of him shoving things up HER butt!" That's BeeBee talking.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 05, 2000.

Hi, Sharon. This only happened once with Sarah. She was a Shepherd/Lab mix, spayed at 6 months old. This one incidence occured when she was around 9 or 10 years old. She did not act like she was in heat, just the 2 males acted that way. I miss her. I had her from a pup, until a year ago, when she was 14. That's funny that your dog is Bubba! My cat Bubba is the biggest cat I've ever had, I knew he was gonna be big the day he was born! I really like the name Bubba, I wouldn't mind having me a man called Bubba! ROTFLOL!!

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), December 05, 2000.

My female Puli has just been spayed at 6 months. My 9 year old male has been a total maniac ever since she got back from the vet's 2 days ago. He wants to mount her, wants to be with her every second, and screams, whimpers and cries all the time if we gate her off, or put him outside. He has not eaten in two days. What is causing this and will it GO AWAY? vet is not too helpful!

Deborah

-- Deborah Reese (JReese4981@aol.com), September 22, 2001.

HI i dont have a answer to your problem but have one myself.my female spitz was fixed in early puppyhood .she is 5 now and goes around mounting my chihuahua a female and my doberman male.Especially during play time.when i get there favorite stuffed animal out they all excited and chase etc,but it must turn on my spitz her name is sierra because she tries mounting everything.Major my doberman looks at her likes she crazy.Well i was told by vets to ignore it but how can you when she starts acting like a male.Thanks

-- Becky Cross (beckyglynn@yahoo.com), March 14, 2002.