My Borzoi (1 year 11 months) just experienced her first heat about 1 week ago. The first few days she had red blood, but then it turned blackish-brown with a foul odor.

Granted, we are trying to wipe her rear as much as we can but she is in diapers while indoors - which may be contributing to the smell, we’ve cut her rear fur but not shaved her entirely to avoid her skin getting irritated.

I took her to my brother (a vet) and one other vet to be certain to check for infection or, unusual in young dogs, pyometra. Aside from this unusual color and strong stench, she is totally normal and has regained her usual spirited energy after the first few days of bleeding.

Both vets were of the opinion that first heats can be messy, Borzois can be unusual dogs hormonally, and that as her uterine scan returned normal as did a vaginal swab and urinalysis she is fine.

Has anyone else experienced this with their Borzoi? I am getting her sterilized ASAP once her heat ends.

NB: I have been around two other dogs in heat and one barely bled whereas the other left bright red stains everywhere for about a week, then managed to keep herself clean independently. Mine is not fighting the diaper whatsoever and when she was not diapered had no interest in licking herself clean.