You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Here are 10 abnormal signs to look out for if you have a female animal. All of them require the animal to be examined by a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause

• A young female does not come "on heat*" at the usual age - Delayed onset of sexual maturity can be normal - or it can be due to abnormal hormone secretion
• The duration of a females "heat" is longer than normal - A prolonged period when the female is attractive to males may occur due to abnormal hormone activity, or it may be associated with other diseases which artificially make the female attractive to males eg the presence of infection or other vulval discharges
• Abnormal discharges from the vulva :
  • Blood (at an abnormal time) - caused by trauma, infection or other causes of inflammation 
  • Green/black  discharge - often associated with a retained placenta after giving birth, or a dead fetus in the uterus
  • White/yellow discharge - usually associated with infection
• A red fleshy mass protruding from the vulva - May be prolapse of the uterus through the vulva, thickening of vaginal tissue or a tumour inside the vagina.
• Increased thirst  - Increased drinking is often associated with toxin build-up as seen in pyometra and other diseases
• Dullness and depression - Various causes
• Mammary development and milk production when the female is not actually  pregnant - this occurs with a condition called "false pregnancy"
• A pregnant animal is overdue - there are many causes of delayed birth - some of which require veterinary intervention
• A pregnant animal strains vigorously for long periods of time without passing a fetus - Prolonged straining  can be dangerous for both the unborn animal and the mother - especially if it is accompanied by a dark green discharge - so veterinary attention should be sought as soon as possible
• Swelling of the abdomen - This may be caused by a swollen uterus as occurs in infection (pyometra) or inflammation (cystic endometritis)

* "Heat" is the period of the oestrus cycle during which a female is attractive to males and will accept a male

Updated October 2013