Dogs In Heat
Having grown up in a house full of dog lovers and breeding beagles I have learned a few things about dogs in heat that I would like to pass on. So if your dogs in heat, this is where to get some answers. Love your dog!
What Is Heat?
How To Know When Your Dogs In Heat
Estrus ("heat") is the mating period of female animals. When estrus occurs, animals are said to be "in heat" or "in season." Dogs generally have their first estrous cycle at 6-12 months of age. Large breeds may not have their first estrus until they are 12-24 months of age.
Female dogs in heat are somewhat similar to a human female in menstruation. During the "heat" cycle, the dog may became pregnant.
The estrous cycle:
1. Proestrus: Starts with the appearance of vaginal bleeding. It normally lasts from 4 to 9 days. Increased swelling of the vulva and possibly an increase in urination. Male dogs become very persistent, but she will not yet mate with them.
2. Estrus: The female will accept the male and conception can occur. The vaginal discharge is more yellowish than bloody. Usually, the stage lasts for 4 to 13 days. Your female will allow any male dog to breed with her at this time.
Metestrus and anestrus: Periods of ovarian activity, but with no symptoms. False pregnancies can occur during metestrus.
Symptoms:
The dog will bleed from the vagina, may have swelling of the vulva and increased urination.
Small dogs will of course have less bleeding and the swelling may be harder to spot.
Female dogs in heat are somewhat similar to a human female in menstruation. During the "heat" cycle, the dog may became pregnant.
The estrous cycle:
1. Proestrus: Starts with the appearance of vaginal bleeding. It normally lasts from 4 to 9 days. Increased swelling of the vulva and possibly an increase in urination. Male dogs become very persistent, but she will not yet mate with them.
2. Estrus: The female will accept the male and conception can occur. The vaginal discharge is more yellowish than bloody. Usually, the stage lasts for 4 to 13 days. Your female will allow any male dog to breed with her at this time.
Metestrus and anestrus: Periods of ovarian activity, but with no symptoms. False pregnancies can occur during metestrus.
Symptoms:
The dog will bleed from the vagina, may have swelling of the vulva and increased urination.
Small dogs will of course have less bleeding and the swelling may be harder to spot.
Can a dog get pregnant in her first heat?
Dogs in heat -First Time Pregnancy?
YES! First heat can vary greatly dog to dog. The youngest is about six months of age though sometimes a female will come into season younger. First heat can start as late as 12 or even 14 months of age or later in rare cases. Although it is not advisable to breed dogs until they are about 2 years old.
How Long Does Heat Last?
If your dogs in heat, how long will it last?
The heat period varies from 8 to 30 days with an average of about 20 days. Most female dogs will allow breeding around 10 to 16 days after start of the cycle.
You should consider your pet to be "in heat" for 21 days: 7 days coming into heat, 7 days in heat, 7 days going out. Though conception is most likely during the middle 7 days. If you want to ensure that your dog will not become pregnant, you should keep her confined for the entire 3 week period. Again, not all dogs follow with the norm. Watch your female and record her cycle. It will usually stay the same throughout her lifetime.
You should consider your pet to be "in heat" for 21 days: 7 days coming into heat, 7 days in heat, 7 days going out. Though conception is most likely during the middle 7 days. If you want to ensure that your dog will not become pregnant, you should keep her confined for the entire 3 week period. Again, not all dogs follow with the norm. Watch your female and record her cycle. It will usually stay the same throughout her lifetime.
Spaying
Dogs in heat, spaying
If you have no intentions on breeding your female, then it is best to get her spayed. The are no benefits on waiting and it is recommended that you get her spayed before her first heat cycle. Mainly for health reasons. Decreased chance of having mammary tumors. No chance of getting pyometra and metritis. And of course, the best reason is to stop unwanted litters. Overpopulation is is a large problem throughout the United States.
Neutering
Dogs in heat, neutering
A male dog who has had both testicles surgically removed, and is not capable of producing offspring. Also known as castration.
Neutered dogs are much happier when their hormones are not raging.
Neutered males will show a decrease in the desire to mark territory. This includes inside the house.
They are less aggressive without the raging testosterone.
A dog who has been neutered young is much calmer. He no longer roams the streets in search of a female, reducing risk of being hit by a car, getting in fights with other males, getting lost or taken.
Overall, a neutered dog is a much happier dog, as well as their owners.
Neutered dogs are much happier when their hormones are not raging.
Neutered males will show a decrease in the desire to mark territory. This includes inside the house.
They are less aggressive without the raging testosterone.
A dog who has been neutered young is much calmer. He no longer roams the streets in search of a female, reducing risk of being hit by a car, getting in fights with other males, getting lost or taken.
Overall, a neutered dog is a much happier dog, as well as their owners.
Common Questions
10 Common Questions Most Asked
1. At what age do female dogs first go into heat?
As early as six months of age. Most dogs are sexually mature by one year of age, but some dogs may not reach sexual maturity until 18 months of age.
2. How many times a year do female dogs go into heat?
This varies from dog to dog, but typically female dogs go into heat one to four times per year.
3. During what times of the year can a female dog get pregnant?
The heat cycles of most dogs are not affected by the season. So, dogs can potentially become pregnant at any time of the year.
4. What is the gestation period for a pregnant dog?
58 to 68 days. 65 days is average.
5. Can dogs become pregnant while they are nursing puppies?
Unlike cats, dogs are very unlikely to become pregnant while they are nursing. However, they can go into heat and become pregnant as early as three months after giving birth.
6. At what age do unspayed female dogs stop giving birth to puppies?
Fertility gradually declines over time, there is no particular age after which a female dog can no longer become pregnant.
7. Can dogs from the same litter mate and produce litters?
Yes!
8. If my dog is pregnant, can she be spayed?
Yes. The surgery, however, can be slightly more difficult in a pregnant dog. This is one reason why it is so important to have your dog spayed before her first heat.
9. Can dogs be spayed/neutered if they've been sick?
Yes, but it is a good idea to wait a little while.
10. Should I allow my female dog to have one litter before spaying her?
No. There is absolutely no benefit to the dog in doing this.
As early as six months of age. Most dogs are sexually mature by one year of age, but some dogs may not reach sexual maturity until 18 months of age.
2. How many times a year do female dogs go into heat?
This varies from dog to dog, but typically female dogs go into heat one to four times per year.
3. During what times of the year can a female dog get pregnant?
The heat cycles of most dogs are not affected by the season. So, dogs can potentially become pregnant at any time of the year.
4. What is the gestation period for a pregnant dog?
58 to 68 days. 65 days is average.
5. Can dogs become pregnant while they are nursing puppies?
Unlike cats, dogs are very unlikely to become pregnant while they are nursing. However, they can go into heat and become pregnant as early as three months after giving birth.
6. At what age do unspayed female dogs stop giving birth to puppies?
Fertility gradually declines over time, there is no particular age after which a female dog can no longer become pregnant.
7. Can dogs from the same litter mate and produce litters?
Yes!
8. If my dog is pregnant, can she be spayed?
Yes. The surgery, however, can be slightly more difficult in a pregnant dog. This is one reason why it is so important to have your dog spayed before her first heat.
9. Can dogs be spayed/neutered if they've been sick?
Yes, but it is a good idea to wait a little while.
10. Should I allow my female dog to have one litter before spaying her?
No. There is absolutely no benefit to the dog in doing this.
What to do when your dog is in heat?
Once you have noticed the signs mentioned above and realised that your dog is in heat, what should do? How should you care for your dog?
Well there is nothing to worry about and you be shouldn't concerned as long as you act correctly.
A warning, while your dog is in heat it releases a hormone to entice the male dogs. Therefore, it is not advised to let your dog out alone otherwise the male dogs will go crazy for her. To resolve this, whenever you take your dog out, walk her on a leash. To disguise the scent of the hormone released, try rubbing some menthol onto the tip of her tail, this should mask the smell.
Dogs in heat are much more emotional, they can swing from being more excitable to being more cautious and anxious. To calm your dog try to avoid letting young kids play with the dog as they probably won't be sufficiently sensitive with the dog and may irritate it. Positive actions to relax the dog involve, playing soothing music and brushing the dog's coat.
Well there is nothing to worry about and you be shouldn't concerned as long as you act correctly.
A warning, while your dog is in heat it releases a hormone to entice the male dogs. Therefore, it is not advised to let your dog out alone otherwise the male dogs will go crazy for her. To resolve this, whenever you take your dog out, walk her on a leash. To disguise the scent of the hormone released, try rubbing some menthol onto the tip of her tail, this should mask the smell.
Dogs in heat are much more emotional, they can swing from being more excitable to being more cautious and anxious. To calm your dog try to avoid letting young kids play with the dog as they probably won't be sufficiently sensitive with the dog and may irritate it. Positive actions to relax the dog involve, playing soothing music and brushing the dog's coat.
Do dogs go through menopause if they havn't been spayed?
No. Dogs will not lose their ability to become pregnant at any age. The dog's fertility slowly declines which is not comparable to humans, whose eggs are no longer being produced. Therefore if you have an older dog she must be spayed if you don't want her to have any more litters.
Feedback and comments
I AM NOT A VET!!!
Please, if you may be in doubt about your dogs health, TAKE THEM TO A VET!
Ask me a question or leave a comment. I'll try and get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!
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- janna jannaz63@yahoo.com janna jannaz63@yahoo.com Feb 8, 2010 @ 3:23 pm
- unfortinatly we are living in a hotel room with with a female border collie in her first heat we also have a male pit bull 1 1'2 yrs I would love to have them fixed heres the problem
My male cries endlessly sleeping in short burst whining endlessly. he is not eating barely drinking he has lost weight my female is in panties we are taking shifts sleeping to "watch" themI tie him to my hand so he can not leave my side What can i do to calm him so we can get some sleep and get him to eat
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- kim brush kim brush Feb 8, 2010 @ 9:33 am
- hello. my name is kim. my dog is an 11 yr old chiquaqua/snauzner(i think) mix. her name is Gizmo. i have had her since she was born. she has had 2 liters. of the hundreds i've read, yours is the only one that came close to talking about the emotional side verses the physical one. thsi has been a weird one. i have been VERY worried.one moment she is jumping around, cold wet nose. the next she is lathargic, dry warm nose. her imploring looks will break ur heart. hasnt wanted to eat, and she LOVES her food. whe vertually ignores me, and goes to my boyfriend and will literally whine and jump in his face. only wants him. does want to get on the bed, go out, and i just wanted some insight or suggestions as to if this is normal and i have just been lucky for the last 10 yrs. thanks so much. kim brush. my email is kizzimoro@yahoo.com or kmcdonald69@live.com.
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- sissy sissy Feb 4, 2010 @ 7:43 pm
- if my female dog mated with a male will she still be in season or does it stop,chri
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- sugar sugar Feb 2, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
- i have a pitbull thats 12 months old was in heat and now her breast are somewhat larger was not in contact with any dog.is this normal
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- tommy bowen tommy bowen Feb 1, 2010 @ 10:53 am
- I have male and a female german sheperds when the female went into heat the male didn`t seem to know what he was doing and never breeded with the female. they were about a year and a half old at the time. they are about almost two now,what can i do next time to get her pregnant,without finding another male to breed with her.
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- Mae Mae Jan 29, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
- I'm looking for some kind of birth control for a female dog. The reason is the female along with the male are working cattle dogs and work as a team so we can't leave one at home but we are not planing on breading her for 2 years. So do you have any ideas for us. Thanks for your time.
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- hjnnapa hjnnapa Jan 28, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
- I have a male McNab puppy that will be 6 months on the 6th of febuary. I want to breed him but my mom is getting him neutered on the 25th of febuary. The dog that I want to breed him with is a 1 1/2 year old McNab and she finished her heat about 2 weeks ago. Can she still get pregnant with my dog before he gets neutered??
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- werewolfbynite werewolfbynite Jan 28, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
- you better watch out, you'll knock her up and she'll have werewolf puppies and those are dangerous!!!!
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- angie angie Jan 26, 2010 @ 8:20 am
- my dog is still bleeding and today is her 18th day been with a male for the last 4 days, but never locked can see get pregnant ???
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- WidgetCat WidgetCat Jan 25, 2010 @ 12:14 am
- Can a bitch be bred by more than one dog during her heat and therefore, have different breeds of puppies in a single litter?
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- I think both of my dogs are in heat:o
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- I decided I'm just going 2 tell the story. My dog is in heat & there have been neighborhood dogs trying to get into her lot so they can eff.
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- kissypork kissypork Jan 5, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
- dog is having her first
by danthemans
Dogs In Heat is an informational lens I put together for first time dog owners. Hope it helps!
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