10 Questions I’m Most Asked about Dogs in Heat

1. What is heat?

Heat is more properly called the estrous cycle. During this cycle, female dogs may get pregnant. It’s equivalent to human menstruation.

2. What are the symptoms?

Females bleed from the vagina sometimes with swelling of the vulva and increased urination. Don’t expect bleeding comparable to a human female.

For small dogs, it’s usually not much and you may need to pay close attention to your puppy to identify her first cycle. Other than the bleeding, the most noticeable symptom may be male dogs hanging around your house.

3. When does a dog come into heat?

The average female dog has her first cycle about six months of age. A few dogs start earlier and few dogs later, even as late as 14-months.

If you have a new female puppy, you should watch her and note when she has her first cycle. If she’s 14-months old and still hasn’t’t been in heat, you should take her to a veterinarian.

4. How long does the heat cycle last?

The average is three weeks or 21-days. In some dogs, it lasts only two weeks while others go four weeks.

5. How often will she be in heat?

Most female dogs have regular cycles usually every six to eight months. It’s quite typical to be in heat twice a year.

6. When can she get pregnant?

She can get pregnant only when in heat. Some breeders test for progesterone levels to identify the most fertile days but the rule-of-thumb is that the most fertile days are 11-15 of her cycle.

Note – when she’s in heat, the average dog will permit any male dog to mount her. Few females, however, will accept a male when they’re not in heat.

7. Can she get pregnant her first cycle?

Yes. However, responsible breeders generally would not breed a dog that early. For one thing, you need to do genetic testing and some serious problems such as hip conditions do not show up until a dog is approximately 2-years of age.

8. Can I take her on walks during this cycle?

Yes with care. She has no problem with the exercise but she’s a walking magnet for male dogs.

Even the best trained and behaved female dog will succumb to hormones. You can’t trust her off a leash or out of your control. Never let her outside by herself even in a fenced yard if there is any possibility of male dogs nearby.

For walks, if there are male dogs in your neighborhood, it’s a good idea to take your dog in your car and drive to a remote area. Take her for the walk there and drive back home. Otherwise, the scent of her urine and vaginal discharge will blaze a trail to your home.

9. When I can have her spayed?

The answer to that one has changed continually over the 25-years I’ve been in the dog business. People used to be told to let their dog go through at least one cycle or let them have one litter.

Today, veterinarians are doing it much earlier. Some vets spay as early as 6-weeks of age! Talk to your veterinarian about your dog and the vet’s preferences. The state of veterinary medicine also is much improved over the past 25-years.

10. If I don’t have her spayed, will she go through menopause.

No. Her fertility may decline but she will not go through menopause comparable to a human’s. She won’t lose her ability to become pregnant even as a senior so if you don’t want to her to have any (or more) litters, she must be spayed.

About The Author: Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and the creator of http://www.ToyBreeds.com , your online resource for Toy breed dogs.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Louise_Louis

Tags: estrous cycle, female dogs, female puppy, fertile days, male dogs, progesterone levels, puppy, responsible breeders, small dogs, swelling of the vulva, veterinarian, veterinarians

6 Responses to “10 Questions I’m Most Asked about Dogs in Heat”

1. Syed Muhammad Hamza says:

   April 7, 2009 at 10:54

   good article. teaches in easy and effective way. hats off for the author. and hats off for pakistanis who are managing this website. i was not expecting something like this in pakstan.
2. AndrewBoldman says:

   June 4, 2009 at 20:48

   Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
3. umair says:

   July 27, 2009 at 01:38

   Dear author,

   good article . with effective information .

   Hats off

   Regards
4. malik naveed says:

   September 19, 2009 at 03:48

   hop this artical will help us ,as i got a bully female around 4 year she had 1 litter very successfull ,but v met her 3 time she s not geting pregnent ,pls if any 1 help me about dat ,i wll b thankfull
5. sony says:

   October 23, 2009 at 10:53

   I have a female dog named “Sandy”. she is 5 and a half year old and is never interact with a male dog infact she barks and try to bite other dogs.now i want to write abt her problem.. every year in winter season her abdomen area become’s swollen and she barks on my mom and on my brother sometime’s she tries to bite and she bit my servant too ..she is vacinated only once when she was i think 7 month old.. can u plz tell me what to do when her stomach and abdomen area becomes swallon.. its swollen every year for just 20 to 25 day in this time she become very fierce to my mom and bro and outsiders but behaves well with me and other people but when the swelling gets improved she become’s fine … now again she is suffering from that swollon stomach and abdomen.. can u plz tell me what to do or any other medicine can u prescirbe .sorry forgot to mention that she is a small white haired dog .
6. SAM says:

   November 6, 2009 at 18:46

   Hi sony this is sam, Well why don’t you take her to the doctor.take her to the doctor and give some tablets to her and also take doctors advice.

   Regards
   Sam