If your pup goes into heat before you have her spayed, consult with your veterinarian about the best timing for the surgery. In general, it is best to spay before the dog's first heat ever happens as early as eight weeks of age , but the procedure can be done once the first heat has finished. How Long Are Dogs in Heat? By Lacey Howard Updated March 24, Pin FB More.
All rights reserved. Close Sign in. Lots of dogs are also very clean, so you may not see much blood around the house if your dog is grooming themselves a lot.
Always contact your vet if you are worried about the amount your dog is bleeding. No, a white discharge could be a sign of infection such as a pyometra and should always be checked by a vet. Please note, our vets and nurses are unable to respond to questions via this form. Donate Menu. Get help. Find us. Pet Health Hub Search. Check your pet's symptoms. Print this page. Dogs usually have their first heat at around 6 months old, and then every months afterwards.
Each heat tends to last approximately days. Signs of a heat include a swollen vulva private parts , bleeding, and changes in behaviour. General information A heat or season is when a female dog is fertile and can become pregnant.
A dog in season, bleeding from her vulva. The same applies to the regularity of the female dog period. Most female dogs will have have their first periods irregularly, but the cycle tends to normalize in the first two years. Normally, female dogs are in heat twice a year, for a period of two to three weeks. Your male dog might even neglect opportunities for food or water, since his instinct is very much focused on mating. Get some tips on how to persuade your dog to drink water in order to avoid dehydration.
Keep in mind that the day cycle is just a guideline and every dog is different. Dogs typically have two heats per year, but each dog differs in length of heat, discharge amount and hormonal changes. Interesting facts show that some female dogs in heat even run away from home. But they are not the only unpredictable actors in this process. Male dogs are also affected when a female dog is in heat. Very often, they sense the heat cycle of a female dog and start to track it.
Once discovered, there is no fence high enough for your male dog. He will find a way to get away! What can you do about it? Use a Tractive GPS tracker to keep an eye on your dog during the heat cycle. Should your furry friend run away, you can use the LIVE Tracking feature of the GPS tracker from the convenience of your smartphone and find your four-legged friend in no time. The first stage of the dog heat cycle is called proestrus.
This stage can last from 3 to 17 days, but many dogs experience about 9 days in proestrus. The first sign of this stage is the swelling of the vulva. This is one of the best ways to spot the beginning of a dog heat cycle. During the proestrus stage, you may notice the following symptoms:. The estrus stage typically last from days and lasts 9 days on average. This is the time your dog is fertile her actual heat and where the ovaries begin to release eggs for fertilization. During this stage the female dog will be willing to accept male company.
She will switch her tail to the side and she might try to be outside more often than normally. During this stage, your female will most likely be very receptive to being mated by any male and will even hunt them down and offer herself fluzy!
Every male in the district will be tracking her by scent. There will be nothing you can do to stop her being mated if you take out your female, and you will likely end up with an unwanted litter. Many people think that once the bleeding stops, the season is over, when in fact, usually, when the bleeding stops and becomes more watery, she is at her most fertile and most likely to get pregnant.
However, it is important to note that it can be possible for your female to become pregnant right up until the end of her season, up to four weeks. After estrus stage, the vulva should return to normal, at this stage, she is no longer fertile and she is safe to mix with intact male dogs. This is the stage that follows oestrus.
The female will no longer be receptive to being mated. This stage lasts for about two months. Progestrone levels will peak three - four weeks after the start of diestrus and then revert to normal levels by the end of this stage. These hormone levels change regardless of whether or not the female is pregnant. As these hormone changes are occurring, it is important not to spay a female until after this stage.
It is the ovaries that regulate the hormones, once removed, they will not be able to regulate hormone levels. This can leave your female in a state of unbalanced hormones, which can lead to ongoing behaviour problems if hormonally mediated behaviour problems occurred during the season. Some females will develop what is known as a "phantom pregnancy" during the diestrus stage. She will produce milk and you may see behaviour changes such as protection of resources and nesting.
Some females manage this stage with no problems, but sometimes behaviour problems can occur. Also, it has been suggested that phantom pregnancy could pre-dispose the female to developing pyometra, a potentially fatal infection of the uterus. If your female's behaviour changes during this stage, it is worth speaking to your vet.
Monitor for elevated temperature making sure that you use an ear thermometer, or lubricate the thermometer if inserting this anally to avoid inflicting pain and discomfort on her.
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