Canine Care What To Do When Your Dog Is In Heat

If you have a pet female dog, she will go in heat.Now, what does going in heat mean? Going in heat means that your pet is undergoing physical changes and is in the ovulating phase, which means she can mate and get pregnant.If your female dog hasn’t been spayed - she hasn’t had surgery for the removal of her uterus and ovaries - she will go in heat. Many pet-owners get spaying done for their pet as it removes any chance of them becoming a grandparent. When a female is going in the heat stage, she shows many signs, changes in behavior, and undergoes many changes in her body. Keep reading to discover them and to learn many more tips about this phase of your pet!If you enjoy this article, why not also read about why do dogs get the zoomies and how often do you walk your dog here on Kidadl?Signs Your Dog Is In HeatDifferent dogs are known to react differently when they are in heat. Physical signs and symptoms include bloody vaginal discharge, a swollen vulva, a change in behavior in addition to physical changes that are happening in the body, a decreased interest in humans, and increased enthusiasm in roaming outside in the yard so as to find male dogs she can mate with.Heat cycles are different for each dog and vary with the dog’s breed, size, and age. Dogs of small size can go in heat once every three to four months, medium to large size dogs go in heat once every six months, and huge dogs go in heat once every 6-12 months. Some breeds experience their first heat cycle at four months of age, while some experience it at two years of age. When a female dog is in heat, it implies that she is ovulating and mating can take place. Female dogs can go in heat at the young age of six to eight months and can mate with a male dog and get pregnant. The heat period involves four stages: the proestrus stage, the estrus stage, the diestrus stage, and the anestrus stage. During the proestrus stage, many pet owners can tell that their dog is in heat due to signs. During the estrus phase, the female is fertile and is receptive to male dogs. This phase goes on for nine days. The diestrus phase goes on for eight weeks. During this stage, the vulva of the female goes back to normal and she is not fertile nor is she receptive to any male dogs. Her discharge also dries up. Anestrus is the period that takes place between the diestrus and the proestrus stages. It goes on for three to five months and the dog rests during this time. A female dog goes through a heat cycle once every six months. She is open to mating with males during this stage and attracts them through her scent. Pheromones of a female dog in heat have a unique scent and can lure a male dog who is a mile away. This dog will come to a female in heat for mating. The first time a female dog is in heat is typically missed by its owners, which is why vets recommend owners get spay surgery done when the dog is six months old. Spay surgery prevents a female dog from getting pregnant.Caring For A Dog In HeatA female dog in heat can get pregnant if she comes in contact with a male dog. She might look irritated when she feels the need to breed; however, she is not in pain. As a pet owner, you must make sure that she does not come in contact with any unneutered male dogs because it can resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. You can spay her one month after the current heat cycle is over. Until then, keep her away from spayed dogs because even coming in contact with them can cause aggression. Regularly take your dog out for exercise but keep her on a leash.If you want her to breed, you must first consult your veterinarian. When your dog is in heat, she will be discharging, so you can use disposable doggie diapers to keep her and her surroundings clean. Dog diapers ensure that the dog’s discharge does not spread everywhere she sits or walks. You can even get human diaper packets and make them usable for your dog by poking a hole for the tail to come out of the diaper. You can even track your dog’s heat cycle through a phone calendar: record the first day of the dog’s heat cycle and then set an alert for six months accordingly. You should visit the veterinarian if you notice something odd about your dog in heat, such as if there is an irregular heat cycle, if there is too much discharge or bleeding, or if bleeding lasts too long during the heat cycle. If you notice body changes and detect that your dog might have become pregnant along with weird behavior, visit the veterinarian. If your dog wants to interact with you, then try your best to make her feel comfortable. If she chooses to remain distant, do not worry, as moodiness is also a natural part of the process.How long does the bleeding last while a dog is in heat?A female dog releases a discharge of blood during her proestrus and estrus heat phases. These phases typically last for one to three weeks. The proestrus phase’s bleeding or bloody discharge goes on for seven days approximately.The heat cycle of a dog can be anywhere between 3-12 months. It depends upon the dog’s breed, size, and age. A dog is in heat when she is in the estrus and the proestrus phase of the heat cycle. During these two phases, the dog’s vulva releases a bloody discharge, while during the estrus phase, she can get pregnant. Production of the hormone estrogen takes place during this phase. It happens for 4-15 days and causes vaginal changes so that the female can undergo mating. The womb’s blood vessels enlarge, causing some red blood vessels to come out out of the body as a bloody discharge. The amount of this secretion varies from female to female as there is only spotting in some, while others may bleed heavily.How much blood is normal for a dog in heat?Vaginal bleeding is a noticeable sign when a dog is in heat. However, it is not apparent for some days until the estrus phase of the female has started. Sometimes, it is not seen for some time as the female licks herself clean. Some females have very little bleeding and some have heavy bleeding during the estrus period of their heat cycle. Both cases are normal. However, if it looks abnormal to you, you should visit the veterinarian. Female dogs bleed for 7-10 days, which is about half the time of their heat cycle period. Typically, smaller dogs bleed less than larger dogs.During the heat cycle, your female dog will want to breed. If you don’t want her to get pregnant, you must take steps to prevent pregnancy for the dog in heat. You must keep her close to you and not let your eyes off her for a second as, for a dog in heat, the only thing on her mind would be to breed. She will try her best to mate with a male dog. When outside for walks, keep her on a leash. It may be best to keep her in the house and be with her at all times. Keep all your windows closed as male dogs can smell the scent of female dogs in heat from a long distance and will try their best to come closer. The scent of the female dog stays inside the house if all windows are closed. You can build a safe enclosure so that males can’t get inside. Do not even let your dog roam in the yard alone. Keep males away, even the ones that have been neutered. It is important to keep them separate from your female dog as they can cause aggression in your dog. If you have a male dog at your own home, it is suggested that you let him live at some other house while your female dog is in heat. However, that is not always possible, so a barrier can be made between the two dogs so that they do not meet. Sometimes, even after your best efforts, the female dog may manage to become pregnant, and if you suspect so, immediately take her to the veterinarian to get a ‘morning after’ injection which will prevent the unwanted pregnancy. Spaying is another option that will prevent any future pregnancy even if your dog breeds with a male.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what to do when your dog is in heat then why not take a look at how often should I take my dog to the vet, or Labradoodle Facts.

If you have a pet female dog, she will go in heat.