Mary Allen
Female heat is a natural process, but one that worries some dog owners. Stains on textiles, unfamiliar behavior, and the fear of an unwanted pregnancy are common problems that owners of a female have to deal with. In this article, we tell you everything about the topic of the female being in heat and what you have to consider during this time.
The Female’s First Heat
The first heat in a female usually begins between the sixth and twelfth months of life. However, it can also happen that the horse does not come into heat until the age of two. When the female dog becomes s*xually mature depends solely on the body size, physical development, and condition of the dog. In principle, it can be said that large dogs come into heat later than small dogs. Even with sick or malnourished dogs, heat usually only occurs later. If you don’t come into heat, an illness can be the reason for the absence. Since the cycle has to settle down at the beginning, the course and effects of the first bleeding can be very unusual. In addition to the associated s*xual maturity, the first heat also means that the female’s growth is complete.
How Often and How Long is a Dog in Heat?
Heat can last about three weeks and comes back every six to 12 months.
Female S*xual Cycle – The Four Stages of Heat
Proestrus (pre-estrus)
The first phase can be easily recognized in most cases. It is typical during this time that the vulva swells and bloody vaginal discharge are excreted. The phase usually lasts nine days. Since the duration of the pre-oestrus is different for each dog, the phase can last a total of three to 17 days. This also applies to the amount of blood. Some dogs shed so little blood that they go unnoticed when in heat. Others, on the other hand, bleed profusely, which usually results in bloodstains being found on fabrics in the house or apartment. The pre-heat is also characterized by the fact that males who are close to the bitch show strong interest. At this point the bitch is not yet fertile, but the odor emitted at this stage is very seductive to males. Most of the time, however, the bitch shows no interest and reacts dismissively or fends off the male by baring her teeth.
Oestrus (oestrus)
At this stage, most females show a strong interest in males. However, it must be noted that the female is now ready to breed and fertile. When a male dog approaches the female, it is typical for the female to stop and turn her tail to one side. For this reason, this phase is also referred to as “standing heat”. During this time, several ovulations take place, the vulva begins to swell and the vaginal discharge now has a watery or sticky consistency. The typical duration of the heating phase is nine days. If a male covers the bitch at this stage, the likelihood of pregnancy is high.
Metestrus (post-rut)
During the post-rut phase, the symptoms of heat gradually subside. The swollen vulva swells completely and the discharge disappears. Although there are almost no signs to be seen from the outside, the hormones in the body do a great job. The corpus luteums produce the hormone progesterone, which promotes the implantation and growth of the embryo. It does not matter whether the female was previously fertilized. When nine to twelve weeks have passed, the yellow bodies on the ovaries are broken down. As the progesterone level drops, the hormone prolactin is released at the same time. This hormone stimulates milk production. In many females, this process creates a false pregnancy.
Anestrus (resting phase)
After the female had to struggle with hormonal changes in the previous stages, now the hormones are returning to their normal state. The phase is called the rest phase. During this time, the progesterone level stabilizes and the estrogen value fluctuates only slightly. The dormant phase can last for several weeks or months and does not end until the pre-oestrus phase begins again. Meanwhile, no symptoms of heat can be recognized. The bitch is therefore not fertile at this moment.
How Do I Find Out If My Dog is Pregnant?
Unfortunately, there is no dog pregnancy test that can be used at home. In order to determine whether the female is pregnant or not, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian. A vaginal smear can be used to identify the cycle phase the female is in at the moment and whether fertilization could occur. An ultrasound examination can be carried out three weeks after mating.
Symptoms & Signs of Heat in Dogs
Many dog owners don’t know how to tell when their bitch is in heat. There are various symptoms or signs that can indicate heat:
- males show strong interest in the female;
- basic obedience does not work as usual;
- frequent tagging;
- dismissive behavior towards males;
- strongly clingy;
- increased cleaning;
- lacking energy or restless;
- bloody discharge;
- swollen vulva;
- tail twisted to the side.
How Does a Female Behave When She is in Heat?
Certain changes in behavior can be noticed during the heat. The female often has little appetite, an increased need for sleep, and is restless or clingy. Also noticeable are increased marking, non-functioning basic obedience, and aggressive behavior in the vicinity of other dogs. However, it can also happen that the female shows a strong interest in the smell of other dogs and seeks closeness to them.
Behavior Changes During Heat
Dog owners are often surprised at the atypical behavior of the female during the first heat. However, there is no need to worry here, since heat is a natural process and behavior is gradually regulated again. During this time it is completely normal if the female does not listen to the callback or shows a strong interest in male dogs. The changed behavior must not be taken too seriously during the heat. These changes in behavior are typical during the heat:
- shows a strong interest in the scent of other dogs;
- aggressive behavior around other dogs;
- strong need for rest and sleep;
- hardly any appetite;
- increasing marking;
- obeys less;
- moves away quickly;
- clingy;
- restless.
What Should I Watch Out for When My Female Dog is in Heat?
It is important that the bitch is kept away from uncastrated males during her heat, otherwise, there is a risk of fertilization. If the bitch feels pressured, it is even possible that she will defend herself with aggressive behavior. It is best if the female is kept on a leash and avoids places where there are many dogs. Other dog owners should also be informed about the heat. The female should never be allowed to play outside unsupervised, as bitches in heat often tend to run away.
The Behavior of Males with Females in Heat
When a female is in heat, it is common for males to show intense interest around the female and constantly try to get near her. When in contact with a bitch in heat, most males react very restlessly. The males bark and howl and try to get as close as possible to the female. Pulling on the leash and chasing are normal responses when the male notices that the female in front of him is in heat. If a bitch in heat is too close to a male, this can even lead to the male refusing to eat.
It is important that male dogs are kept on a leash in the vicinity of female dogs, otherwise, there is a risk of unwanted insemination. If a male and a female are kept together, it is imperative that they be separated. Unfortunately, good training is not enough here, as most males cannot resist the smell that females in heat emit. If the mating act is constantly prevented, the male suffers from enormous stress. If the aforementioned behavioral patterns worsen, castration should be considered. To be on the safe side, you can consult a doctor in detail about this topic.
How Do Male Dogs Behave When a Female is in Heat?
In most cases, unneutered males try to get as close as possible to females in heat. Typical here is a restless behavior by barking and howling. If a female in heat is around a male for a long time, he may even refuse to eat.
Female Does Not Come Into Heat – Causes
If the female does not come into heat, an illness can be the reason for the absence. However, it may also be that the onset of heat is delayed. In particular, large dogs or dogs in poor condition do not come into the heat until late in life. In addition, there is the silent heat, in which the bitch is in the heat but still shows no symptoms. A veterinarian should check your dog to make sure it is not a health problem. The reasons for staying in heat can be different. However, these causes are the most common:
- dysfunction of the ovaries;
- hypothyroidism;
- adrenal hyperfunction;
- chromosomal disorder.
Why is My Female Not in Heat?
Some dogs come into the heat very late. Especially large dogs and dogs that have grown up in poor conditions come into heat later. Unfortunately, diseases can also be the reason why the female does not come into heat.
Behavior and Tips During the Heat
Although each s*xual cycle consists of four phases, the process is not the same for all bitches. The transition to another phase is sometimes difficult to recognize. For this reason, many dog owners are often unaware of when the female is fertile and when not. Some females show major behavioral changes and others hardly any. In addition, there are bitches who suffer greatly from a false pregnancy. It is fundamentally important that the behavior of the bitch is observed in order to be able to make this time as pleasant as possible for her and to be able to identify symptoms that cannot be seen at first glance.
You should also take care of the female when she has contact with other dogs. Otherwise, there is a risk that a male will inseminate her unintentionally or that she will injure other dogs herself through aggressive behavior. During this phase, the bitch should be kept on a leash and have as little contact with other dogs as possible. In addition, other owners should be informed about the heat when they go for a walk.
What is Silent and Split Heat?
Silent heat is particularly common in dogs that are in heat for the first time. The reason for this is that at this time the female is still in puberty and the body has not yet fully formed. During the silent heat, no external signs of heat can be seen. In the case of split heat, some symptoms are visible, but these disappear for a certain time and only reappear a few days later.
Heat Pants
How heavy the bleeding is during the heat is different for every female. Many females groom themselves very thoroughly during this time to keep their bottoms clean. Nevertheless, there are dogs that do the cleaning only irregularly. So that the blood does not spread everywhere in the apartment or in the office, you can consider buying pants that you are in the heat with. It is important that the female slowly gets used to the protective trousers, as it feels very unfamiliar to her at first. It is advisable for the bitch to put on the pants several times a day for a short time. The female should be rewarded so that she associates something positive with the protective pants. Pads are also sold for the pants, which can be disposed of after use. Nevertheless, a bitch with trousers must not be left unsupervised near males, as the trousers in no way protect against mating.
Dog in Heat – What to Do in the Event of an Unwanted Pregnancy?
It can happen that bitches get pregnant unintentionally. The reactions of the dog owners are very different. Some people look forward to the animal offspring despite the unwanted fertilization. For other dog owners, however, pregnancy is out of the question.
Basically, there are different methods to terminate the pregnancy. Up to the 40th day of pregnancy, it is possible to castrate the female and remove the fetuses at the same time. If castration is performed after the 40th day of pregnancy, complications can arise during the procedure, as the tissue of the uterus is heavily supplied with blood and bleeding can therefore occur in the ovaries. It is also possible to treat the bitch with estrogen within three days after mating. Nevertheless, there are major risks such as life-threatening uterine suppuration or hormone-related bone marrow damage. In addition, an injection using an abortion syringe between days 30 and 35 of gestation may do the trick. However, the safest method is to administer antiprogestins between days 25 and 45 of gestation. The body’s own nerve receptors are blocked and the pregnancy is terminated after a few days.
What Measures are There to Ensure That My Female Does Not Come into Heat Anymore?
In principle, heat can be suppressed with an injection syringe. However, most veterinarians advise against it due to possible risks associated with diabetes, uterine suppuration, and mammary tumors. It is important that the injection is only used when you are at rest, otherwise, the lining of the uterus may be damaged. The injection syringes are for short-term use only. A long-term solution would be to have them neutered.