Heat is a dogs equivalent to human menstruation and it’s more properly called the estrous cycle. During heat, female dogs may get pregnant. When in heat, 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, the amount of blood is small 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.
Does Heat have cycles?
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 been in heat, you should take her to a veterinarian. The average heat cycle is three weeks or 21-days. In some dogs, it lasts only two weeks while others go four weeks. Most female dogs have regular cycles usually every six to eight months and it’s quite typical for a dog to be in heat twice a year.
Heat and pregnancy
A dog can only get pregnant when she’s 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. She can get pregnant in her first cycle, but responsible breeders would not breed a dog that early. Genetic testing should be done and some serious problems such as hip conditions do not show up until a dog is approximately 2-years of age. Obviously these steps would prevent passing these problems on to offspring.
Can I take her on walks during this cycle?
You need to take precautions when walking a dog that’s in heat. She has no problem with the exercise but she’s a walking magnet for male dogs. 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. Even the best trained and behaved female dog will succumb to hormones. She has to be in your direct control at all times. Never let her outside by herself even in a fenced yard if there is any possibility of male dogs nearby. 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 and walk her out there. Otherwise, the scent of her urine and vaginal discharge will blaze a trail to your home that all male dogs will follow.
When I can have her spayed?
This is a decision that needs to be made by you and your vet. Some vets spay as early as 6-weeks of age. If you don’t have her spayed, 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 puppies, she must be spayed. It’s not a question of “if”, it’s a question of “when”.
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