Small dogs tend to have their first season earlier than large dogs some can be as late as 2. After their first season, most dogs have a heat every months twice a year. Some dogs have slightly longer or shorter cycles, but they should be regular. Speak to your vet if your dog has irregular seasons.
Most dogs have longer gaps between their seasons as they get older but can still get pregnant. Dogs in heat tend to bleed for approximately a week to 10 days. Keep her entertained by playing games and giving her things to do in the house such as a treat-filled toy , and take her on walks away from other dogs to keep her calm.
To avoid an unwanted pregnancy, you will need to supervise her the whole time she is in season, keep her on a lead and away from other dogs on walks, avoid leaving her alone in the garden, and keep her completely separate from any uncastrated males including any that live in your household. Some dogs bleed heavily during their season, and others are much lighter. No, the vast majority of dogs do not need to have a season before they are speyed.
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.
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These cookies do things like tell us if you've seen our adverts on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter. He has a special interest in soft tissue surgery, diabetic control and orthopaedic work. Registered with. A brief summary How long are dogs in heat — is it a lifetime thing? Toy breeds can come into heat for the first time as young as four months, while large and giant breeds may be as old as two years before experiencing a first heat cycle.
On average, most dogs will have their first heat cycle between six and 15 months of age. The more aware you are of your dog's cycle, the more prepared you will be for any physical and behavioral changes that may occur during her heat. During each phase of her heat cycle, you will notice different changes, and they may include the following seven signs:. Dogs have an average of two heat cycles per year, roughly six months apart.
Small breeds may cycle three times per year, while giant breeds may only cycle once every 12 months. Unlike some other species, canine estrous cycles are not dependent on the seasons, sunlight, or temperature. If your dog is experiencing her first heat cycle, it can be an unsettling situation for both of you.
Follow these tips to ensure her heat goes as smoothly as possible:. Although veterinarians used to recommend spaying your dog as young as four months old to ensure she never experienced a heat cycle to prevent mammary cancer, current research is leaning toward allowing large- and giant-breed dogs to grow before removing the hormones necessary for skeletal development. 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. She is following her instinct to breed. During this period, symptoms include:.
As diestrus takes over, the fertile part of the heat cycle comes to an end. This stage can last from days and, at this point, the dog is no longer fertile. If the dog has been impregnated, the diestrus stage lasts from the end of the estrus until the birth of the puppies around 60 days. Signs of the diestrus stage include:. Anestrus is the final stage of the dog heat cycle, also known as the resting stage. Female dogs in heat in the estrus phase of the heat cycle usually display the signs of heat for 3 — 21 days or 9 days on average.
For more information see the detailed explanation above. Dogs will typically have two heats per year, but each dog differs in length of heat, discharge amount and hormonal changes. Ready, set, track! This following infographic illustrates the act of sex or mating between two dogs. T he different stages and duration of the dog mating process are as follows:. First, the male dog will sit on the female dog first state coitus.
Should they keep this initial position, they would suffer from severe cramps. For this reason, they will change positions the turn , and the dogs will continue mating second stage coitus as illustrated in the infographic below.
The uterus, vagina, bulb, vulva and penis are all involved in the sexual act between dogs.
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