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Idleness, pregnancy and delivery of a female dog are phases of her life that require much more care on the part of her human companions. The PeritoAnimal knows that during the period of your dog's heat, you may have doubts about how to proceed, what is best for her or if it is possible to carry out the same activities as always, including the simpler ones, such as giving her a bath.
If you've ever wondered if it's bad to bathe a bitch in heat, then we clarify this question for you.
the heat in the bitch
The appearance of the first heat in bitches varies a little from one breed to another, but it usually occurs between 6 and 8 months of age. However, this does not mean that the bitch is ready to be a mother, so many veterinarians recommend not to cross her during this first heat and wait until the animal is two years old, when your pet has already reached its full development physical and mental.
There are one or two heats per year at most, during which your bitch will be at the ideal time to breed, so she will try to attract the attention of the males around her anyway. If you don't want her to get pregnant, you should redouble your vigilance.
O heat is accompanied by some symptoms, such as excessive displays of affection, swelling of the vulva, minor bleeding and longer-lasting hygiene of the genital area. This behavior is normal and must be taken patiently by the family.
Bathing during the bitch's heat
When this behavior is different from normal, many people make conjectures about what will be best for the bitch, such as what kind of food is best to give her or if it is possible to give her a bath, for example. About this last situation, about not being able to bathe your dog during heat, know that it is just a myth. There's no problem if you bathe a dog in heat, especially if the animal is dirty or the bleeding has been profuse. You should simply be much more careful not to stress the bitch unnecessarily, as she is much more sensitive.
When bathing your dog in heat, you can use the usual shampoo and conditioner. In this way, you don't need new products, since, as we've already mentioned, heat does not impede your bath or cause any kind of change to have to use new products. If your dog tends to be more altered during heat and even a little aggressive, first create a relaxed environment to stay as calm as possible and reward her when you can associate the bath with a positive stimulus. On the other hand, when drying it, bear in mind that due to bleeding, it will stain the towel you are going to use. So use a towel that only she will use.
After a good bath, you can brush her as usual and put a dog diaper on her, so you'll avoid bloody staining the house. Don't forget to take it off when you need to.
More recommendations
Once the doubts about whether bathing a bitch in heat is bad or not is bad, we recommend that, if you do not want to have puppies, sterilize her when the veterinarian finds it appropriate. In this way, not only will you avoid nervousness for yourself and the bitch and the stress that periods of heat cause, but you will also be protecting her from future illnesses, psychological pregnancies and avoiding an unwanted litter.