Content
- Dog estrous cycle
- first heat of the bitch
- How many days does the bitch bleed in heat?
- Other Frequently Asked Questions from Dogs in Estrus
- How to know if a bitch is in heat: symptoms
- How to know if the bitch's heat is over
- What to do when the bitch goes into heat
- Are there alternatives to castration?
When we have for the first time an unneutered young or adult female dog, we have to deal with the phase of the cycle that raises the most concern to tutors: idleness. This phase, which takes place twice a year, can be problematic for both the dog and the tutor.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain what is heat in bitch and clarify some pertinent questions about the topic such as how many days the bitch bleeds in heat. Keep reading!
Dog estrous cycle
It is very common to question how long a female dog's heat lasts or how often the dog goes into heat. Before answering your questions, let's talk a little about bitch heat and what happens during this phase of the estrous cycle.
Estrus, as it is commonly known, involves two of the first phases (proestrus and estrus) of the female's estrous/estrus cycle, lasting, on average, 21 days. Estrus is only the most noticeable part of the estrous cycle.
The cycle is divided into:
- proestrus: marks the beginning of the cycle, lasting 3 to 15 days, average 9 days. Phase where edema (swelling) of the vulva and bloody discharge begin to occur, which can be easily visible or, on the contrary, go unnoticed. Internally the ovaries are preparing for ovulation.
- estrus: fertile phase of the bitch, lasts 2 to 12 days, average 8 days. Phase of acceptance of the male by the female, it is at this stage that the bitch can get pregnant and having puppies. The vaginal discharge is thinner and takes on a translucent appearance.
- Diestrus: lasts an average of 2 months until delivery, if the bitch becomes pregnant. If this does not happen, it starts after 2 months of ovulation.
- anestrus: longest phase of the cycle, the silent phase, which lasts 4 to 4 and a half months.
first heat of the bitch
O first heat arises, on average, between 6 months and 24 months of age, meaning the bitch has reached sexual maturity and is ready to breed. Depending on the breed and individual variations of each bitch, the first heat may vary. Generally, the larger the female is, the later the first heat appears:
- Small size: between 6 and 10 months;
- Medium size: 7 and 14 months;
- Large/Giant size: 16 and 24 months.
How many days does the bitch bleed in heat?
Now that you know the phases of a bitch's heat, it's easier to understand the initial question: how many days does the bitch bleed in heat?
O bitch bleeding in heat can last between 2 to 15 days.
Other Frequently Asked Questions from Dogs in Estrus
- How long does heat last for a bitch? On average, the entire cycle lasts for 6 months, although you can only notice a few weeks of it.
- How often does the bitch come into heat? Usually, the bitch goes into heat twice a year.
How to know if a bitch is in heat: symptoms
The first pass is observe and know your animal. During the heat phase, certain behavioral and physiological changes occur that can be observed by the tutor:
- Vulva edema (swelling)
- Agitation or even aggressiveness towards males or humans
- Need and need for attention
- Apathy
- vaginal bleeding
- Increased water intake and urine production
- loss of appetite
- At the time of ovulation, the bitch already accepts the male and allows copulation
- male attraction
How to know if the bitch's heat is over
To be able to identify the end of the dog's heat, try to see if the symptoms disappear until no symptoms are observed. However, also be aware of some worrisome conditions and consult veterinary advice if the following situations arise::
- dog bleeding a lot
- bitch with runny after heat
- young bitch with runny
- psychological pregnancy
- castrated bitch goes into heat
What to do when the bitch goes into heat
If you want to breed your female with a male to have puppies, you must study your bitch's behavior and have veterinarian monitoring to answer all your questions and help you succeed in this mission. Otherwise, if you don't want to breed, you should avoid contact with males so there is no possibility of unwanted pregnancy.
If you never think that your dog has puppies, then it is recommended to bitch castration, to avoid bigger problems in the future, such as breast tumors or pyometra (uterine infections with accumulation of pus inside). Castration is discouraged during this phase of the cycle, as surgery is more risky.
During bleeding, the tutor can clean the area with hand wipes or wipes moistened in warm water to prevent the accumulation of debris or dried blood.
Are there alternatives to castration?
there are the birth control pills as an alternative to castration, however extremely harmful for the bitch, increasing the likelihood of breast tumors, pyometra and other hormonal changes.
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