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- When to expect my dog's first heat?
- Why do various symptoms appear in the first heat?
- Symptoms of the first heat and a bitch
- When bitch heat can be pathological
When a bitch has her first heat it is considered that her body has reached the sexual maturity, which does not necessarily imply that the bitch is ready to breed, since reproduction during the first heat is usually a hasty decision.
There are several characteristics that accompany the bitch's heat, but one of the most important is sexual receptivity, that is, when the bitch is in heat, she will accept to be ridden by a male and it is essential to control this factor to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
But how do you know that the bitch is at that moment when she is sexually receptive and beyond that, for the first time? In this article by Animal Expert we help you by showing you what the symptoms of a bitch's first heat.
When to expect my dog's first heat?
While living with a puppy, the owner will be able to understand without great effort all the processes and cycles inherent to heat in bitches, however, if the bitch has not entered heat before, knowing approximately when the heat will occur can help human family to predict this moment more easily.
Not all bitches have their first heat at the same time and this will depend mainly on the size of the bitch:
- Small bitches have their first heat between 6 and 12 months.
- If the breed is medium or large, the first heat tends to appear between 7 and 13 months.
- For giant breed bitches the first heat can be delayed up to 24 months, although it is possible to appear from 16 months.
Why do various symptoms appear in the first heat?
Dog heat falls within the estrous cycle, a cycle primarily dominated by two hormones: estrogen and progesterone.
THE variation in the concentrations of these hormones is responsible for the various changes that the bitch undergoes, not only at the physical level but also at the level of behavior, although it is very important to know that these manifestations are part of a physiological and natural process, not harmful to her pet.
Generally heat occurs twice a year, although it is also considered normal for a female to have only one heat per year. The duration of the heat varies between 2 to 4 weeks and the various changes that take place can be observed during this period.
Symptoms of the first heat and a bitch
During a bitch's first heat, the following symptoms are observed:
- Ovulation occurs and the dog's goal is to reproduce, so she will be receptive to any male who wants to ride her.
- Shows a greater interest in male dogs on their walks
- The behavior changes and the bitch is more affectionate and playful, she can demand more attention from her human family in different ways.
- The bitch's vulva becomes inflamed and takes on a darker color, usually this symptom is accompanied by a insistent lick in this region
- The bitch can lose part of her appetite and eat much less during heat
- It is normal for them to be produced small vaginal bleeding
When bitch heat can be pathological
How do you know that the dog's first heat develops in a completely healthy way? Just as the symptoms shown above are normal, the ones listed below may indicate that something is not right:
- white vaginal secretion
- yellowish vaginal secretion
- greenish vaginal secretion
- Fever
- vomiting
- breast inflammation
- excessive bleeding
- obsessive behavior
- continuous crying
- Notorious increase in water intake
If during the dog's first heat you notice these symptoms, it is important that you go to the veterinarian as soon as possible, this way you can rule out or confirm the presence of any anomaly and treat it in time if necessary.
