I have always had my dogs spayed when they were young, about 6 months old. Now my vet is suggesting I wait a few years to have surgery on my new dog due to some recent research about cancer and other diseases that might be more likely in dogs that are spayed as pups. I may decide to hold off. What should I expect to have to go through with her heat cycles? Show Depending on the breed and size of dog, puberty and the first heat cycle could occur anywhere from 6 months until possibly over a year old. The smallest breeds will go into heat closer to 6 months, and the largest breeds may reach puberty until 1 year old. Once the first heat cycle occurs, they will generally occur every six months or so. There is no menopause in dogs, so older female dogs continue to have heat cycles, but they will become further apart and her fertility will decrease. The first phase of a heat cycle lasts an average of nine days. This is known as proestrus, and it is the time period when the uterus is preparing for a possible pregnancy. You will notice her vulva is swollen and she will have a bloody vaginal discharge. Some have just the slightest amount of bleeding and others have quite a bit. Intact male dogs in the neighborhood may show up at your doorstep, but she will not be receptive to them. The next phase is called estrus, and this is the time when she will be receptive and able to conceive. This stage also lasts an average of nine days, but can be shorter or longer. Her estrogen levels will peak and then fall before she ovulates. The bleeding will diminish and you may notice her urinating more, marking many spots when she goes for walks. The pheromones in her urine are letting male dogs know she is fertile. If you aren't careful about keeping her away from other dogs, she could be bred. Diestrus follows her fertile period and lasts for about two months. Her levels of estrogen will decrease, and her progesterone levels first increase and then decrease. If she had been bred, she will deliver approximately 63 days after breeding. The fourth phase, anestrus, will follow and for the next four months or so, her hormone levels are low and her uterus is recovering until the next cycle begins. There is a lot to consider regarding the best time to have her ovariohysterectomy performed. Your veterinarian is your best source of information to help you weigh the pros and cons of this important decision. Dr. Francine Rattner is a veterinarian at South Arundel Veterinary Hospital in Edgewater. Please send questions to or to www.facebook.com/southarundelvet. Updated: 9/30/2021 Female dogs go into heat, or experience an estrus cycle, when they reach reproductive maturity. This point can occur anywhere from 6 months of age, though 8 to 9 months is more common. A dog’s first heat may be as late as 18 months of age, which is more common in large breeds. Dogs come into heat about twice a year, and heat cycle lasts about 3 weeks. When a female dog is in heat, she is receptive to mating and can become pregnant; female dogs will not accept males for breeding when they are not in heat. Pet parents of a dog in heat may notice the following symptoms:
Dealing with a dog in heat can be stressful. Can you prevent dogs from going into heat? Is it possible to delay your dog's heat cycle? We'll explore the answers to these questions, but first, let's take a look at how a dog's heat cycle works. Understanding a dog's heat cycleThe heat cycle is a naturally occurring part of your dog's reproductive cycle when her body prepares for pregnancy. Let's explore what happens during the 4 phases of a female dog's reproductive cycle:
Preventing heat cyclesIf you're not planning on breeding your dog during a heat cycle, not only can unwanted symptoms such as vaginal discharge and behavioral changes prove difficult to manage, but the chance of your dog becoming pregnant from an unplanned breeding is a very real possibility. Surgical optionsIf you're not planning to breed your dog, the best way to prevent her from going into heat is to spay her. Two spay procedures are performed on dogs: ovariohysterectomy (OVH) and ovariectomy (OVE). What's the difference between the two? An ovariohysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus and both ovaries. With an ovariectomy, only the ovaries are removed, with the uterus left intact. North American veterinary surgeons once preferred OVH, but OVE is becoming more common. Experts once believed that OVH better protected dogs from reproductive diseases, like pyometra and cancer. Leaving the uterus intact
increases the possibility of uterine tumors. However, a 2014 study found that uterine tumors in spayed animals are rare, and up to 90% of them are benign. This is because hormones from the ovaries often cause uterine diseases; without the ovaries, animals have a much smaller chance of developing serious disease. OVE is also less invasive, resulting in fewer complications, less anesthesia, smaller incisions, and faster recovery times. Your vet will advise you on which procedure is best for your dog. Can dogs get spayed while in heat? Yes, but vets generally advise against it. Because blood flow to the reproductive organs increases when your dog is in heat, the risk of hemorrhage increases. You may want to wait until a few months after the heat cycle has ended. Non-surgical optionsIf your dog isn't able to be spayed due to a medical condition or you'd like to breed her at a later date, megestrol acetate can delay or prevent heat cycles. Other medications that prevent and permanently suppress heat cycles include mibolerone and proligestone, but these aren't available in the US. Megestrol acetate is available in pill and liquid form.Before starting this medication, your dog will need to undergo:
One study found that megestrol acetate had a 92% success rate in delaying the heat cycles of dogs in the early proestrus phase and a 98% success rate in dogs in the anestrus phase. Dogs who haven't yet experienced their first heat cycle shouldn't take megestrol acetate. Female dogs shouldn't be bred within 30 days of completing their megestrol acetate regimen. Do not use this medication for more than 2 heat cycles. Side effects are common and may include:
Due to the potential for serious side effects, dogs taking this medication need careful monitoring. Your vet will check your dog's weight, blood sugar levels, liver function, and reproductive health. Tests can also determine how well the medication is working. Many benefits and optionsHeat cycles in dogs who aren't breeding are inconvenient and stressful for pets and pet parents. Besides the chance of an unwanted pregnancy, they are messy and can result in behavioral changes in your pet that most pet parents aren't prepared to deal with. The best way to prevent dogs from going into heat is by getting them spayed. Not only will this prevent unwanted pregnancies, but it also prevents several serious reproductive diseases, such as pyometra and cancer. Reproductive conditions in intact female dogs can be expensive to treat. If you plan to keep your female dog intact, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks! At what age does a dog stop going into heat?Yes, a 10-year-old dog can be in heat and still bleed as usual during that heat. A female dog will go into heat their whole life, no matter what the age, only the time between cycles might be prolonged.
Can a 10 year old dog be in heat?Your dog will continue to go into heat throughout her life, although the length of time between estrus will increase as she gets older. With experience, pet owners become more adept at recognizing the onset and taking good care of their dogs during this natural life cycle.
Why did my dog stop going into heat?The mammary glands and the vulva will stay small and look underdeveloped. Female dogs that are malnourished from poor diet or recent illness will many times not have a heat cycle. Feeding a low quality dog food that is low in protein and fat content can cause your female to not have a heat cycle.
Do female dogs stop having seasons when they get older?As your bitch gets older it seems reasonable to assume that they will stop having seasons, in humans what we call the menopause. However in the case of bitches this does not happen; female dogs continue to have seasons for their entire lives and therefore could potentially get pregnant.
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Do female dogs ever stop going into heat
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