Estrus in dogs: duration, frequency

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Heating in dogs is a topic of interest, first of all, to a person who first encountered this problem. Most often, these are people who have got a pet and intend to properly care for it. To do this, you need to know how long estrus lasts in dogs, understand the main points of this process and how to behave as an owner.

Basic information

First you need to understand what this fact means for the dog. Scientists call estrus in dogs the word "estrus". Naturally, only a knot can have this process. The onset of estrus means that the dog has reached the age when it is possible to mate it with a male, and it is able to bear offspring. Some owners are not well acquainted with the characteristics of the maturation of dogs and do not expect estrus in the first years of her life. It is not right. This phenomenon can occur as early as six months in some breeds, and on average, estrus begins in the first two years of life. How often and how long this lasts depends on what breed your dog is.

How often?

Answering the question of how often dogs have estrus, we can only say an approximate figure, because this is a rather individual process. If we talk about averages, then estrus is repeated once or twice a year. It largely depends on the breed. There are cases when this happens three times in fourteen months, while in others it happens only once in a year and a half. Of course, any deviation from the norm should cause you to pay close attention to the dog. If there is no estrus for more than eight months, or it happens every three to four months, this means that there are failures in the he alth of the pet and is a reason to consult with a specialist in this field.

If everything goes well, then in a couple of years the cycle will be fully established, and you will know in advance when to expect the next period. If we talk about small breeds, then this happens even earlier, by one and a half years of life. It is very convenient for the owner to clearly record the start and end dates of estrus.

Do not forget that living conditions and weather also affect the frequency of estrus. For example, in a yard dog this usually happens only once a year and mainly in the spring, while in domestic dogs it happens in winter and autumn.

How long?

In addition to the fact that the owners are interested in the question of how often dogs have estrus, they are also concerned about how long it lasts. After all, the conditions in which you need to keep your pet depend on this. It is worth noting that this is a considerable period of time. Estrus lastsabout a month, and all this time you will need to carefully monitor the animal and follow all the rules of hygiene.

Several factors also influence the duration of heat. So, if a male lives with a bitch in the house, then the duration increases. But in the presence of strong loads and training in a dog, on the contrary, estrus is shorter. The current season also affects the duration: in summer it lasts longer than in winter. But if you have an absolutely indoor breed, then this will not greatly affect the duration of estrus. Age is also reflected in this process. The older the dog, the shorter the duration, and vice versa.

First symptoms

So, as we said, as soon as the dog is six months old, you can expect estrus to begin at any time. Don't worry if you miss this fact, as its symptoms are quite obvious:

• dog starts to go to the toilet much more often;
• pet's behavior is different from the standard;
• foreign males begin to show close attention to the dog;
• animal discharges with blood;
• some breeds begin to shed heavily.

If you have a small breed, then the first heat can go almost unnoticed. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the dog to mark this first period. The time when the dog can be knitted depends on the number of heats. You need to carefully write down all the dates in order to calculate the right moment.

Stages of estrus

In addition to information about how many dogs have heat, you need to know how this process goes. Everything is divided into four stages:

• The first is the preliminary stage, which means that estrus will begin soon. The dog's behavior begins to change, it becomes more active, may stop listening to the owner and is intensely interested in males.
• The second is the heat itself. At this time, maturation occurs, blood begins to flow, the dog's tail is laid aside, and she seeks the company of a male.
• Third - the stage, which means the end of estrus, when the discharge stops and the bitch ceases to be interested in individuals of the opposite sex.
• The fourth is the period lasting until the start of the next estrus. It can last up to one hundred and fifty days.

How to behave as a host

What should an owner do once a dog is in heat? To get started, you need to immediately write down when it happened, what symptoms you noticed and how long it lasted. All this is important if you plan to knit in the future. You should know that if you do not want to breed dogs, then you need to limit the communication of your pet with males. Always use the leash, because the dog becomes naughty at this time. She can easily escape and you will no longer be able to tear off some street dog from her. Also, during this period, you do not need to plan participation in competitions and exhibitions. There you can not be guaranteed to protect the dog fromrandom connection. If you don't want your dog to catch an infectious disease, keep him from swimming in all kinds of water.

Basic hygiene requirements

Regardless of how long a dog's heat lasts, certain actions are needed to care for her. The first thing that owners are interested in is whether it is possible to wear special panties for animals? A lot depends on the circumstances here.

From a he alth point of view, we do not recommend wearing them all the time for your pet. It is useful and natural for her to lick herself in this period of life. But if this causes certain inconveniences, then sometimes it is permissible to use such panties. For example, if your dog sleeps with you or your child on the bed. Or you are used to taking your dog with you in a car or bus. This not only protects the host, but also prevents the penetration of various infections. After all, the dog becomes more vulnerable during this period of her life. If you decide to use such a hygiene product, you need to carefully study the different options presented in specialized stores. Choose products only from natural fabric, make sure that they have room for a ponytail. It is very important to have straps to adjust the volume. The fewer seams on the product, the less it will irritate the pet. There are options on the market with suspenders, Velcro, clasps, etc. Some owners even sew these wardrobe items to order for their dogs. A special pad is inserted inside these panties, which must be changed as needed.

Possibledifficulties

What are the problems associated with estrus in dogs? The most common is the inattention of the owner, who did not notice the beginning of an important period in the life of the pet. In this case, you are in danger of accidental mating. If for you the beginning of estrus has gone unnoticed, then for males your dog is ripe, and they feel it. On the street, letting the dog off the leash, you can lose sight of him, and he will let one of them come to him. And this does not always coincide with the plans of the owner. If you are completely confused and cannot determine for sure whether estrus has begun or not, passing special tests will help you. Along with this, you will be able to understand why the beginning of this process passed without obvious signs. After all, the absence of blood means hormonal failures, the presence of a tumor or other he alth problems in a dog.

Getting ready for mating

The time when you can plan mating depends on how long a dog's estrus lasts. It all depends on the individual animal, in one it happens earlier, in the other later. Watch your dog regularly and you will know when he is ready to let the dog in. On average, this is a couple of weeks from the first symptom. In this process, it is important to pay attention to the little things. For example, you do not need to feed the dogs before mating. You need to happen on the territory of neutral or at the dog's house. The atmosphere should be calm, and the number of people should be kept to a minimum. This is especially true for children. Most often, dogs themselves understand what to do and cope without help, but sometimes a specialist’s advice is needed.

In the end, to summarize, we repeat what is important for any dog owner to know. Carefully monitor the behavior of your pet, do not forget to write down all the dates of the beginning and end of each estrus. Do not leave your dog unattended, whether you are planning to breed or not.