3 Tips This Dog Mom Swears By for Handling Canine Heat Cycles
Managing your female dog’s first heat cycle can be a challenging experience for many pet owners. It requires extra care, attention, and knowledge to ensure your dog’s comfort and maintain a clean environment. Recently, a Golden Retriever owner on TikTok has gained attention by sharing practical and effective tips to help dog owners navigate this natural process. These insights aim to make the experience more manageable for both the dog and their human companions.
In the minute-long video posted by TikTok account @ayce.and.aria, this dog mom explains how she handles her Golden Retriever named Aria when she goes into heat — from getting her comfy doggie diapers to lining the insides of the diaper with an extra pad to prevent any bloody mess, changing the pads frequently throughout the day, using vet-prescribed antimicrobial wipes to clean her dog’s bloody vaginal area, ensuring she has a warm, comfortable spot to take her naps, and offering her emotional support.
“A few tips we learned after going through Aria’s first heat. We will be planning on spaying her in a few months,” the video’s caption reads.
Moreover, Aria’s owner emphasized the need to keep your furry friend indoors when they start their heat cycle and ensure they’re leashed during walks. She also encouraged pet owners to be patient with their dogs when they get potty accidents, as these accidents are bound to occur when a pup goes into heat.
Dog In Heat: The Basics of a Dog’s Heat Cycle
In the simplest terms, “the heat cycle” refers to an unspayed female dog’s most fertile period when she’s ready to mate and reproduce. So, if you’ve ever wondered: can a dog get pregnant when not in heat? The short answer is no, they can’t. Female dogs can only become pregnant during their heat cycle, not any other time.
When your female pup goes into heat — or estrus, as it’s scientifically called — it means her body is preparing for pregnancy. The heat cycle more or less shows that your dog has reached sexual maturity and can, therefore, become pregnant if she messes around.
Ever wondered: Do male dogs go into heat? Well, here’s the thing…..
Male dogs don’t go into heat; only female pups do so. Not to mention, not all female dogs experience the heat cycle. Only those who have not been spayed go into heat. Spaying — the removal of a female dog’s reproductive organs to prevent her from reproducing — stops a pup from ever going into heat. Besides preventing pregnancy, spaying reduces the risk of your dog developing cancers of the reproductive system.
In fact, experts say the risk of reproductive cancers — like mammary cancer, for instance — increases with every heat cycle that a dog experiences.
Most veterinarians often recommend spaying a dog — particularly smaller dogs — before she gets her first heat cycle. However, research suggests that it’s best for owners of large and giant dogs to wait until their dogs attain skeletal maturity before spaying, since this procedure may interfere with normal bone development.
With that said, the best thing to do is consult your vet before spaying your pup so they can advise you accordingly.
Can You Spay a Dog In Heat?
According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer of the American Kennel Club (AKC), it’s also not advisable to spay your dog when she’s in heat.
“The one rule I recommend is to not knowingly spay a female dog while they are going through their heat cycle, as that may exacerbate excessive bleeding,” Dr Jerry revealed in a post. So, if you’ve ever thought to yourself: “Can a dog be spayed while in heat?” the straightforward answer is, it’s not advisable.
When Do Dogs Start Their Heat Cycle?
Ever asked yourself: “When do dogs come into heat for the first time?” or How often do dogs go in heat? Well, generally speaking, unspayed female dogs experience their first heat cycle when they reach six months of age, which is when they enter puberty. If they aren’t spayed, they’ll go into heat twice each year (every 6 months).
However, it’s not worth noting that the start and frequency of the heat cycle largely depend on your dog’s breed. According to experts, larger breeds tend to experience their first heat cycle when they’re between 18 months and two years old. And unlike smaller dog breeds (who can even come into heat thrice a year), unspayed large breeds typically experience one heat cycle each year.
“My dog is 15 months old and still hasn’t had hers yet. She’s a big girl though (90lbs), and larger dogs tend to have theirs a lot later than smaller ones as bigger dogs mature slower,” wrote user @Potentail-Mortgage 54 in a Reddit discussion on when dogs go into heat.
Another Reddit user added: “I have a large breed. She didn’t go into her first heat until she was almost a year and a half.”
How Long Are Dogs In Heat?
If you’re curious about the heat cycle in female dogs, your mind is likely flooded with questions such as “How long is a dog in heat?” “How long do female dogs stay in heat?” “How long do dogs bleed while in heat?” “How long are dogs in heat?” or “How long do dogs stay in heat?” We hear you.
On average, a dog’s heat cycle lasts between days 2–4 weeks. This cycle happens in four main stages:
- Proestrus stage: This is the first stage of the heat cycle when the initial signs of heat appear. During Proestus, your pup’s sexual urges won’t be as strong, which means she won’t be receptive to mating.
- Estrus stage: This is when your female pup is in active heat, that is, her sexual urges are through the roof. During the estrus stage, you’ll notice your dog displaying unusual behaviors, many of which will signal her desire to mate. A dog’s chances of getting pregnant are higher in the estrus stage than in any other stage.
- Diestrus stage: During this stage, your dog’s desire to mate will decrease and so will her heat symptoms.
- Anestrus Stage: This is the final stage of the heat cycle, during which your dog’s heat symptoms will completely disappear until the next cycle.
Common Behaviors of a Female Dog In Heat (Dog In Heat Symptoms)
Due to the drastic hormonal changes occurring in her body, there are various symptoms associated with a female dog in heat, including:
- Vaginal bleeding
One of the obvious signs that a dog has entered heat is they’ll emit a bloody vaginal discharge. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop a dog in heat from bleeding, the much you can do is ensure she’s in a doggie diaper, lest she leave blood stains all over your home.
- Swelling of the vulva and nipples
Your dog’s vulva and nipples will appear red and swollen, especially during the proestrus stage.
- Constant licking of genitals
It’s normal for female dogs in heat to groom their genital area excessively. They mostly do this to clean up the bloody discharge and soothe their swollen vulva.
“My girl was licking her vulva a lot. She bled for almost an entire month. We got diapers. She smelled a lot on walks, and we avoided the dog park,” commented user @Yuekii in a threaded Reddit discussion.
- Urinating more frequently
Dogs in heat urinate more than usual and often raise their legs to urinate in the presence of male dogs. Interestingly, the urine of a dog in heat is often concentrated with sexual pheromones that male dogs can sniff from miles away. Frequent urination is mostly a tactic that female dogs use to attract males.
“The first thing I noticed one or two days before my girl really started was “marking” by peeing a ton more than she normally would. She was also really cranky with male dogs at the beginning and then obviously too excited to see them after a week or so,” wrote user @LucidDreamerVex in a threaded Reddit discussion.
- Constant whining and howling
When your dog goes into heat, especially during the estrus stage, you’ll realize she cries excessively. Usually, this is her way of communicating her “sexually active status” to the male dogs nearby in hopes that they will come looking to mate with her. It could also be that she’s vocalizing the mild discomfort she’s feeling while on her period.
- Mood swings
Don’t be surprised when your happy-go-lucky dog suddenly seems lethargic and irritable when they enter heat. Blame it on the hormonal changes in their bodies.
- Overly affectionate
It’s common for a dog in heat to act overly affectionate and clingy. She’ll want to be around you and beg you to pet her almost always.
“Mine is a lot more snuggly and is glued to you worse than a shadow. Can’t stay alone more than 3 hours or she will whine and how,” wrote user @MelonPlay in a Reddit discussion on common behaviors of dogs in heat.
- Extreme flirtatious behaviors
When you’re out with your dog, you’ll notice her doing the most to win the attention of male dogs. For instance, you may see her willingly approach a male dog so they can sniff her or take a mating position whenever a male dog comes near her.
- Restlessness and extreme mounting behaviors
Female dogs in heat have a tendency to mount at everything in sight. You’ll also notice your dog is constantly pacing around the home, waiting for any slight opportunity to run outside.
- Refusing to eat/ overeating
When your unspayed female dog enters heat, chances are, she’ll barely touch her food. During this period, offering them frequent healthy treats is recommended to ensure they don’t go hungry for too long. On the other hand, some dogs can develop an increased appetite when in heat.
“1st season, she lost all appetite to a point where she started losing weight. We had to make eating fun. Otherwise, she wouldn’t touch it. She’s in her 2nd right now, and it’s the opposite: she won’t stop eating!” wrote one user in a threaded Reddit discussion on dogs in heat.
- Destructive behaviors
It’s not uncommon for a dog in heat to display destructive behavior. This could be due to different reasons, like the anxiety and sexual frustration they’re experiencing while in heat.
What to Do When Your Dog Is in Heat
When your dog starts their heat cycle, it’s important to be extra keen on her safety and overall well-being. Simple measures such as keeping her on a leash during walks and ensuring she remains indoors with no escape route are necessary to prevent your dog from running away in search of a mate.
In addition, you need to keep a close eye on her if breeding your dog isn’t your priority, and thus don’t want any surprise pregnancies.
“The first time my dog was in heat, I let her off leash as I didn’t see any dogs in the area. As soon as another dog was in sight, she was off………She ran away with him. I had to leave my other puppy behind to chase her,” shared user @Cannabis_carlitos89 in a Reddit discussion.
