My female puppy is in heat......?

Question

She went into heat before I could get her fixed.She is so miserable. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable? Does the first heat last the longest?

Answer 1

Alan that was about 3 pages too much info.
She is miserable because her hormones are going stark raving mad, just cuddle and pet her more.
Try to keep things peaceful and quite at the house for a few weeks.
Heats are pretty much the same duration, 21 day (give or take 4 days)
You can expect a heat cycle about every 5 to 8 months, it will vary greatly between dogs.
**NOTE** keep her away from ANY males for the the entire 21 to 25 days.
There is ***NOTHING*** that a willing set of dogs cant climb, jump, dig, chew, crawl, squeeze, push, or pull out in their pursuit of that midnight tryst.
And trust me IT WILL NOT be that fine full blooded Champion pedigreed dog down the road.....OH NO, it will be that skanky walking rug that is a mixture of 27 breeds that you girl will have the hots for,,,,,,,,,,,

Answer 2

Well my dog is miserable cause we dont take her for car rides becase of the mess but in place of that i take her out on a leash and she is happy I also give her vitamins and extra food because she tends to lose some weight during that period just make sure to keep her away from male dogs unless you want her to get pregnant and its bad to breed on the first heat. just make sure she has the same attention as she did before going in heat and always put her leash on when going outside.

Answer 3

Once a female dog reaches puberty it begins its regular cycles of Estrus or heat which allow the dog to release eggs and reproduce. Most females have 2 cycles per year. Signs that your dog is in heat include include vaginal discharge which is clear, bleeding and swelling of the vulva. There is increased restlessness and there may be increased urination. You also may notice stray dogs hanging around your house, though the female will not accept mating at this point. This early period of heat called Proestrus, lasts between 4 -15 days depending on the size and breed of the dog along with other factors.

The next stage in the estrous cycle is the actual Estrus/heat where the dog will accept a mate and can get pregnant. Unless you are a professional dog breeder you should spay the dog before before her first heat. Some vets will spay a dog during its first heat. This Estrus lasts between 4 - 8 days and signs include the discharge stopping, ovulation (the eggs are released) and pregnancy is possible. If the dog becomes pregnant the gestation time is 58-63 days. There are no visible signs until the last 3 weeks of pregnancy when the teats will enlarge, the belly will swell and finally the birth will occur.

The 3rd stage of the cycle is called Diestrus and lasts 6 - 10 weeks. Many hormonal changes take place and the uterine walls thicken. Dogs that haven't become pregnant go through 'false pregnancy' where their mammary glands may enlarge and produce milk. They may mother toys, moan or whine, prefer extra attention or extra solitude and will show no interest in mating. The last stage in the cycle is Anestrus and will last for 15 weeks. There won't be any hormonal activity, milk production, or interest in mating. If the dog had become pregnant the birth would have already occurred and the mother will be lactating and engaging in typical mothering behaviour until she is ready to wean her puppies.




1. What is heat?

Heat is more properly called the estrous cycle. During this cycle, female dogs may get pregnant. It’s equivalent to human menstruation.

2. What are the symptoms?

Females bleed from the vagina sometimes with swelling of the vulva and increased urination. Don’t expect bleeding comparable to a human female.

For small dogs, it’s usually not much and you may need to pay close attention to your puppy to identify her first cycle. Other than the bleeding, the most noticeable symptom may be male dogs hanging around your house.

3. When does a dog come into heat?

The average female dog has her first cycle about six months of age. A few dogs start earlier and few dogs later, even as late as 14-months.

If you have a new female puppy, you should watch her and note when she has her first cycle. If she’s 14-months old and still hasn't’t been in heat, you should take her to a veterinarian.

4. How long does the heat cycle last?

The average is three weeks or 21-days. In some dogs, it lasts only two weeks while others go four weeks.

5. How often will she be in heat?

Most female dogs have regular cycles usually every six to eight months. It’s quite typical to be in heat twice a year.

6. When can she get pregnant?

She can get pregnant only when in heat. Some breeders test for progesterone levels to identify the most fertile days but the rule-of-thumb is that the most fertile days are 11-15 of her cycle.

Note – when she’s in heat, the average dog will permit any male dog to mount her. Few females, however, will accept a male when they’re not in heat.

7. Can she get pregnant her first cycle?

Yes. However, responsible breeders generally would not breed a dog that early. For one thing, you need to do genetic testing and some serious problems such as hip conditions do not show up until a dog is approximately 2-years of age.

8. Can I take her on walks during this cycle?

Yes with care. She has no problem with the exercise but she’s a walking magnet for male dogs.

Even the best trained and behaved female dog will succumb to hormones. You can’t trust her off a leash or out of your control. Never let her outside by herself even in a fenced yard if there is any possibility of male dogs nearby.

For walks, if there are male dogs in your neighborhood, it’s a good idea to take your dog in your car and drive to a remote area. Take her for the walk there and drive back home. Otherwise, the scent of her urine and vaginal discharge will blaze a trail to your home.

9. When I can have her spayed?

The answer to that one has changed continually over the 25-years I’ve been in the dog business. People used to be told to let their dog go through at least one cycle or let them have one litter.

Today, veterinarians are doing it much earlier. Some vets spay as early as 6-weeks of age! Talk to your veterinarian about your dog and the vet’s preferences. The state of veterinary medicine also is much improved over the past 25-years.

10. If I don’t have her spayed, will she go through menopause.

No. Her fertility may decline but she will not go through menopause comparable to a human’s. She won’t lose her ability to become pregnant even as a senior so if you don’t want to her to have any (or more) litters, she must be spayed.

Answer 4

I was told its better to let them have their first heat anyway b4 getting them "fixed" something to do with the bladder developing. Not sure what to do about comfort I didnt notice our puppy having any problems with her first one.

Answer 5

my shepard just got outta her 1st heat, it was terrible,,,it lasted 3 weeks. when they bleed around the 12-17th days make sure she is not around a male dog, this is when she will be very willing to accept the male dog. good luck, i know this isnt a fun time for her or for you.

Answer 6

Donot worry this will pass off. Give the puppy extra food to eat. Food will compensate her desire.

Answer 7

u mus go find her a male puppy den pour her some icy cold water to make her calm down!!!! : )

Answer 8

use a cold icy water dump on her and she 'll be ok

Answer 9

need not worry, it will pass

Answer 10

you must find her a male!