how long do puppies last in heat?? how long should they actually bleed?

Question

we have a boston terrier and it is going on 3 weeks that we are seeing blood. also she has a weird fishy smell to her. is this common?

Answer 1

The estrous cycle (heat) can be divided into 4 stages:

1. Proestrus: This stage begins with the appearance of vaginal bleeding. It normally lasts from 4 to 9 days. Male dogs become very interested in the female; however, she will not yet mate with them.

2. Estrus: This is the stage in which the female will accept the male and conception can occur. The vaginal discharge is more yellowish than bloody. Ordinarily, the stage lasts for 4 to 13 days. Your female will stand still and hold her tail to the side when you touch her back or a male dog tries to mount.

3. and 4. Metestrus and anestrus: These 2 stages are periods of ovarian activity, but with no significant outward signs. False pregnancies frequently occur during metestrus.

Some Important Points

* You should consider your pet to be "in season" for 21 days: 7 days coming into heat, 7 days in heat, 7 days going out. Though conception is most likely during the middle 7 days, Mother Nature doesn't always follow the rules. Confine your pet for the entire 3 weeks.

Answer 2

First dogs don't have a menstrual period or cycle. Mensis means month and it is only the primates that have a menstrual cycle. Dogs have an estrus cycle, which for them is 6 to 8 months long, or about twice a year. More important than the actual time of the cycles, the biological processes involved are different and there is no menopause.
The first phase of the cycle is “Proestrus,” it last about 9 days, characterized by a swollen vulva, a bloody vaginal discharge, and attraction of male dogs, but she will not allow him to mount. The bloody discharge is what seems to be menstruation. The blood comes directly from the walls of the vagina rather than the sloughing of the uterine lining as occurs in menstruation. Note that the discharge comes BEFORE the time she can get pregnant and not after. That can be a good warning that it is time to either lock her up or have her bred.

Answer 3

My concern is that you said she is a puppy. How old is she??
If she is under 6 months she shouldn't be in heat yet and definetly needs a trip to the vet.
A heat lasts about 3 weeks. It starts out red, then gets light pink to clear, then red and darker at the end.
The odor is not normal. Please take her in, it may be a uterine infection causing the smell.

Answer 4

I agree, the odor is NOT normal. Promptly take her to the vet. Sounds like some sort of uterine infection which can be common in females that have not been spayed.