Key facts at a glance
- Normally, bitches come into heat for the first time at six to twelve months.
- Small dogs usually come into heat earlier than their larger counterparts.
- The cycle is divided into four phases, whereby the willingness to mate lasts only a few days.
- Bitches in heat should be protected from male dogs that are too pushy.
- If necessary, pants in heat can prevent carpets and upholstered furniture from being soiled by the vaginal discharge.
- Some bitches develop a harmless and temporary false pregnancy after heat.
- A castrated bitch can no longer come into heat.
When a bitch goes into heat for the first time
As a rule, bitches come into heat for the first time at the age of six to twelve months. Small breeds usually come into heat a little earlier. One of the reasons for this is that larger dogs mature a little later.
Because with regard to the exact time of the first heat, it depends above all on when the four-legged friend has reached his final body weight. Accordingly, illnesses or poor husbandry conditions, for example, can also lead to delays.
Occasionally it even happens that a bitch does not come into heat until she is 18 or even 24 months old. In this case, there is usually no cause for concern.
How often does a bitch go into heat?
The intervals between two runs can vary depending on the breed. Most small dogs come into heat twice a year, while large breeds are often only ready to mate every eight to 12 months.
In this context, however, note that the heat intervals remain the same. If your dog delays or misses a heat, this is a sign of health problems. In this case, we recommend that you make an appointment with the veterinarian.
Course of heat in the dog
A bitch’s cycle is divided into four phases, with the actual heat lasting around 21 days and the period in which the four-legged friend is actually ready to mate is usually only five or six days.
During her menstrual cycle, the bitch goes through the following four phases:
- Pre-oestrus (proestrus)
- estrus
- Post-rut (metestrus)
- resting phase (anoestrus)
During the three to seventeen days of pre-oestrus, the bitch’s vagina swells and bleeding is sometimes quite heavy. Males willing to mate are warded off during this time.
The heat, which lasts three to 21 days, is also referred to as standing heat. Several ovulations occur during this phase and the bitch is ready for mating for a few days.
The after-rut lasts about nine to twelve weeks. During this time, the vagina swells again and the discharge stops. After that comes the so-called resting phase, which is ended after a few months by the next pre-oestrus.
Tips for dealing with the bitch in heat
During her first heat, your bitch will probably not show much interest in male dogs. However, that will soon change. Quite a few bitches in heat are then difficult to retrieve and move farther away from their owner than usual.
In addition, the smell of a bitch in heat arouses the interest of potential admirers even before the actual estrus. Since these then like to press the female four-legged friend, it is advisable to keep the bitch on a leash during the heat and to avoid encounters with male dogs if possible.
Most bitches groom themselves very thoroughly during their heat. With a bit of luck, you may have to wipe up a few small drops of blood from time to time. However, if there is a very heavy discharge or insufficient personal hygiene, you can put your bitch in special pants for heat.
False pregnancy in the dog
It can happen that a bitch suddenly gives the impression that she is pregnant during the after-rut. In this case one speaks of a so-called false pregnancy.
It is triggered by changes in hormone levels and causes, among other things, the dog’s teats to swell and sometimes even produce milk.
A false pregnancy is not an illness. Nevertheless, it is associated with some stress for affected bitches. For this reason, it is advisable to support your four-legged friend in the event of a false pregnancy.
For this purpose, make sure you have enough distraction. Keep your bitch busy and help her get through this unfamiliar phase.
Some bitches start mothering a toy during the false pregnancy. In this case, it is often recommended to simply remove the puppy replacement from the animal.
However, this causes considerable stress and can even exacerbate the symptoms of false pregnancy. We therefore advise against this approach and instead recommend that you offer your bitch more alternative employment opportunities.
Remember: It’s all about getting the hormone levels back to normal – this is best done with adrenaline, so lots of action!
Heat in the dog – our conclusion
Being in heat is undoubtedly stressful for both your dog and yourself. Nevertheless, you should always be aware that your four-legged friend’s cycle is a completely natural process.
If you want to prevent heat, your only option is to castrate your dog. The procedure also has some health benefits. If you are not planning any offspring, you should at least consider castration.