Those who want to breed their pet and those that definitively do not want their female dog to reproduce should be familiar with their animal's reproductive cycle. This is something that is not always easy to determine if you do not pay attention, so at OneHowTo, we'll give you some keys to knowing what are the symptoms of a female dog in heat and how to be prepared for it.
The great mystery begins with knowing when your dog will have its first heat, which depends on the size and breed of your dog. In small breeds, female dogs begin to have heat cycles between six and nine months, while in larger breeds, this occurs between nine months and one year.
It's also important to know when your female dog will have her next heat to prepare everything so your dog feels comfortable during those days. You should know that there are not exact patterns that can help you know when the next heat will occur as each animal has its own heat cycle, which can also vary, and it will not occur exactly six months after the first. Each animal has her own particular cycle, which is affected by factors such as food and environment. A vet can help you calculate when a dog is in heat, but it will always be an approximation.
Proestrus is the period before actual heat and can last between 6 and 11 days. During this period, bleeding occurs, this alerts owners so they know that the heat cycle is near. If your dog has long hair and washes constantly it may be difficult to notice bleeding. During proestus you may also see how your dog tucks her tail between her legs.
The cycle of a dog in heat last between 15 and 25 days. Dogs are not fertile throughout this entire period, only in the stage known as oestrus, when they are ovulating, can they be fertilized by a male. This period lasts about four days and is preceded by proestrus.
During the oestrus stage,your dog's attitude will change, indicating to you that something is happening. She will be more restless and want to go outside more, urinate more often to spread her pheromones and maintain an open but also aggressive attitude towards male dogs and even towards you.
If your dog does not mate or does not become pregnant, she will enter the dioestrus phase, during which progesterone is removed from the body and all the symptoms will slowly fade away. After a few months, the process repeats itself. It is important that you know how to keep your dog from having a psychological pregnancy in order to prevent this from happening.
Veterinarians recommend crossing female dogs after the second heat cycle, when the animal has reached greater reproductive maturity. It's best to talk to your vet so he or she can guide you on when is the best time for your dog to get pregnant.
If your dog gets pregnant, you should know that the gestation period for dogs is between 58 and 68 days. The first half of the pregnancy is the one that allows the formation of the puppies, creating their organs, muscles and bones; this period lasts for 6 weeks.
From the sixth week onwards, the puppies will develop completely, this is when you'll notice your dog is pregnant and you'll see how her belly grows. Take a look at this article if you want to know if your dog is pregnant.
If your dog is pregnant, you should take some essential care indications into account so your pet is totally comfortable during her pregnancy. For example, during this period it's vital to look after your pregnant dog eats, give her plenty of exercise and take her out for longer walks.
During pregnancy, female dogs are more sensitive so give her lots of affection and attention so she feels looked after. At OneHowTo we give you some tips so you know how to care for a pregnant dog step by step.
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