Dogs in Heat...

Dogs in Heat...

Even though it may appear to be that dogs can become pregnant in a flash, it is in fact a rather complicated process. Any breeder that has continually attempted and failed to produce a litter from their champion bitch will back up this story; at times, things just do not go to plan.

It is all about timing when it comes to dog breeding. Listed below are some of the biological issues that are behind the process.

• Estrus

Estrus is the fertile time for a bitch which is generally referred to as a heat cycle or season. The initial heat cycle typically takes place for a bitch between six and nine months old. However some breeds that take longer to mature may not experience a heat cycle until they reach twelve to eighteen months of age.

• The length of time that a dog is in season

A normal cycle will last approximately three weeks. The first stages are known as proestrus and this is the time whereby the bitch’s vulva begins to swell. You may also notice that she is licking herself more frequently. Male dogs will also sniff her more as her hormones begin to produce a scent that signals that she is coming into season.

• The signs that your dog is in season

Once the vulva begins to swell, the bitch will begin to produce a bloody discharge. Because the quantity of discharge varies in every dog, it may or may not be noticeable.

In approximately nine to twelve days, the color of the discharge will become lighter, almost to a pinkish-tan color. It is around this time that the vulva softens and eggs are released from the ovaries. It is at this point that you may begin to notice your bitch flirting with other dogs. This is a sign that she is willing to accept a male’s advances.

If you allow the heat cycle to continue without interruption, then by the third week, the discharge will become bloody again. The quantity of discharge will lessen until the cycle has concluded with anestrus.

• The frequency of bitches coming into season

Bitches generally come into season every six months. However, there are those bitches that only cycle one time every year, whilst others can come into season on a quarterly basis. However, those bitches that come into season quarterly are not generally fertile every season.

• Signs of readiness

The signs listed below will indicate that your bitch is ready to be bred:

- Change of discharge color from red to pinkish-tan
- General flirty and affectionate behavior
- Pushing up rear when petted on the back
- Tail held high and flagging
- Willingness to stand and present vulva

• Breeding

It is natural for breeding to occur without any human involvement, beyond introducing the bitch to the stud. However, when one or both of the dogs involved have never been bred before, then a little direction may be required.

The male dog will typically become extremely excited when he is introduced to a receptive bitch, licking and sniffing her vulva. He will without much hesitation mount her rear quarter and begin to thrust. When nature plays its part, he will penetrate the bitch, causing two glands directly behind the penis to swell considerably.

In response to this, the bitch’s vulva will clamp around this swelling, which is referred to as a tie. This period generally lasts between fifteen and thirty minutes, and it is then at this point that sperm are being delivered to the waiting eggs.

If the breeding process has been a success and the bitch conceives, she will deliver her puppies between 58 and 63 days later.

• Preventing a Breeding

If you have no intention of breeding your bitch, there are two courses of action that can be taken.

- Keep your bitch confined from males during her entire three week heat cycle.
- Have your bitch spayed to prevent her from being bred. It is possible to spay bitches from as young as four months of age, before she experiences her first cycle.

• Morning after pill for dogs

In the event of an accidental or unplanned mating, it is possible to use a morning after pill for dogs, similar to those used by human females. It is essential that you take veterinary advice immediately.  However, it is important to be aware that all drugs used in the prevention of pregnancy have potentially serious side effects and should only be used as a last resort.

See also: Dog Mating

                Dog Whelping

Dogs in Heat page