If you are the owner of a puppy or just planning to have a dog, be sure to check the information about the period of estrus in dogs . This will be beneficial for the owners not only of the bitches, but also of the males, since the estrus, despite the fact that this is a completely physiological phenomenon, can cause great inconveniences, from cleaning the carpets in the house and ending with situations when the animal refuses to obey the commands for a walk.
So, what is the estrus in dogs and what is its usual duration?
Symptoms and signs of estrus
The exact date when the dog will have the first heat, no one knows. Usually this occurs between 7 and 18 months and depends on the breed. In small animals, estrus can begin in 6-12 months, and in large ones - from 12 to 18. In this case, the first estrus is usually the shortest and can pass without ovulation.
The first symptom of the approaching estrus is a strong molting of the animal. Then the behavior of the dog changes, and only then the discharge corresponding to the stage of the heat cycle appears. Strictly speaking, the estrus is the process of ovulation, when the animal is ready for mating and signals this to attract potential partners.
Sexual cycle in a dog
During the heat, which lasts 2-3 weeks, you can distinguish 4 stages. Let's find out how much the estrus continues in dogs within each of them.
- The first stage is called proestrus and lasts from 3 to 19 days. At this time in the ovaries begin to actively develop follicles, which secrete sex hormones. Outwardly this is manifested by a sharp change in the behavior of the dog - it becomes more active and disobedient, but the males still do not allow themselves. If your animal is trained, then obedience in the performance of the simplest commands is still possible, but it is better to postpone training for the period of estrus.
- Actually estrus is the period when the dog is ready to mate. This is noticeable by how the bitch gets into the rack and pulls the tail to the side. In this case, the loop strongly swells and becomes soft, and the discharge is almost colorless. How many days will the estrus in your dog last, it is not known exactly (on average from 4 to 12), so it is better to carry the mating on the 2-3 day after the start of the hunt, and then in a day to spend the so-called control mating.
- Then, regardless, there was a mating or not, metaestrus comes - the so-called period after estrus. Sexual functions gradually abate, allocation stops, and the bitch again does not admit males to themselves. In case the pregnancy does not occur, the animal's organism gradually passes into a state of rest, the dog becomes obedient again.
- And, finally, anestrus is the period until the next heat. It lasts from six months to a year. How long does it last for your dog,
also depends on the frequency of its leaks, breed and features. If the mating was successful and pregnancy occurred (60-67 days), then the period necessary for the restoration of the organism will be longer. But even if the bitch did not become pregnant, she still needs sexual rest.
In addition to changes in behavior, the functions of the genital organs of the animal are activated - the vagina and the walls of the uterus slightly thicken, and the loop swells, and bright red bloody discharge appears from it. At this time it is better to put on a bitch special panties, or to remove from the house all carpets.
So, we found out how much average heat in dogs lasts. However, from each rule there are exceptions: the dog may have a prolonged heat or, on the contrary, is too short. If this is not the first heat, then its excessive duration is an alarming symptom. Therefore, if your petmother's estrus lasts for more than 40 days, be sure to contact your veterinarian.