“In many cases a bloody vaginal discharge is the first sign that a pet owner will notice when their dog comes into heat.” The vaginal discharge will change in color and appearance as the cycle progresses. At first, the discharge is very bloody, but as the days pass, it thins to become watery and pinkish-red in color.
Female dogs are a beloved and common pet in many households, so it is important for pet owners to understand their canine’s behavior and needs. One of these behaviors includes the female dog’s heat cycle, which generally occurs every six to twelve months. During this time, owners may observe physical changes in their dog, such as a discharge from their vulva. This can be concerning for many pet owners, so it is important to understand the purpose of this discharge and what to expect during this time. In this blog post, we will discuss the topic of discharge in female dogs during their heat cycle, including what it is, why it occurs, and what pet owners should expect. We will explore the answers to the question: “Do female dogs have discharge when in heat?” and provide helpful information and advice.
#1: What’s Normal and What to Expect
The specifics are that a female dog undergoes her reproductive cycle twice a year (or every six months), with individual give and take. When the body is getting ready to mate and prepare the womb for pregnancy, this cycle includes a 3 to 4 week period of heat. This heat period is subdivided into three:
Pro-estrus: Lasting 7 to 10 days, this is marked by a swollen vulva and bloody discharge. The female is interested in male dogs, but its all about flirting rather than mating.
Estrus: Lasting 5 to 10 days, during this phase the female ovulates. Often the discharge becomes more scant, which can lull the unsuspecting owner into a false sense of security. Around that time she is very interested in males and will stand if mated.
Di-estrus: The hormones of heat ebb. The female is either pregnant or her hormone levels slowly reset themselves back to a resting level. Typically for a non-pregnant female the discharge occurs for another 7 to 14 days, then the vulva slowly shrinks down to normal size.
What you should know about the heat period
The term “heat period” refers to the fertile (mating season) stage of a female dog’s oestrous cycle. This changes their body, hormone distribution and their behaviour. All female dogs that have reached puberty are affected by this natural process.
The beginning of puberty and the associated beginning of sexual maturity in dogs is highly variable, just like it is in humans. Each dog has a different time when the heat period starts for the first time. The dog’s maturity and full size are determining factors in determining when the first period will occur. Small dogs can go into heat for the first time as early as six months, but since large breed dogs mature much later, they frequently only go into heat at 12 months. Just like when puberty is reached, the length of the heat period varies. While prototype dogs like Basnejis, Thai Ridgebacks, or Dingos only go through heat once a year, small-breed dogs can be in heat every four months.
Although the timing and length of the heat period vary greatly, the pattern of the mating season is the same for all female dogs. The heat period can be divided into four phases:
Pre-oestrus: The start of pre-oestrus can generally be precisely pinpointed, since it is accompanied by highly visible changes to the female dog in question. Its vulva swells and bloody vaginal discharge is secreted. This phase tends to last nine days, but variations between three and 17 days are not uncommon. Even the amount of bloody discharge differs from dog to dog. Whilst its hardly noticeable with some dogs, others bleed so much that their owners live in fear of red stains on the carpet and upholstery. A further sign that pre-oestrus is underway is increased interest from male dogs, who suddenly cannot keep away from the female. Even if females still arent fertile at this point, they already give off a very “tempting” smell. During this phase, however, they tend to repel and reject the advances of their male suitors. They bark, get out of the way or even bare their teeth if a male gets too insistent
Oestrus: During oestrus, female dogs change their behaviour pattern of rejection, suddenly showing themselves open to and interested in the males advances. This is a clear sign that youre now on dangerous territory, because the female is now fertile and ready to breed. If a male approaches at this time, the female will voluntarily remain standing and wag her tail to the side. Known as “standing heat” for this reason, this phase lasts an average of nine days too. During this period of standing heat, several ovulations occur. The vulva subsides somewhat, vaginal discharge becomes more watery and sometimes more mucous. Should reproduction take place during these few days, the chance of impregnation is high.
Post-oestrus: Post-oestrus begins after around nine days of the oestrus phase. The symptoms of heat such as the swollen vulva and watery discharge gradually disappear. There are now hardly any outward signs of being in heat, but hormones ensure all sorts of changes are occurring inside the female dogs body. Regardless of whether they were impregnated or not, the corpora lutea produce the hormone progesterone, which encourages the implantation and growth of the embryo in the uterus. Corpora lutea that emerge after ovulation in the ovaries only decompose after nine to twelve weeks. Progesterone level in turn boosts the hormone prolactin. The secretion of prolactin encourages the production of milk, which leads to a false pregnancy.
Anoestrus (rest period): After several weeks of intense hormonal alternations, the sexual hormones even out to a normal level. Progesterone remains at the same level, whilst the oestrogen level only shows slight variations. Anoestrus is the name for the rest period. It lasts several weeks to months and ends with the onset of pre-oestrus, the next heat period. During this phase, the female shows no signs whatsoever of being in heat and is not fertile.
#2: Identifying Estrus (and Why it Matters)
Could your female pup be coming into estrus?
Depending on a female’s size, her first heat can occur as early as 6 months for small breeds and as late as 18 months for giant breeds. Additionally, the female must be in good health and shape to cycle because her body’s primary goal is to produce puppies.
The signs to look for include:
Behavior changes: Your normally coy girlie becomes all flirtatious, while some loving girls get quite grouchy. If theres a strange change in her behavior – think “Could she be coming into heat?”
A swollen vulva: If youre not sure – take a photograph, and then another several days later for comparison. The vulva can look alarming enlarged in some dogs, but this is nothing to worry about.
A discharge: As the wombs revs up, a bloody discharge is anticipated. Some dogs lick this away in the early stages. If you want to be sure about the heat, place a white pillow slip on her bed to spot telltale signs of a discharge.
Vet checks: There are tests your vet can perform to identify the stage of the cycle. These include vaginal cytology (examining cell smears under the microscope) or blood tests.
FAQ
Why does my female dog have mucus discharge?
A disruption of the naturally occurring fluids produced by the body to clean the vagina results in clinically significant or abnormal vaginal discharge in dogs. This might signal a vaginal infection, injury, or foreign body. Additionally, it might be a sign of a secondary urinary tract infection. Protect yourself and your pet.
How long does discharge last for dogs in heat?
The swelling of your dog’s vulva and her bright red, bloody discharge are the first indications that she is in heat. This stage is called proestrus. “There will be lots of licking,” Nielsen says. A dog that is in heat may bleed for seven to ten days.
Do female dogs have yellow discharge when in heat?
Before estrus or true heat, a blood-tinged vaginal discharge lasts for seven to ten days. True heat causes the vaginal discharge to turn yellowish from red. At this point, females are open to males and can successfully reproduce.
Do unspayed dogs have discharge?
A female dog’s vulva can change significantly throughout her heat cycle if she hasn’t been spayed. When a dog is in heat, or open to mating, her vulva swells and there is a bloody discharge visible. Although it can vary greatly between dogs, this heat period typically lasts for a week or two.