If you are a female dog owner, you should have adequate knowledge about dogs in heat. Since many dogs display erratic behavior or leave stains on the furniture when they are in heat, it pays to know the symptoms when your dog is in heat and some tips about how to deal with it.

To begin with, the estrous cycle or the heat in dogs is similar to human menstruation. During this period, the sexual receptivity of un-spayed female dogs is high and they can become pregnant to have puppies. Depending on the size and breed of your dog, the age by which it will start getting in heat and the duration of its heat cycle will vary.

The frequency of your dog coming into heat varies from one breed to another. While the average is every six months, it could be less often or more for your pet. Even the duration for which the heat will last varies. Though the average period is three weeks, some dogs can have a shorter period of two weeks or experience longer periods that may stretch up to four weeks. In case you are in doubt, it would be wise to assume the longer period.

The typical cycles of estrus appear in four phases. The 10-day period called proestrus marks the beginning of heat in dogs, where your dog will have spotting, or experience bleeding from its vaginal area. The next stage called the estrus usually lasts for 5 to 9 days, when the dog ovulates and will accept a mate. The third stage called the diestrus marks many hormonal changes in the dog. During this phase that lasts for 6 to 10 weeks, the uterine walls of the dog thicken. The last stage of anestrus generally lasts for 15 weeks, when your pet won’t have any hormonal activity. However, it may produce milk or show an interest in mating.

If you are now wondering how to spot a dog in heat, keep a close eye on your pet to notice some common symptoms. If your dog marks its scent by leaving small amounts of urine, experiences vaginal discharge, enlargement and swelling of the vagina and vulva, you can be sure of the heat cycle. Another symptom is when you find male dogs trying to get close to your pet.

Spaying is a common way to control a dog in heat, as a spayed dog doesn’t show signs of estrus. However, you can ask your vet to give some hormonal medications to your pet to prevent its heat cycle’s progress temporarily so that it can mate. You should also understand that a female dog doesn’t experience menopause in the traditional sense. During its entire lifetime, it will go through heat. However, with an increased age, the length of time between such heat episodes will increase.

Since many pet owners have problems understanding the right time to mate for their dogs, you can have your dog tested to understand her cycles better. This way, you will be able to detect the ideal time when your pet will be ready to reproduce.