LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Comments

Hi Matt,

I wouldn't say this is normal, and it could also be causing some anemia. The best thing you can do is give your vet a call to discuss what's going on. Spaying may turn out to be the best alternative, but your vet will give your dog a good exam to assess her physical health and determine whether she is healthy enough to endure a surgical procedure.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, i have an 11 year old boxer. her seasons over the last few years have grown from 2 per year to 3 or 4. this year is different though, she has had one in jan, may, sept and now she has come into season again after only stopping her last one only 3-4 weeks ago. is this normal for an older ...? im worried about speying her due to her age. but i want to do the best for her also. please help.

-- Contributed by: MATT

Hi Gayle,

It sounds like your dog came back into heat a touch early, but this does happen sometimes. If this cycle is a little irregular, she may not be quite ready to breed at her usual time. I'd give it a few more days, and she'll likely cooperate with the stud.

That said, rather than a "false heat", sometimes a female will have an incomplete cycle and fail to ovulate. When this happens, the dog often comes back into heat within a few weeks.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things work out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Can a ... have a false heat cycle? Our GSD ... had a litter last fall, a normal cycle in January or February and started signs of another one last week. She doesn't seem to be progressing to the point of being ready to breed, our male keeps checking her but isn't really getting excited. She has flagged a couple of times but doesn't seem to be positioning herself for mating like in the past.

-- Contributed by: Gayle

Hi Hans,

Under the cir...stances, it would be best to totally separate the male from the female to a place where he can't smell her anymore. If you have a friend or family member who could keep him for you for a couple of weeks, that would give him a chance to settle down and begin eating again. You can give your female a bath to help remove lingering scent from her heat cycle about a week after the cycle ends. Just do it with running water - don't immerse her in a tub.

Hopefully things will get back to normal very soon. Let us know how the pregnancy goes, and don't hestitate to come back if you have questions. We even have a dog breeding forum you can visit and post at.

Good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY MALE CHIHUAHUA STOP EATING AFTER HE GOT THE FEMALE PREGNANT... ALL HE THINKS IS HOMPING HER AND CAN'T STOP LICKING HER PRIVATES?WHY? NEED HIM TO START EATING AGAIN HES LUSSING WHEITH

-- Contributed by: HANS

Hi BJ, and welcome.

If your dog was regularly on a six month cycle, you might expect the next heat cycle to occur somewhere between April and June. A false pregnancy throws the hormone levels out of balance, so she might be off a bit on when she would have normally come in.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

good day! i have a 1 1/2 yr old female ...zu,i wonder when will she be in heat again if she had a false pregnancy last dec 2008?

-- Contributed by: bj

Hi Kitty,

It's fairly normal for a female to feel a little under the weather during that first week of the cycle. However, your treatment of her may actually be encouraging the behavior. When you react to her behavior by pampering her too much, it can actually reinforce the notion that something is really wrong.

It's certainly normal to want to comfort our pets when they feel ill, but when the situation actually isn't too serious, it's often better to act normally to reassure the pet that everything is alright. Dogs pick up on feelings very easily, and they typically take their behavior cues from us.

Your dog is about to go into the fertile phase of her cycle, so you should see her perk up very soon. Thanks for sharing your question, and I hope you find this advice helpful. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Brandi, is in her first week of the cycle. I have been holding her a lot. She is very upset. I think she is afraid of what is happening to her. She seems to be very needy for mommie right now. Is this normal for a puppy to act this way, I mean, she is connected to my hip. This is what I will do, as long as she needs me...she is being grouchy, and we both pamper her a lot.. She is so precious. We love her so much.

-- Contributed by: Brandi, poodle, 12 months

Hi Pamelia,

At this point, your vet is right. Your dog isn't late enough to signal a real problem and it's too early to test for problems. Sometimes external issues can cause a delay in the normal heat cycle. Stress, illness, nutrition-- all of these things can affect the commencement of a cycle.

For now, just try to keep your dog's environment as stress free as possible. You might also try letting your dog spend time with another female that is in heat, if you happen to know of any. Sometimes the pheramones emitted by a cycling female will signal companions to come into heat too. It's worth a try if you can manage it.

Thanks for your question, and do follow up with your vet if your female doesn't come into heat within the next six months.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a English Bull dog that is over 2 months late on her heat cycle is this normal? I am waiting to have her bread. Her other heat cycles were right on schedule. I ahve taken her to the vet and his comment is " Just be patiant.

-- Contributed by: pamelia

Hi Lisa,

Honestly, your dog is ruling the roost both in and out of the house, and this something that needs to be corrected. Humping can be a display of dominance, and your dog is using this behavior to assert herself over anyone and anything she can. My best advice is to teach your dog the proper place in the family pack by enrolling her in obedience. This is a very positive way for the people in your family to establish their dominance over your dog. You'll need to take her through the course yourself, but once you learn the exercises, you can teach most of the other family members how to put her through them. The commands "down" and "stay" are real miracle workers for stopping unwanted behavior. I think once your dog learns she is not the pack leader, you'll see a big improvement.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi we have an golden lab, mixed with (hound, cocker span.,?) with a black spoted tounge. med.ht. about 60pounds. she always has to touch someone in the home paws body anything. very demanding for attention. we have 5 kids 14yrs to 2yrs. constant attention for the dog. dixie will listen to me in the house better than my kids will and do. outside forget it. she is the boss. we have one cat taz he is fixed also and about 12yrs old. both get along great. i have caught dixie trying and on top of the cat humping the cat. and ive caught the dog trying to get my younger boys to. why would a fixed...hump. sounds funny and sick but i want to know if you have the answer please help.. also with the demanding of her for touching thanks

-- Contributed by: lisa

My Rhodesian Ridgeback, almost a year on the 28th of March, is on her first cycle. I have noticed her behavior is a bit different; normally a playful hyperactive dog, nowadays when I take her for a walk along a rocky pavement, her hind paws hurt, could this be possibly becuase of the heat cycle?

Thank you.

Mosita

Hi Mosita,

Your dog might not be feeling 100% herself due to her heat cycle. However, I think it would be good to examine her hind paws closely to make sure there are no cuts or other abnormalities that might be bothering her. It might also be better to refrain from taking her for long walks on pavement until her cycle is over. If her pain continues after this, it would be good to let your vet examine her in case this turns out to be the beginning of a joint problem.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Afra
> Return to article