Behavior & Pain While In Heat
A dog’s body experiences lots of changes when she’s in heat. Because of these changes, your dog may experience some changes in behavior and even some pain. Much like humans, female dogs experience cramps and hormonal changes when their bodies are preparing to mate. Also, like humans, this can be uncomfortable and can make them feel irritable and emotional.
Be sure to consider your dog’s feelings and needs during this time. A little extra love could go a long way. See our article on the best pain meds for dogs to see what’s safe and what’s not if you’re thinking about treating your dog’s pain during the heat cycle.
What Do I Need to Do When My Dog Is in Heat?
Avoid all contact with intact (not neutered) male dogs while your female dog is in heat. Pheromones are very powerful during the estrus stage, and can be smelled by other dogs from miles away. .
A male dog may try to mount your dog while in estrus, and an intact dog can get your dog pregnant while in heat, so be sure to keep a close eye on your dog during this time.
Other steps to take in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy include leash walks and supervision while in the yard. You don’t want your pup to get caught up with a male dog while off-leash, so it is best to avoid the dog park in particular.
As mentioned, there will be some bloody discharge when your dog is in heat, and will likely groom herself during this time by licking. Do not discourage this behavior as it is normal.
Dog Licking her Privates: Is Something Wrong?
After watching her constant grooming for the past day or so, you might be saying, “my dog keeps licking her private area”. Your dog in heat may be licking her private area because of the following:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
Can dogs get UTIs? Indeed they can and if your dog licking her private areas more frequently, it can be the sign of a UTI. If your dog is focusing more on licking her private area even after she has cleaned it from menstrual waste, she may have a urinary tract infection. You might wonder, “How do I know if my dog has a UTI?” You should watch for things like straining when she urinates, producing small amounts of urine, cloudy or odd-smelling discharge, or an increased frequency in how often she needs to urinate. Consult your vet to confirm if your dog really has an infection through urinalysis. If she does, she will likely be given antibiotics to clear the infection away. It is important to give her the entire course of antibiotics even if you see improvement after a few days – there is often still lingering bacteria that the antibiotic is still taking care of.
How do dogs get UTIs? A dog can develop a urinary tract infection due to bacteria making its way into a usually sterile environment in the urinary tracts. This could be an infection in the bladder, but more serious infections can track up to the kidneys as well. Dehydration can also lead to an increased risk of UTIs. So make sure that your dog always has access to plenty of fresh water and keep her private areas clean, especially when in heat. Other factors like conformation or anatomical abnormalities, or even underlying diseases like diabetes can predispose your dog to developing UTIs as well.
If your dog is excessively licking her private area, it is possible that she may have developed a rash around her privates. Rashes can be triggered by allergens in the environment, from food, and from insect bites. It is usually best to have your veterinarian take a look at any new rashes or red spots on your pup, but here is something you can do at home while waiting for an appointment.
Clean the affected area with cool water and a mild antibacterial soap. You typically only need to do this once a day. If the rash is getting worse, you may need to put a cone on her as well. This prevents further trauma to the surrounding skin. If your dog keeps licking and the rash worsens, you will have to take your dog to see her vet.
Stress.
Your dog licking her privates can be because of stress. If you find your dog doing this, it may be her way of dealing with the stress that comes with being in heat. Have her evaluated by her vet to make sure there are not any underlying reasons for her licking. If other medical causes are ruled out and your vet suspects anxiety or behavioral causes, you can provide your dog with different products and supplements that will calm her down. It is always best to consult with your veterinarian though before starting any supplements – they know your pup’s medical history best, and they will also know if the supplements might interact with any medications as well.
It is also good to take note that if your furbaby pleasures herself (while in heat) by licking once or twice a day, there is nothing to worry about. But if her licking behavior causes some skin irritation, it is better if you try to distract her whenever you see her starting to lick again. You may distract her, like toss in Gnawtlers®, give her a toy, play a game, ask her to show the new tricks she have recently learned, and a lot more. You can also try getting your furbabys attention by calling her name, or moving her to another location in the house.
14 Critical Signs Your Dog Is Begging For Help
Most unspayed female dogs will go through heat cycles (similar to a human’s menstruation or “period”) twice a year. During this time, you may notice she has some bloody discharge – this is normal and usually is not cause for alarm. But your dog’s menstrual waste is not just blood -. About half of it is blood and the other half is fluid from the reproductive system. While it may seem gross to think about – the fluid contains cervical mucus, extra tissues, and vaginal secretions, as well as blood. The blood is made up of minerals like iron, chloride, sodium, phosphate, and calcium.
“When your dog is grooming, she will not solely focus on her private area but will move to lick other parts of her body.”
Menstrual waste is a natural and normal body function and your dog licking it may not be something you should worry about. But why is your dog doing this?
In this article, we will talk more about your furbabys menstrual waste, why she may lick the area, and whether it is cause for concern.