Sometimes, Dogs Don’t Display Assertive Mating Behavior
Okay, so you may have missed your dogs heat cycle, but what about the other male dogs? Arent other dogs supposed to smell a female in heat from a distance and go bonkers over it? How could your neighbors male dog care less? Some female dogs who are aggressive or assertive may discourage male dogs from showing any interest. If your dog doesnt seem to match this type, read on for more causes of silent heats.
Why Didn’t My Dog Go Into Heat?
Sometimes, the signs of a dog in heat are so slight that they go unnoticed. In a silent heat, all external physical signs (like vaginal bleeding, discharge, or swollen vulva) are so minimal that you dont see them. Not only that, but her behavior might not change—she may show absolutely no interest in male dogs, either.
So, you have been waiting anxiously for your dog to go into heat. It could be you were planning to breed her this time or you simply wanted to get her spayed right after the heat. It could also be that you just wanted to be prepared, so you could take all the necessary precautions that should always be taken by owners who choose to keep their female dogs intact.
Of course, you are familiar with your dogs heat cycle. You know how often in general it happens and you know how to recognize the signs of proestrus. So, six months go by, and nothing happens. As the seventh month flies by, you start scratching your head. What happened? Did you miss it? Is your dogs heat cycle going bonkers? Did she skip her heat, or is it late? Below, we will talk about silent heats in female dogs.
How long are dogs in heat and how long do they bleed?
Dogs have two phases to their heat cycle. During the first phase (called proestrus) there will be a bloody discharge from her vulva. Her vulva will become swollen and prominent. Male dogs will begin to show an interest in her. She may become aggressive toward male dogs during the first part of this phase. As this phase progresses, she will stop being aggressive toward male dogs but will sit down when they approach her. Proestrus lasts an average of nine days but can be as short as three days and as long as 17 days.
During the second phase (called estrus), the discharge from her vulva will become straw-colored but may have a hint of brown or red color. When approached by a male dog, she will stand and lift her tail over her back or held off to the side (this is called “flagging”). Her vulva will decrease in size but will still be swollen. When she is ready, she will allow a male dog to mount her for mating. Estrus lasts an average of nine days and can be as short as three days and as long as 18 days.
The total time of both phases of “heat” is about two to three weeks. The female dog will discontinue having discharge from her vulva by the end of the second phase and her vulva will slowly return to its original size.
If she and a male dog mated during estrus and she became pregnant, her pregnancy will last approximately 63 days (about nine weeks).
How to detect silent heat in a bitch
Intact (unsprayed) female dogs will typically have their first heat cycle two to three months after they reach their full adult size. For smaller breed dogs, this is typically between 6 and 8 months of age but could be as early as 4 months. For larger breed dogs, this may be as late as 2 years of age. Dogs can be in heat for an average of two to three weeks, going through a two-phase heat cycle.