## The 3 Most Demanding Weeks of the Year

For owners of unspayed female dogs, "heat" is a delicate period. Three weeks of:
- Blood loss.
- Attention from neighborhood males.
- Strange behaviors.
- Risk of unwanted pregnancies.

Understanding the reproductive cycle of the female dog allows for better management.

## The Reproductive Cycle of the Female Dog

Unlike human females, female dogs have **seasonal cycles**:
- **1-2 heats per year**, generally.
- Small breeds: 2 heats (every 6 months).
- Large breeds: 1 heat (every 8-12 months).
- **No menopause ever**: cycles continue throughout life.

**Age of first heat**:
- Small breeds: 6-12 months.
- Medium breeds: 8-12 months.
- Large breeds: 12-18 months.
- Giant breeds: 18-24 months.

## The 4 Stages of the Cycle

### Stage 1: Proestrus (7-10 days)

**What happens**:
- High estrogen levels.
- Uterus prepares.
- **Blood loss** (mild-moderate).
- Swollen vulva.

**Behavior**:
- Males attracted, but the female dog **rejects** them.
- The female dog is restless.
- Sometimes frequent urination for marking.

### Stage 2: Estrus (5-9 days)

**What happens**:
- **Ovulation**.
- True fertile period.
- Blood loss **decreases** or changes color (pinkish).
- Vulva still swollen.

**Behavior**:
- The female dog **accepts** the male.
- She "presents" herself (tail moved to the side).
- Attempts to escape towards males.

**Maximum fertility**: this is the critical phase for avoiding pregnancies.

### Stage 3: Diestrus (60-90 days)

**What happens**:
- **If pregnant**: gestation 60-65 days.
- **If not pregnant**: the uterus "mimics" pregnancy for some time.

**Behavior**:
- The female dog calms down.
- Sometimes develops a **false pregnancy** (swollen nipples, motherly behavior).

### Stage 4: Anestrus (3-5 months)

**Reproductive rest**.

**Normal behavior**:
- No symptoms.
- No attention from males.

## The 21 Days of Active Management

**The critical period** is the first **3 weeks** (proestrus + estrus).

### Week 1 (Initial Proestrus)

**Symptoms**:
- Swollen vulva.
- Blood loss (dark red).
- Restless behavior.

**What to do**:

**1. Hygiene panties**:
- For the dog (available at pet stores).
- Washable or disposable.
- Cost: €10-30 set.
- Change 2-3 times a day.

**2. Limit outings**:
- Only for pee in the garden or controlled areas.
- Avoid public parks and areas with males.

**3. Monitoring**:
- Note the start of blood loss (Day 1).
- Weigh the female dog (it may change).

**4. No baths**:
- Avoid during heat.
- Maintain hygiene with specific wipes.

### Week 2 (Estrus - critical phase)

**Symptoms**:
- Vulva maximally swollen.
- Pink/light blood discharge.
- The female dog actively **seeks** males.

**What to do**:

**1. Absolute vigilance**:
- **Never leave unattended** in the garden.
- Never open gates.
- Never let her roam in the park.
- Never with unneutered males (even acquaintances).

**2. Always on a leash**:
- Even during short walks.
- Do not underestimate the risk of escape.

**3. Attracted males** (risk of "quick" mating):
- It only takes a few seconds.
- "Tied" (penis-vulva lock) of 15-30 minutes = certain fertilization.

**4. Cleaning**:
- Change panties often.
- Gently clean the vulva.

### Week 3 (End of Estrus - Beginning of Diestrus)

**Symptoms**:
- Discharges decrease.
- Vulva reduces swelling.
- The female dog returns to calm.

**What to do**:

**Continue precautions** until:
- Discharges have ceased for 5 consecutive days.
- Vulva returned to normal.
- The female dog exhibits normal behavior.

**Only then**: return to the normal routine.

## What NOT to Do

❌ **Leave the female dog loose in an unconfined garden**.

❌ **Take her to the park** during heat.

❌ **Leave her with known males** (even neutered males in the first weeks post-surgery can impregnate her).

❌ **"Try" one mating** "just this once".

❌ **Ignore signs of escape** (restless dog, attempts to dig).

❌ **Punish** the female dog for behaviors during heat (she does not choose them).

## Unwanted Pregnancies: What to Do

**If you suspect mating**:

**Step 1**: veterinary visit within 72 hours.

**Step 2**: discuss options:

**Measurement (injection)**:
- Estradiol or aglepristone.
- Within 48-72 hours.
- Effective 90-95%.
- Possible side effects.

**Pregnancy test**:
- Ultrasound after 25 days.
- Confirm pregnancy.

**Medical abortion**:
- If pregnancy is confirmed.
- Aglepristone.
- To be done within 45 days.

**Sterilization during pregnancy**:
- Possible.
- More risks involved.

**Maintain pregnancy**:
- Only if genuinely desired.
- Litter = great responsibility (4-10 puppies).

## False Pregnancy (Pseudocyesis)

**What it is**: the female dog **not pregnant** develops symptoms of pregnancy.

**Symptoms**:
- Swollen nipples with milk.
- Maternal behavior (gathers plush toys as "puppies").
- Increased appetite.
- Nest building (scratches bedding).
- Sometimes anxiety.

**When**: 5-8 weeks after heat.

**Duration**: 1-3 weeks.

**Treatment**:
- Often self-limiting.
- Reduce stimuli (remove plush toys).
- In severe cases: medication (cabergoline) prescribed by a veterinarian.

**Prevention**: sterilization.

## Pyometra: The Hidden Risk

**Pyometra**: a severe uterine infection in unspayed female dogs.

**Causes**:
- Hormonal changes post-heat.
- Bacterial invasion.

**Symptoms** (4-8 weeks post-heat):
- Lethargy.
- Excessive thirst.
- Vomiting.
- Purulent vaginal discharge (open form).
- Swollen abdomen (closed form, more severe).

**Absolute emergency**: without intervention (urgent spaying), fatal.

**Prevention**: sterilization before subsequent heats.

## Alternatives to "Natural" Heat

### Surgical Sterilization

**Pros**:
- Eliminates heats forever.
- Prevents pyometra.
- Reduces mammary tumors.

**Cons**:
- Surgical procedure.
- Cost: €300-600.

### Hormonal Suppression 

**Injections or implants** (delvosteron, progestins):
- Temporarily block heat (months).
- Reversible.

**Pros**:
- Reversible.
- No surgery.

**Cons**:
- Side effects (weight gain, behavioral changes).
- Cumulative cost over time.
- Increases the risk of pyometra.
- Not recommended for prolonged use.

## Breeds and Heats

**Differences by breed**:

**Female dogs with more "intense" heats**:
- Large breeds.
- Northern breeds.

**Female dogs with more "subtle" heats**:
- Small breeds.
- Some toy breeds.

**Female dogs with irregular cycles**:
- May skip heats.
- Possible pathology (hypothyroidism, ovarian issues).

## The Truth About Heat

The heat of the female dog is a **natural but manageable** event.

**For those who want to avoid**:
- Spaying = a definitive solution.
- Cost: €300-600.
- Benefit: no more heats, prevention of pyometra and tumors.

**For those who want to keep intact**:
- Strict management.
- 21 days of attention.
- Risk of pregnancies always present.
- Risk of pyometra for life.

Most owners, after 2-3 heats, opt for spaying. It's a wise choice for most female dogs not intended for controlled breeding.

Discuss it with your veterinarian. Plan carefully. And respect your dog's cycle: it’s not a whim, it’s biology.