let's talk hormones

(NOTE: This blog post is for the adult owners in the family -- kids would most likely enjoy one of these comics or reads much more!)

If you own a bitch (female dog) that hasn’t been neutered, it’s important to understand when your dog is likely to have her first season, how often they happen, what to expect and symptoms to keep an eye out for that she’s in heat.

It's also important to understand what she's going through regarding hormonal changes and how that may affect her behavior, mood, appetite, and more. 

Seasons of Love . . . .

What is a season?
A dog’s season, otherwise known as being ‘in heat’, is the part of a female’s reproductive cycle that can allow her to become pregnant. When she’s in season, your dog may act differently and her genitals may swell and produce a discharge. Knowing how to recognize the signs of heat, and being able to roughly predict when a dog’s in season, can help owners avoid unwanted pregnancies.

Most reputable breeders require, as we do at Pickwick Pugs, that owners allow their female pug to complete at least one cycle before spaying. Honestly, our vet even recommends waiting until a year or a bit over a year before neutering a male. At an absolute earliest, however, our contract for pet owners at Pickwick Pugs is never before 6 months of age or before first cycle is completed.

Why do we require this?

Allowing a female dog to have at least one heat cycle before spaying her can potentially benefit her physical development. By allowing her bones and urinary tract to fully mature, this potentially reduces the risk of incontinence later in life.

Key points to consider:

• Bone and joint development:
  Dogs may benefit from going through one heat cycle to allow for proper bone growth and development, potentially reducing the risk of joint issues later on. Since pugs often have issues with hips later in life, why not give them every fighting chance from the start possible for a long, healthy life?


• Urinary tract maturity:
  A complete heat cycle can help the urinary tract fully mature, potentially decreasing the chances of urinary incontinence in older dogs.

Often, people think that spaying/neutering will instantly and miraculously "fix" any behavioral issues. This is not true. Nothing replaces training and then the special handling needed during adolescence (which, yes, is a little more challenging than with puppy's, but it won't last forever. We have another blog entry entitled "Teenage Trials and Tribulations" for more on this subject.)

When can I expect her first season?
Most smaller breeds can have their first season at around six months old, but this can vary quite a lot from dog to dog, while some larger breeds may not go in to heat until they are over a year old. Most of ours have been after 6 months with the earliest at 5 months. Sometimes it’s obvious that she's in heat while other times the signs may be more subtle.

What are the signs?
Signs your dog is in season may include: swollen vulva (the outer parts of the genitals) and sometimes red. Some dogs may be more noticeable than others. This change usually happens a few days before they begin to bleed. A vaginal discharge that can start off bloody but may become watery and more pinkish as their season progresses. For some dogs, the discharge may be more yellow in color or can be brown Cleaning their genitals more than usual by licking them. She may urinate more frequently. Most of our pugs have not bled heavily and, when they do, it is infrequent. It can be normal but if you are concerned at all do not hesitate to contact your vet.

Behavior changes?
As your female pug comes into season, and certain hormones begin to increase, you may notice her behaving differently. This might include:

• Being more friendly to other dogs, (particularly males)
• Going out of her way to look for potential mates.
• When in season, and especially as she becomes more fertile, she may be less inclined to return to you when called
• Mounting other dogs, pets, furniture, toys or you
• Moving her tail to one side when touched or when around male dogs
• Being anxious, clingy, fidgety or nervous
• Nesting or gathering toys where she sleeps
• Being off her food --- pickier tastes, loss of or change in appetite
• Being more domineering
• Marking her territory with urine (When your pug is in season, she may pee more often and may use her urine to scent mark when out for a walk, in the garden or even around the house. When in heat, your dog’s urine contains hormones and pheromones that tell other dogs that she’s fertile. Male dogs can smell these hormones and may try to visit her, or may urinate near your house in an attempt to stake their claim. NOTE: We do not walk our female pugs around the neighborhood when in season. We tend to avoid places where there will be other dogs like pet stores or parks. Stay home and play more games or snuggle and watch more tv together.)
• Being defensive of other dogs going near her rear end
• The behavior may also change throughout her season. For example, she may be defensive of dogs sniffing her at the beginning or at the end of her season, but may be keen to let them investigate her when she is most fertile. All of these behaviors are natural and nothing to be concerned about and should disappear once she’s finished her season.

How often will a pug come into season? After your pug has her first season, she is likely to continue to have regular seasons, usually every six to seven months. 2 times per year (sometimes 3).  Younger dogs may have irregular seasons to start with, but these usually settle down and become more consistent within a few seasons. Your pug's seasons can be affected by being in the company of other females that are in season.

How long does a season last? Dogs are usually in season for about three weeks, but this may be as short as two weeks or as long as four.

How long does a dog in heat bleed? Generally, about 7-10 days (around half of her cycle). Your pug's bleeding is a sign that her body is undergoing changes that help her to become fertile.

How much does a dog in season bleed? Some dogs may bleed heavily, while for others it may be barely noticeable. Although some dogs may have a very obvious bloody discharge, it may be less noticeable depending on how much they groom and clean themselves.

Do dogs get ‘period’ cramps? It’s difficult to tell. Without dogs being able to tell us how they feel, it’s hard to know what your dog is going through, but we suspect that it’s generally not painful. Some dogs do seem to be uncomfortable during their season and may be a little fidgety, but it’s unusual for there to be any obvious signs of pain.

How to take care for a dog when she’s in heat:
Your pug may seem uncomfortable, anxious, and a little confused about the changes that are occuring to her body during her her season. To help your pug, try:

• Keeping her distracted with games -- play these around the house.
• Take her for regular exercise (away from male dogs who may show an interest in her. Consider games of fetch or some treadmill work versus walks around the neighborhood, dog parks, or pet stores.)
• Should you "go for walks" when your pug is in season? We don't advise this. During her season, your pug will be very interesting and attractive to males, and the feeling may be mutual, especially when she’s ovulating. To prevent any unwanted interest, or accidental oopsies pug-greatdane mutts, it may be best to walk your dog at quieter times of the day and stick to quieter areas where you know not many people walk their dog. During this time, always keep your pug on the lead to stop her from running off to a potential mate. Keep her close by in case any interested males do come too close. BEST OPTION: give her exercise and mental stimulation at home or in your garden.
•  Give her a treat filled toy – remember to count these as part of her daily calorie intake

How can I keep my house clean? Each dog is different, some dogs may not bleed a lot, and others may be meticulously clean and lick themselves to get rid of any discharge. However, if you’re concerned about your pug making a mess when in season then you could limit her access to sofas, bedding and carpeted areas. Some people put down plenty of towels in areas that their dog usually sits and others use special pants that help to catch the blood.

We generally use a combination of bitches britches and more crate or Xpen time.

Over the years, we've found that keeping the female in a pen with an easily mopped floor or in her crate on heavy flow days is easier than fooling with the diapers or "bitches britches" but, we do use the diapers or carry a towel to put underneath if we venture outside of the home.

Remember, however, that although these pants may do a good job of keeping your house clean, they may not be effective at preventing her from attracting a mate or accidentally mating!

KEEP YOUR pug on a leash, do not venture out where a male may get to her. NEVER let her outside in fenced back yard when in season .... dogs have known to climb 6 feet fences to "visit" a pretty pug ;)

Possible complications? After your pug's season, she may (rarely) show signs of a false pregnancy. This is a condition that causes them to act as if they were pregnant when they’re actually not, with them producing milk and even gathering objects into a nest as if they were puppies. False pregnancy is caused by a change in hormones. Generally dogs recover from these signs naturally, but it can be stressful and can lead to more serious complications, such as pyometra (which is an accumulation of pus in the uterus (womb), which can be life threatening. Signs of pyometra: being off food, seeming tired, being sick, drinking more, licking her genitals, having a smelly vaginal discharge. It's very smelly fyi. If you notice any changes in the patterns of your pug's season, especially if they appear to remain in season for an unusually long time,  it's time to talk with your vet.

How long after bleeding is a dog fertile? In humans, a woman’s period is a sign that she’s finished ovulating, but in dogs it’s actually a sign that they are about to become more fertile. Dog’s may start with a very bloody discharge, but this changes and become watery over time. This can indicate that she is at her most fertile and this stage can last for around 10 days, but varies from dog to dog.)

What's happening physically to your puppy bitch:

Phases:

• Proestrus: The dog's vulva may swell and she may produce a bloody discharge.
• Estrogen: Levels rise during proestrus, preparing the dog to release eggs. 
• Hormones
• Progesterone: Levels rise during estrus, making the dog fertile. 
• Luteinizing hormone (LH): Levels surge at the end of proestrus, triggering ovulation. 
• Estrus: The dog is fertile and can conceive. Her vulva will still be swollen, but her discharge may be less bloody and more pink or straw-colored. 
  

What if my pug mates during her season?
We won't address this since it's not going to happen. We know you will take all the preventative measures necessary to prevent oopsies. But .... if you are concerned, talk to your vet. There are certain injections that can be used within the first few days after mating that can prevent pregnancy. Remember .... an ounce of prevention ....

• Walk her on a lead at quieter times of the day, or in places where there are fewer dogs
• Avoid taking her around to other people’s houses who have intact males, or to any socialization or training classes. (FYI - You can't compete in rally obedience and such when your female pug is in heat. Just plan to skip class for a couple of weeks if you are enrolled. Your teacher/trainer will most likely allow you to makeup those classes or apply the money toward a future class. They don't want a dog in heat in class upsetting all the other students ;)!!
  
• Avoid leaving her alone in the backyard. Some males may be able to smell that she is in heat and may try to get into your yard to mate with her
  
• If you have any intact male dogs in the house, and do not want them to mate, then you may need to keep them separated.