Photo: panties during heat
Photo: walking the pet
However, each individual’s body is individual, so the period may vary. Duration of estrus: about three weeks or in some cases up to a month. The normal frequency is once or twice a year. The main thing that pet owners should remember is that mating can occur after the second heat, only in this case the dog will produce healthy and strong offspring.
A quick note: so on what day of heat should you breed your dog? This is individual, but usually knitted on day 14 or a little earlier.
How to detect heat in dogs
To know that a dog is in heat, you need to have a rough idea of the signs that a dog is in heat. And for this you need to know the estrus cycle.
A dog's estrus cycle includes 4 stages. Each cycle has its own signs of a dog's heat, and a dog's behavior during heat changes depending on the cycle.
- Proestrus is the period of pre-estrus. Signs of a dog's heat at this stage are quite easy to recognize. The bitch's external genitalia (loop) swell, dark bloody discharge appears from the vagina, and the dog begins to actively lick itself. The bitch’s behavior also changes: she actively flirts with males, but does not allow them to approach her. Dogs begin to mark their territory and become more aggressive towards other females. At the pre-breeding stage, the bitch is not ready for mating. A dog's estrus lasts 7–10 days.
- Estrus (sexual heat) is the second stage of estrus in a dog. During this period, the bitch is ready for mating. On average, the estrus period lasts 4–12 days. During this period, the bitch allows the male to come to her. Signs of this stage of estrus in a dog: at the sight of a male dog, the bitch freezes, arches her back and moves her tail to the side. During this period, the discharge becomes lighter (pale pink)
- Metestrus is the third phase of a dog's estrus cycle. During this period, the active phase of the dog’s estrus ends and the recovery period begins. You can determine this period of estrus in a dog by the following signs: bleeding disappears, swelling of the genital organs subsides. During this period, a false pregnancy may occur. On average, this period lasts 60 – 105 days
- Anetrus is the fourth phase of the cycle. The period of sexual rest, which lasts 100 - 150 days.
Pregnancy in dogs
In cats, signs of sexual behavior begin to appear at the age of 6-9 months.
That is, already at the age of six months, a cat can begin to “demand a cat.” As a rule, the owners of such animals do not understand what is happening to their kitten and mistake the cat’s calling cries and rolling on the floor for a sign of pain. There are also cases when a cat’s first heat begins only at the age of 18 months (1.5 years). Short-haired cats are considered more “precocious” and usually begin to exhibit sexual behavior earlier than long-haired cats. Also, the length of daylight hours has a very large influence on puberty. The longer the cat is in conditions of good natural or artificial lighting, the faster the sexual cycle will occur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytcreatorsde
The sexual behavior of a cat is nothing more than a manifestation of the sexual cycle and the body’s readiness for mating. In the absence of mating, the cat’s sexual cycle resumes every 2-3 weeks. The intensity of sexual behavior is expressed differently in each cat. Some scream heart-rendingly without interruption, pester every family member, and roll on the floor. In others, estrus occurs discreetly with weakly expressed external signs.
However, very few cat owners during estrus calmly respond to the natural manifestations of their pets' instincts. As a rule, owners purchase hormonal drugs for animals that interrupt estrus and eliminate its external manifestations. The use of these drugs is not safe for the health of your pets. It is better to castrate (sterilize) your pet in a timely manner.
The duration of estrus in cats ranges from 3 to 10 days, followed by a 2-3 week break. In some animals, the development of follicles in the ovary occurs continuously without interruption, which leads to constantly high levels of estrogen and, as a result, a state of constant estrus.
Another feature of the reproductive system of cats is induced ovulation. That is, the release of the egg from the ovary occurs only during mating. This also explains such a short interval between heats in the absence of mating. If mating has occurred, due to stimulation of the receptors, ovulation occurs, and then fertilization of the egg occurs.
The timing of puberty in dogs varies significantly depending on the breed. The first heat in small breed dogs usually occurs at the age of 6-10 months, and in large breed bitches the first heat can be delayed up to 24 months. In this regard, the absence of estrus before 2 years of age is not considered a sign of pathology.
The reproductive cycle in female dogs is divided into 4 stages: proestrus, estrus, diestrus and anestrus.
Proestrus is manifested by swelling of the vulva (outer labia) and bloody discharge from the vagina. During this period, the bitch flirts with the male, but does not allow mating. Sometimes this period goes unnoticed due to the fact that the bitch intensively licks vaginal discharge. The duration of this period ranges from 2 to 25 days (average 9 days).
During estrus, the bitch allows mating. During this phase, ovulation and fertilization of eggs occurs. The duration of the period when the bitch allows mating also varies widely from 2 to 20 days, but on average it is 5-9 days.
Diestrus begins after ovulation and is associated with the activity of the ovarian corpus luteum. The duration of this period depends on whether the bitch is pregnant or not. In puppyed bitches, the duration of diestrus is 56-58 days, and in non-puppy bitches it is 60-100 days.
READ Why cats rub their faces against human legs and corners
Anestrus is the resting phase when the development of follicles in the ovaries stops. The duration of this period is approximately 4 months.
The sexual cycle in dogs repeats 2 times a year (on average every 7 months). Some dog breeds only go into heat once a year. Due to individual characteristics, it is recommended to carry out mating only after the second heat. This will enable the owner of the bitch to track how the estrus progresses, what period of time each period takes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=channelUCi-jFKj_VQY7zijt4cnwwNg
Despite the external manifestations of the reproductive cycle, sometimes even experienced owners find it difficult to understand when a female dog is ready for fertilization. In this case, several methods are used to diagnose the fertile period.
To determine the stage of estrus, a smear is taken from the vagina, stained, and the type of vaginal epithelial cells, the presence of bacteria and blood cells are assessed. This is a good research method that allows you to fairly accurately judge the current phase of the sexual cycle. It is often necessary to take several swabs several days apart for greater accuracy. A more modern and accurate method is to determine the level of hormones in the blood (for example, progesterone).
If the mating turns out to be fruitful, then pregnancy develops. The larger the bitch, the larger the litter size, as a rule. Toy breeds give birth to 1 to 4 puppies, while large females can produce up to 15 puppies. The first pregnancy is usually low-fertility. Also, the number of fruits decreases as the animal ages.
The duration of pregnancy in dogs is approximately 63-65 days from the moment of first mating. External signs of pregnancy are an increase in abdominal volume and body weight, and an increase in appetite. For diagnosis, an ultrasound is performed on the 30th day of the expected pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the bitch should receive a high-quality, balanced diet. The feeding rate must be increased by 50% in the last weeks of pregnancy and during lactation. It is better to feed the animal more often in small portions. Before giving birth, it is necessary to prepare a special place where the bitch can whelp.
I use pills to interrupt my heat. The cat calms down after taking 3 tablets. Is it possible to be calm about pregnancy until the next heat? Usually she walks with me. but a cat often comes to our door, and I’m afraid that I won’t keep track and it will end up with kittens. Or give tablets, as written in the instructions for them, 1 weekly, to discourage the desire?
A cat can become pregnant after mating with a male, even if she has not been in heat. If you give her special tablets, then use them strictly according to the instructions. But such tablets are very harmful to the cat’s health; it is much safer and more effective to sterilize it, especially since it will be cheaper than buying tablets for many years.
READ Why cats eat grass and how to grow it
The egg in cats appears only after contact with the cat, and not just during estrus. Therefore, she can become pregnant at any time. The pills help reduce desire in cats, but not in cats. But they must be given strictly according to the instructions, otherwise you will greatly harm the cat and it may develop cancer. It is better to sterilize the animal, it is safe and gives a complete guarantee against kittens.
Actually, no. Mating is carried out on the 2nd - 3rd day of estrus. It is advisable to bring the cat to the cat and not vice versa, otherwise the cat may not succeed. There is an opinion that when a cat is not in heat, but she still lets the cat near her, and mating occurs, then somehow the scales located on the cat’s penis can cause irritation of the cat’s mucous membranes. Then the egg can be released and fertilization can occur. But this has not been verified.
sleep paralysis during pregnancy Sleep paralysis is a condition that occurs at the beginning of sleep or after awakening, when all the senses and awareness of a person are preserved, but they cannot move. This terrible phenomenon is described in all cultures.
There is no way a cat can become pregnant when she is at rest and not in heat. This is due to the fact that the egg matures and is released only during estrus. During estrus, a cat behaves violently, constantly meows and by its appearance shows that it is in the process of estrus. Perhaps your cat was in silent heat and you just didn’t notice when it was happening.{amp}lt;{amp}lt;/h1{amp}gt;
Many cat owners are concerned about this issue. After all, heat comes ahead of time, when veterinarians recommend sterilizing the cat. And if there are cats in the house, what can happen?
Cats are such mysterious creatures that they present surprises under the most incredible circumstances. According to logic and all the premises, this is impossible, but every rule has exceptions.
The cat does not allow the cat to come near her during periods of rest. In turn, this rule does not apply to cats. Cats experience a phenomenon called triggered ovulation.
If the cat managed to mate with a “non-estrus” cat, then it is possible to stimulate the release of an “unplanned” egg, which can be fertilized. So we draw a conclusion. A cat is required for fertilization; you can do without estrus.
What is estrus?
Estrus is the reproductive estrous cycle - a special state of the animal that marks the beginning of sexual heat, followed by mating, fertilization and pregnancy.
READ Felovax vaccine for cats and kittens
1-5 days. Proestrus. The cat gradually enters this period, its behavior changes dramatically: it is restless, screams, can bite, scratch, but will not let the cat in yet. It takes time.
Diestrus. Next phase. The cat is gradually coming to her senses, abruptly changing her behavior, no longer allowing cats near her, and is aggressive towards them.
Short-haired and long-haired ordinary domestic cats enter puberty earlier than purebred, homeless cats - they are ahead of domestic cats in this regard.
The duration of estrus (estrus) is individual for each animal. On average it lasts a week, sometimes it lasts up to three. If the cat does not mate during this period, then estrus may begin again, with a break of 2 days.
The likelihood of pregnancy from a miniature
Answer, please! I have three dogs: a boy and a girl, a miniature and a Westie. The Westies were mated according to plan on the 12th and 14th days of estrus, but on the 16th they forgot to lock the dogs. I was gone for 25 minutes, heard a squeal, quickly ran downstairs and saw the news and the miniature stuck together. Question: is there a chance of getting pregnant from a miniature? Last year the news had a party according to plan.
Answer 1
Experienced breeders are familiar with the situation when kittens from different males are born in a litter. This is possible thanks to the phenomena of superfecundation and superfetation. If doubts arise regarding the purity of the future litter, it is easy to assume the likelihood of the appearance of mixed-breed puppies by analyzing the current conditions.
What is superfecundation
When there are puppies of different fathers in a litter, they talk about the phenomenon of superfecundation (from Latin - superfertilization). The meaning is this: several eggs are inseminated with genetically different sperm. This happens quite rarely, but it is quite possible. Cases have been recorded in which people were born with twins related solely through the mother. For animals the situation is quite likely.
It is possible to determine the occurrence of a superfecundation by noticing the presence in the litter of female dogs with signs characteristic of miniature dogs - hard, wiry hair, appropriate color, etc.
Why is superfecundation possible in dogs?
After mating, sperm penetrates the uterus, due to the peristalsis of the walls, moves further along the oviducts and fertilizes the egg in their upper third. While in the genital tract, sperm remains active for up to 6 days. Any males mated to a female within 3-5 days of ovulation can become fathers of cubs.
Sometimes there is a phenomenon that leads to the birth of puppies from different males - superfetation.
Superfetation in dogs
After insemination, the eggs remain in the oviducts for a number of days and develop to the morula stage - early embryonic development.
The development of fertilized eggs stimulates the enlargement of the corpus luteum - temporary glands formed after ovulation. They secrete a specialized hormone, progesterone, which blocks the development of egg follicles and stimulates the integration of chorionic villi (choroid) into the uterine mucosa. From this point on, the function of the corpus luteum ceases. This creates the conditions necessary for the further development of the embryo.
As long as the growth of ovarian follicles is not completely blocked, the possibility of delayed ovulation with the release of eggs remains possible. If this happens, new fruits will develop. Moreover, the puppies will be born a little later than the normal birth dates. This phenomenon of additional pregnancy is called superfetation (Latin - superfertility).
How to determine the probability of cubs being born from different fathers
When planning mating, the owner of the bitch determines the range of days favorable for mating. The optimal time for mating is 11-15 days from the beginning of the estrus phase. But the time of readiness for mating varies for each individual and often goes beyond the statistical average. Sometimes fertilization occurs already on the 8th day, in others only on 15-17.
Breeders determine the timing for mating based on the duration of the sexual cycle:
- with a cycle of 21-23 days, the period of 10-14 days is selected for mating;
- with a cycle of 26-28 days, mating is planned for 14-18 days.
Since the unexpected mating of a West Highland Terrier and a Miniature Schnauzer occurred on the 16th day of estrus, the possibility of getting pregnant from a Miniature Schnauzer exists. By this time, in young females, the eggs are only immersed in the uterine cavity, and on days 21-22 they are integrated into the wall.
Signs of pregnancy in dogs
Many owners ask what are the signs of pregnancy in a dog.
There are no signs of pregnancy in a dog in the early stages. At this time, it is impossible to determine whether the bitch will have puppies, either by palpation or by appearance.
The first signs of pregnancy in a dog after mating concern not physical condition, but behavior. The dog may become calmer, more affectionate, and sometimes show signs of illness.
Signs of pregnancy in a dog most often appear 21–22 days after mating. At this time, if you know where to look, you can feel small lumps on both sides of the abdomen. These lumps can be felt until the 35th day, and later become soft, so that they can be felt with difficulty. But by this time, signs of pregnancy include an enlarged belly.
By the 4th - 5th week, signs of pregnancy in a dog include thickening on the sides, the body becomes rounded. But sometimes these signs of pregnancy in a dog are visible only at the 7th week.
During the 5th week, enlarged nipples are added to the signs of pregnancy in the dog, and in the 6th week, if the bitch lies on her side, puppies can be felt in the horns of the uterus. A sign of pregnancy in a dog at the 7th week is a significant enlargement of the mammary glands. In the last week, a drooping belly is added to the signs of pregnancy.
One of the surest signs of pregnancy in a dog is the movement of the puppies.
Discharge in dogs during estrus
It is possible for a dog to be in estrus without excreting – the so-called hidden estrus. Estrus in a dog without discharge may be normal and not a sign of any abnormalities or disturbances in the cycle. During estrus in a dog without discharge, the necessary process in the ovaries still occurs (formation of follicles and release of eggs from them). If a bitch is bred in time, she will bear and give birth to healthy and full-fledged offspring. The causes of estrus in dogs without discharge are still not clear. Cases of hidden estrus are extremely rare.
However, estrus in dogs without discharge may have another cause - hypothyroidism. This may be the reason for the sluggish manifestation or absence of estrus symptoms at all. Hypothyroidism is associated with decreased thyroid function. Females suffer from this disease 2.5 times more often than males.
Typically, the color of the discharge during a dog's heat changes depending on the cycle. At the beginning of the dog's heat, the discharge is dark red in color, but in the second half of the dog's heat, the discharge lightens to a pale pink color.
General information about dog estrus
First, let's find out when to expect a “surprise” from the female. It is believed that the first heat in dogs begins between the ages of 6 months and 2 years
. At the same time, in small breed dogs, estrus (the correct name for estrus) begins early - at 6, and sometimes even at 5 months. In medium breed dogs, estrus usually begins at 8-12 months. And in large dogs, estrus occurs the latest - at 1-1.5 years, but sometimes even at 2 years. At the same time, it is, of course, impossible to name the exact time when a female dog will be ready to reproduce.
Until what age do dogs go into heat?
? Theoretically, a pet can be ready for future fertilization until a very advanced age. That is, at 10, and at 15, and even at 20 years old (if the animal manages to live to such an old age) there can be estrus, because the menopausal period simply does not exist in dogs.
Now it’s time to find out the duration of this difficult period. How long does a dog's heat last?
small breeds? Typically, estrus lasts 20 days. In dogs of medium breeds and in large dogs, estrus can occasionally last up to 30 days. The duration of estrus in dogs may be slightly less than the indicated periods if the pet is elderly, and the amount of discharge may be very small.
In this case, it is customary to divide the cycle into 4 stages, including:
- Proestrus
is the period when a dog's vulva begins to swell. Lasts about 6-10 days. During proestrus, the dog’s body prepares for ovulation, special hormones are released - estrogens, which contribute to the appearance of bloody discharge; - Estrus
– in fact, this is the time when the pet has an increased interest in male dogs. The loop becomes soft, swelling decreases, and the discharge changes to transparent or light pink. This stage in dogs usually lasts 7-9 days, and ovulation occurs on the 2-3rd day of the estrus period. Those owners who do not know what day of estrus they need to breed their dog on, do this from the very first day of estrus, but it is better to wait 2 days after ovulation, when the eggs are formed; - Metestrus
- a gradual decline in ovulation occurs in the body with the help of the hormone progesterone produced. The dog's discharge gradually disappears during metestrus. The animal stops looking at males with lust. This phase lasts about 7-20 days; - Anestrus
is a time of rest, when the female either bears offspring, is falsely pregnant, or simply does not want to communicate with four-legged “gentlemen” if fertilization for some reason does not occur. The duration of anestrus is approximately 5 - 5.5 months.
The question of how often dogs go into heat
also cannot be answered unambiguously. Typically, domestic bitches have a difficult period twice a year, mainly in spring and autumn (but it happens in both winter and summer). Domestic dogs may come into heat once a year (usually in the spring).
Condition of the bitch's internal organs after mating
The dogs were mating unattended; when they came out, they were already stuck together, and when they separated, the bitch had an oval part inside out. Is it supposed to be like this or did the dog end up in the wrong place?
Answer 2
To determine the nature and extent of the negative physiological consequences of mating, it is necessary to understand the physiology of mating itself.
Bonding during mating
Every breeder knows the phenomenon of mating. This condition is also called sticking or locking.
Bonding is understood as a spasm of the peri-vaginal muscles that grasp and firmly hold the tip of the male penis. It usually occurs at the moment of mating and is considered a sign of successful fertilization. But veterinarians claim that this is not true; pregnancy occurs even in the absence of mating.
Although the process is natural, it can lead to unpleasant consequences. During the “lock” phase, no attempts should be made to influence the dogs. Any sudden movement is potentially dangerous. Although even without human intervention this is possible.
Physiological phenomena after successful mating
The mating phase begins after ejaculation and lasts on average from 10 to 40 minutes. After this, the dogs lose mutual interest and run away.
After mating, it is necessary to carefully examine the female. It happens that after the mating process is completed, a white, cloudy liquid is released from the vagina. Sometimes bloody inclusions are observed in its composition, and a sharp unpleasant odor is felt. This is normal and harmless. The white liquid is an excess of genital secretions and becomes a lubricant during mating.
There is no need to do anything; let the female lick the genitals on her own.
Everting of the vagina after copulation
Usually sexual intercourse takes place without negative consequences for the bitch. However, there is a risk of injury during the gluing stage. In case of careless sudden movements or falls, vaginal inversion may occur. This can happen with physical human intervention or with exposure to sudden loud noise.
Vaginal prolapse (prolapse) is a serious pathology; even a healthy individual is not immune from trouble. Basically, the cause of the phenomenon is the anatomical features of the animal’s body.
In practice, there are two types of prolapse - complete and incomplete. In the first case, complete loss of the vaginal walls occurs; they resemble a donut in shape. With partial prolapse, the ventral wall is everted. It falls out of the loop and visually resembles a tight, bright red ball.
How dangerous is vaginal prolapse?
If vaginal prolapse occurs, the animal may feel quite well, although more often it experiences great discomfort due to the difficulty of emptying the bladder.
If the urethra is severely compressed, the dog often sits down, urinates in small portions and breathes heavily. As soon as the bladder cavity becomes full, symptoms of acute intoxication appear and the body temperature gradually rises. The female becomes passive and refuses food.
As the situation worsens, the dog begins to lick and chew the surface of the inverted vagina, which further injures and contaminates the damaged organ. As the pain increases, ulcers begin to form on the vaginal mucosa. The result is serious health problems, including death.
How is vaginal prolapse treated?
Typically, the prolapsed vagina is reduced using brute force and sutures are placed on the loop. This method is conservative and is used with minimal clinical manifestations. Unfortunately, in more serious cases, it does not relieve compression from the urethra and the pressure of inflamed tissue on the loop.
If the individual is not of breeding value and the female is not expected to produce offspring, the prolapsed vagina is excised. Otherwise, they resort to a less aggressive surgical method - excision of the fallen walls and careful suturing using strong catgut. The operation is performed under combined anesthesia (spinal version is used), which minimizes the likelihood of complications in the postoperative period.
A dog is in heat: what to do
If you do not plan to breed your dog, you should be careful during heat. What should an owner do when a dog is in heat?
First of all, lead your bitch on a leash. Even the calmest dog's behavior changes during heat, and it can unexpectedly take off running.
Do not allow male dogs near the bitch. If the male makes a cage, it is no longer possible to separate the dogs.
Do not attend exhibitions and other events. This is fraught with trouble not only for you and your dog, but also for those around you.
Do not allow your dog to swim in bodies of water - a genital tract infection may occur.
Termination of pregnancy in dogs
Sometimes an unplanned mating occurs, and the owner turns to the veterinarian with the question of whether it is possible to terminate the dog’s pregnancy.
So, is it possible to terminate a dog’s pregnancy and how to terminate a dog’s pregnancy?
Termination of pregnancy in a dog in the early stages is possible through the use of hormonal drugs that prevent the implantation of fertilized eggs into the walls of the uterus. Such termination of pregnancy in a dog occurs within 7 days after using the drug.
After your dog has had an abortion, you must return to your veterinarian to confirm the abortion using an ultrasound.
Another option for terminating a dog’s pregnancy is surgery, which involves removing the uterus and fetuses.
Answer
As a rule, the mating process in animals takes place without intervention from the owners. In order for the meeting of dogs to take place with a guaranteed result, it is necessary to create suitable conditions. If you become the owner of a pedigree breed selected for breeding, you will have to take into account a number of factors before mating a female with a male that is suitable by all standards. For example, the cycle, the size of the dogs, weight and even age are taken into account.
As a rule, a female dog reaches sexual maturity when she reaches twenty months of age. Estrus occurs earlier, at six to nine months, but it is not recommended to breed a dog in the early period. This will harm the dog and create a risk of giving birth to puppies with poor health. The best period for mating is from 11 to 15 days from the beginning of estrus.
What to do if dogs are not in heat
In some situations, the owner does not want the animal to go into heat (for example, when the dog is too sensitive to abstaining from mating, has poor health for bearing offspring, etc.).
To deprive an animal of the opportunity to give birth, sterilization is often carried out by tying the fallopian tubes. But after such an intervention, estrus will still be present. If the ovaries and uterus are removed at the same time, there will be no estrus. When sterilization is carried out correctly, the dog will cease to be interested in individuals of the opposite sex and will forever lose the opportunity to have offspring. Many owners of female pets are interested in the question: is it possible to sterilize a dog during heat?
? Veterinarians believe that it is better to carry out intervention to remove the genital organs when the dog’s hormonal levels return to normal, that is, during anestrus. Although sometimes sterilization is carried out during estrus, but using the laparoscopy method, when internal organs are removed through a small incision on the dog’s belly.
Castle phenomenon
Why does a dog dig holes in the yard: what to do
The purpose of an animal's existence is to give birth. Dogs do not mate for the sake of pleasure - a natural physiological process has the ultimate goal of prolongation of the species. Crossing and sticking together is a guarantee of fertilization and a successful outcome of intercourse.
Important! Dogs stuck together are pitiful and helpless. They are dependent on each other and vulnerable.
At this time, a serious process is underway in the female’s body - sperm tend to the uterus and end up deep in the womb. The risk of loss of material is eliminated - the female has every chance of becoming pregnant. Another important point is that when the lovers open up, the weakened partner will not have the strength for another contender. “Love Lock” is insurance for a male dog to conceive puppies from him.
This behavior and physiology is characteristic of many school animals. The pack is divided into alpha males and weak, unworthy competitors. Strong animals strive to be the first to cover the female. The “lock” phenomenon is observed in the closest relatives of dogs - wolves, as well as foxes and hyenas.
Should I intervene?
Not all breeders know what to do in a dog breeding situation. Should animals be posted? Dog handlers and veterinarians say a categorical “no.” Experienced breeders continue to observe and control the process.
Even if the knot in dogs does not weaken for more than half an hour, you cannot apply physical force to the couple. You need to help the female if she breaks out of the “lock”. The zealous “bride” is calmed down. Sometimes the loin is held to direct the flow of sperm to the uterus. This is necessary when the female is smaller than her lover. They also help a male dog if he is unable to stand with his back to his partner after ejaculation. The dogs are not allowed to twitch.
Important! Animals are not forcibly separated, even if mating is not planned. This is fraught with injury and loss of animal health.
Young ladies get scared, the spasm can intensify to unbearable pain. In the future, they are afraid of partners and intercourse. Sexual intercourse can take even longer.
During intercourse, owners create a calm environment for the dogs. Before mating, the female is fed moderately; it is better not to feed the male at all. The couple is given the opportunity to walk around and run around. The process is best done in the evening or early in the morning. The male feels more confident in his own territory, so the “brides” are brought to his home. It is better if the sacrament of conception occurs in silence. They watch him from the side, not trying to separate the couple.
The first mating is often carried out with a muzzle.
The first mating of a young bitch is especially important. She can be aggressive. Often the act is carried out wearing muzzles. The suitable age for dogs is 2-2.5 years. Matings earlier than this period lead to unhealthy litters, and the physical condition of the parents is also at risk. Bitches are bred after the third heat.
The best time for pets to crossbreed is late autumn and winter. Puppies are born healthier. The hormonal surge during early mating slows down the growth of dogs. The timing of puberty is individual and depends on the size of the individual, breed, and psychological state.
Important! If mating does not occur during intercourse, a repeat control mating is carried out after 2-3 days while the bitch is in heat.
Possible problems during estrus in dogs
Estrus itself is not a disease, but sometimes bitches have problems during this period that should be reported to the doctor as soon as possible. So, it’s not good if a dog has:
- Vomiting and categorical refusal to eat - during estrus, the appetite of some bitches decreases, but does not disappear completely. When, after a small snack, the animal’s stomach literally turns inside out, things are bad. Perhaps the pet has been poisoned, contracted an infection, or has problems with its internal organs;
- If the time has come for metestrus, and the dog’s discharge does not stop, a hormonal imbalance may occur;
- Normally, the discharge cannot be green, bright yellow, or black. The foul odor should also alert you. Perhaps the dog has an infectious disease or inflammation of the genital organs;
- When a dog's temperature rises above 39.5 - 40 degrees during estrus, this is a problem. Most likely, the animal is sick (viral and bacterial infections, allergies, oncology, poisoning, etc.).
General symptoms indicating illness
In addition to discharge, which is not always a full indicator of the dog’s health, it is important to monitor its behavior during pregnancy and respond to any changes. You should be concerned about your dog's health in the following cases:
- loss of appetite and interest in food;
- a sharp increase in temperature;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- irritated or depressed state of the animal.
The general apathetic state of the dog, combined with a lack of appetite, is an alarming symptom.
Diagnostics
Any discharge from a dog's loop requires attention from its owner. But his particular concern, in addition to the above, should be:
- the occurrence of severe thirst;
- deterioration in coordination of movements;
- bloody trail after urination;
- swollen condition of the animal's loop.
If you notice at least one of these manifestations, your pet should be taken to the veterinarian. After all, such symptoms are a direct indication of the inflammatory process in the uterus. There the animal will be examined and the necessary tests will be performed, including:
- laboratory tests of blood and urine;
- bacteriological examination of the microflora of the urinary tract and vagina;
- vaginal smear for cytology;
- abdominal x-ray;
- Ultrasound;
- biopsy of vaginal abnormal tissue;
- examination of the vagina and cervix;
- test determination of possible damage by brucellosis and herpes;
- coagulation (for poor blood clotting), etc.
There are a lot of diagnostic methods, and they allow you to determine the exact picture of the illness, as well as prescribe appropriate therapy.
False pregnancy in a dog
Many owners confuse a false pregnancy with a failed one. What is a false pregnancy in a dog? False pregnancy is a physiological condition of a dog that, without being mated, exhibits all the symptoms of pregnancy.
Symptoms of a false pregnancy in dogs resemble those of a real pregnancy. The dog prepares the nest, experiences something reminiscent of labor pains, and may handle toys as if they were puppies.
Many owners are wondering: if a dog has a false pregnancy, what to do? First of all, you should contact a veterinarian - you may have to give the dog sedatives that will help the animal return to normal.
Sometimes a false pregnancy in a dog indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the uterus, and this requires serious treatment.
Sometimes it happens that about a month after mating the bitch, the puppies “dissolve”, although the signs of pregnancy in the dog do not disappear. This phenomenon is called a “failed” pregnancy, and should not be confused with a false pregnancy. False pregnancy in a dog is a condition when signs of pregnancy and childbirth appear in a dog that has not been bred.
Requirements for partners
Participants in mating must not only be physically ready for sexual intercourse. There are other requirements for them:
- an impeccable pedigree, in which the “noble family” is reflected at least up to the 4th generation;
- experience of participating in shows with high scores: “excellent” is desirable for a male, “good” is possible for a female;
- good physical health, confirmed by a medical certificate;
- adequate mental and behavioral reactions.
Compliance with the listed criteria is checked before breeding dogs. Under the condition of breeding, even more claims are made regarding the selection of candidates for mating.
