The age range when a dog goes into heat for the first time varies, and an Australian shepherd goes into heat within the first twelve months of its life. However, this can even delay further if they have any underlying health issues. But it is rare if they go into heat before they reach six months of age.
When in heat, your dog's vulva will swell and redden. This can be very pronounced and alarming to dog owners seeing it for the first time, but it a normal part of estrus. Bloody or straw-colored discharge from the vulva: Your dog will have a discharge from its vulva while in heat.
From about six months old to through the rest of her life, a female dog will experience estrus, or heat, roughly every six months. This is the period of time when she's receptive to mating.
Smaller dogs can go into heat as soon as they are 4-months old. Larger breeds may not first go into heat until they are 18 to 24 months old. On average, the first heat begins at around 6 months of age. Even though they are old enough to get pregnant, your young dog's eggs aren't yet fully matured.
At what age is it best to spay an Australian Shepherd? Due to the risks of potential breast cancer down the road, most vets will recommend you spay before the first heat which is around 6 months.
The short answer is that no, your dog isn't likely to be less hyperactive after getting spayed or neutered. It won't change their personality much, if at all.
An age of six to nine months of age may be appropriate for neutering or spaying a toy breed puppy or small breed puppy but a larger or giant breed may need to wait until they are near or over 12-18 months of age.
Some signs of a female dog going into heat may include lower energy levels, more aggressive behavior, differences in leg-raising while urinating, urinating more often than usual, and even running away from home. This is unlike male dogs, who do not experience heat cycles.
In this first stage of heat, your puppy's vulva will look swollen or larger than usual. During proestrus, she'll also produce a bloody vaginal discharge and may pee more often. Things change mentally too. She may show differences in behavior, like being more jumpy or on edge than usual.
Q: Should I let my dog have a heat before I spay her? A: Medically, it's better to spay your dog before their first heat. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. People who wait to spay their dogs until after their second heat greatly increase the risk of mammary tumors in their pets.
Dogs that have double or water-repellant coats, like Australian Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundlands, may only need baths every few months. Bathing them more often than necessary can cause dry skin.
Breeding and getting your dog pregnant on her first heat can also pose health risks for both your dog and her pups, like bad genes being passed on, and behavioral changes like aggression.
A dog's heat cycle usually lasts for about two to four weeks. Your dog can get pregnant during this time, but she'll be especially likely to get pregnant around nine to ten days into the cycle.
Silent Heat Cycle
This occurs when your female will have a heat cycle without the normal symptoms such as bleeding and swelling of the vulva. Females will still be receptive to males and can become pregnant. Your veterinarian can check for a silent heat cycle by performing vaginal cytology and progesterone assays.
The dog estrous cycle is made up of four stages. These are the proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. The proestrus is the most obvious stage, while the other stages are more subtle.
However, the most obvious recognizable sign is vaginal bleeding. This may not become apparent until a few days after the female has come into estrus. Some female dogs experience heavy vaginal bleeding during estrus, while other dogs have minimal bleeding. If you are concerned about your dog, consult your veterinarian.
A dog in heat can bleed for around seven to 10 days. During this first stage of the reproductive cycle, the female will not accept a male.
Girl pups may go into heat (estrus) as early as five to six months, and boys begin to be interested in sex during this period. Most of your pup's growth in height finishes by this period but he may continue to fill out and gain muscle mass and body weight. Puppy coat starts to be replaced by the adult coat.
We know that spaying before the first heat cycle reduces the incidence of mammary cancer by 99.5% while spaying after the first heat cycle but before the second decreases the incidence by 92%. Spaying after the second heat cycle decreases the incidence rate by 74%.
The presence of bacteria and yeast on the skin is normal; however, if either appears in excess, or if the skin barrier is unhealthy, or if the dog is immunocompromised, an infection can occur. Bacterial or yeast infections of the skin can be very itchy and result in constant licking of the affected area.
The short answer is- yes it will. Spaying and neutering both involve making permanent changes to your dog's reproductive system, whether male or female. Dogs' hormonal systems change based on their reproductive system, just like in humans! Hormones are in part responsible for some of our behaviors.
Generally, it is safe to spay or neuter most kittens and puppies at 8 weeks of age. However, be sure to check with your veterinarian and have your pet evaluated before scheduling spay or neuter surgery.
YES! Most people are under the impression that once a dog is in heat, you have to wait until she is done the cycle before she can be spayed. It is, however, quite possible, but you should be aware that there are higher than normal risks associated with performing the procedure at this time.