Estrus period, which is commonly known as Heat, is a process which every female dog in the reproductive stage can pass through. When a dog is in heat, her behavior may become different than normal  because of the difference in the hormonal cycle. Even the physical changes tend to be different. Both the behavioral and the physical changes help in identifying whether your dog is in heat or not.

Before I further focus on how you can tell if your dog is in heat, it is important to understand that what the Estrus period in a dog is like. Female dogs undergo puberty between 6 to 24 months of their age. The smaller the dog, the more likely she is to undergo this stage the sooner. During this period, she becomes an adult and is ready to undergo the reproduction cycle. Eggs are released from her ovaries and her estrogen levels also increase.

 

To tell if your dog is in heat, check out for the following symptoms:

 

  • A dog is likely to go through heat twice within a year. So if your dog just went through her heat last month, and she is showing the similar symptoms again, then you should definitely take her to a vet.
  • It is also normal for dogs to come into heat as early as 4 months or as late as 8 months. The cycle continues for about 3 to 4 weeks normally.
  • During the first week of the cycle, the discharge is likely to be the heaviest, which becomes considerable less at the end.
  • Your dog is more likely to look for a male dog for mating during this time and may show agitation in case she doesn’t.
  • A really basic way to tell if your dog is in heat is to cover her bed with a sheet and observe for spots. Since most of the dogs tend to lick up the blood, this is the best way to find out.
  • If you are interested in getting your dog bred, then do it on the 10th or the 11th day of the cycle. It is ideal to keep a record of her cycle.
  • If your dog is continuously licking herself, then she is probably in heat.
  • If your dog acts irritated and nervous, then she is probably in heat. The behavior occurs because of the changes in the hormonal cycle.
  • If your dog is barking more or showing aggressive behavior then do check if her vulva is swollen as this is a sign of heat as well.
  • If your dog has curled her tale on the side, then this means that she is in heat. Dogs usually do this to make mating easier to occur.