A question you may be asking yourself if you are a Chihuahua pet parent: how long does a Chihuahua stay in heat?Don't worry, we'll give you the information you need, read on.
A male Chihuahua's heat cycle lasts on average 3 weeks and occurs approximately once every 6 to 9 months, while a female Chihuahua's heat lasts between 2 to 4 weeks (23 days).
It usually occurs 2 times in a year. In addition, you can expect your pet Chihuahua's heat cycle to start between 6 months and a year.
However, there are small and miniature breed dogs that have their first heat cycle as early as 4 months and as late as 18 months.
If this happens to your Chihuahua do not panic, you should not expect your pet's heat cycle to become regular after the first one.
Some dogs (including Chihuahuas) can take up to 18 months to have a regular heat cycle after the first one.
We recommend that you consult your veterinarian if your Chihuahua's heat cycle is late early, frequent or irregular.
What is a Chihuahua in heat?
A Chihuahua in heat is when he is fertile and interested in breeding.
She will have a spike in the hormone estrogen, which will drop when mature eggs fall into the uterus.
At that time she will be able to have puppies.
Your Chihuahua's first heat indicates that she is now sexually mature and capable of breeding.
Symptoms of heat in Chihuahua bitches
- More frequent urination
- Anxiety
- Swollen vulva
- Larger breasts
- Bleeding
- They are distant from their owners
The heat of the Chihuahua has 4 stages:
Proestrus. It is the beginning of the cycle, marked by a swollen vulva.
The female rejects the male.
Estrus. It is the second physical sign of the cycle, it lasts from 5 to 15 days.
The heat cycle means that the Chihuahua's hormones rise and fall. The health and age of the bitch influences estrus.
The bitch will continue to show a swollen vulva and the discharge is lighter.
The bitch allows other males to smell her.
In order to get pregnant the mating must be between day 8 and day 15 of each cycle, corresponding to the ovulation days.
In-estrus. This stage lasts approximately 60 days as long as the bitch has not been mounted in the previous stage.
If pregnancy did not occur, this stage will be longer, that is from 110 to 140 days, which corresponds to the gestation and lactation period.
Anestrus. In the sexual rest phase, its duration is easier to estimate since it is the stage that occurs from the end of the oestrus and the beginning of the next oestrus.
Recommendations
If you plan to breed your Chihuahua under 18 months of age, this would be hard for her and could interrupt her growth (since she is still a puppy).
Take care of your dog during her first heat: you should take measures so that she is not bred.
This post is for informational purposes only, we intend to substitute it for medical judgment.
If you are the parent of a Chihuahua puppy, we recommend you to consult your veterinarian who is the right professional to guide you and help you with everything related to their care.
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