Ask a vet online-‘what age do seasons stop?’

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This is called a “split heat” and can be a sign of an underlying hormonal or even potentially cancerous issue. I’d definitely get her checked over by your vet and bloods taken for a hormone panel: or get her spayed and the ovaries removed.

Stress and malnutrition are the most common reasons for dogs to skip a heat, or to have silent heats. However, other reproductive disorders such as some ovarian cysts can also cause issues like this. If you’re going to get her spayed, I’d recommend mentioning it to the vets so they can check in the process that there isn’t anything nasty going on; and if her heat doesn’t end normally, definitely time for a vet check sooner rather than later.

Definitely not – so I think it’s definitely time to try and find a charity that can help get her seen by a vet; or even one that will pay for her to be neutered, as this will probably solve the issue.

It sounds likely – there’s not much else that would make her stand twice in 2 weeks.

hat would be very early for a first season. The most likely explanations would be that it’s a really bad urinary tract infection; that it’s vaginitis; or that there’s a hormonal issue triggering a precocious puberty. I definitely think a vet check would be a good idea!

Blood clots passed from the vagina are really serious – vet ASAP, this is often a sign of an open pyometra.

That’s not normal – I’d DEFINITELY get her checked by your vet, as this could even be an open pyometra.

If we’re lucky, it’s “just” a urinary tract infection, but I’d very strongly recommend a vet check as soon as possible, because this could also be a bladder stone, or even a cancer.

I can’t see any reason why not, if she’s healthy – and it would be a good idea, as from about 6-7 years old the risk of pyometra increases dramatically.

Yes she can get pregnant at that age – dogs don’t have a menopause. There are however much higher risks in carrying a litter and giving birth at that age, so I’d strongly recommend making an appointment with your vet and getting her checked over to see what her health is like – and also to confirm whether or not she is in pup.

It depends which bloods you’re talking about? If you mean progesterone blood, then it would be most common to do the first test 6 or 7 days into heat.

Definitely not – that is a very abnormally long labour, get her veterinary attention ASAP

Silent heats are a possibility, but any change in oestrus behaviour in a dog of that age is worth getting checked out – ovarian tumours aren’t common but start to be seen more and more often after 8 or 9 years of age; and there’s always the risk of an undiagnosed pyo brewing up if there is a hormonal issue. So I’d be recommending a vet check if you think she would normally have cycled by now and definitely hasn’t shown any signs; and meanwhile, keeping a really close eye on her for any signs of altered drinking or appetite and discharge.

No, it doesn’t indicate a problem: some dogs do and some don’t – it’s very variable!

It’s unusual, but not unheard of, especially in a first season. If it goes over 3 1/2 – 4 weeks, or if she shows any signs of illness, though (especially increased thirst, or vomiting), then get her to urgent veterinary attention, as occasionally the initial season was silent and what looks like the season turns out to be a pyo.

The most likely explanation in a neutered dog is that she has a urinary infection, but there are a couple of other conditions that can cause this: in any case, definitely vet time!

She needs URGENT veterinary attention – whether that is privately or through a charity clinic: while there are other causes, what you have described would be consistent with a pyometra leading into sepsis.

There are a range of medications that your vet can prescribe to end the heat, as well as surgical sterilisation; however, they’re all prescription only so you will need to discuss that with them!

The correct professional term for a female dog here in the UK is “bitch”. I am sorry if you are offended by this, but on this side of the Atlantic that is strictly speaking correct. When this blog was written (2014, if you look) there was no debate about this.
Now, it is true that there has been more recent debate about the terminology, and my colleague Joe recently wrote an article about this.
However, it is still common parlance in the industry, and so there is no reason for you to be defamatory towards my colleagues – or if you prefer, don’t be an Equus africanus.

No they don’t – but they can develop diseases (such as ovarian cancer, among many other possibilities) that can mimic the effects of being spayed in the early stages. I’d definitely get her checked out by your vet!

Do you mean she’s been in season solidly for a year? If so, I think she definitely needs veterinary attention as that’s certainly not normal!

Bleeding for that long is definitely unusual, and I would be concerned that there might be some issues there, especially at that age. While it might not be an emergency, it really does need seeing – so I’d advise making a normal hours appointment and getting her checked over – good luck!

A split season might be one possibility, but there are others, ranging from infections (that are confusing him with their smell) to persistent pro-oestrus from a tumour, and everything in between. Definitely one for a vet check I think!

There could be, but she might be having silent seasons: I would be inclined to talk to your vet about getting her checked out though, because silent oestrus can indicate hormonal problems; there’s also the possibility of other internal abnormalities (although they’re unlikely to affect her, it could cause issues later on).

No it isn’t – I’d definitely advise a vet check to make sure there’s nothing else going on there. She might just have had a silent season (it happens sometimes), but I’d still advise a check over.

There are lots of possibilities; it might just be that she’s waiting for the spring (a lot of dogs will cycle for the first time in spring); another option is that she’s had her first heat but it has been a “silent heat” which is very very common for the first cycle. Other options include ovarian cysts, intersex conditions, and even early onset tumours, but you’d need a vet check and possibly a hormone panel to determine exactly what’s going on.

It does happen sometimes, as long as she’s still drinking and she’s definitely still in heat then it’s not normally a huge concern. If there’s any discharge from her vulva, though, if her season finished a few weeks ago then came back, or if she has any other symptoms, then this could be serious so seek veterinary advice ASAP.

No, neither dogs nor cats will die if they are not mated. That only applies to ferrets among all the domestic animals.

Not really, that’s pretty unusual – I’d strongly advise a vet check ASAP.

Dogs don’t usually stop having seasons, so that’s not likely. Pregnancy isn’t impossible, but I’d be very worried about an infection – which is very common in entire dogs of this age and potentially life-threatening. Get her checked out by your vet ASAP.

That’s not normal, it suggests at best a split-season, and potentially an infection. I’d say vet check ASAP.

I think so – that’s a long time to be in full oestrus, and at that age, the risk of complications is quite a bit higher.

No, that’s pretty unusual – first seasons can go on a while but that does seem a long time. Other possibilities include vaginitis or hormonal imbalances, so it might be worth having another chat with your vet.

For a dog that large, this is within the normal range – personally, I’d be comfortable leaving it until 18-24 months before I was concerned, assuming she’s developing normally and is healthy in all other respects.

Not uncommon; many larger dogs don’t come into seasons for the first time until their second year.

No, there is no last heat cycle: many dogs will cycle every year until they die.
However, she really shouldn’t be bleeding that much for that long: she needs veterinary treatment sooner, as there could be something very serious going on there.

No, although I would always advise a full health check before mating anyway, and a first litter no later than 4 years of age.

Dog’s don’t get periods like humans do – the process is biologically somewhat different.
In most cases, they have their seasons, but they are “quiet” or “silent” and the dog cleans up after herself so there is no obvious evidence.
That said, genuinely missing seasons can be due to underlying disease processes; and if you’re not planning to breed from her, I would advise you to talk to your vet about getting her spayed to prevent a potentially life-threatening pyometra.

Yes, that is a very long time. I’d strongly advise a vet check, ideally within the next 24 hours, as in some middle-aged to older dogs these lingering seasons can rapidly turn into a pyometra which is life threatening. If she gets lethargic, starts drinking more or being sick, then it’s potentially an emergency.

If only two of them are swollen and not the others, and she isn’t spayed, I’d be very concerned about breast cancer. Get a vet check ASAP – 50% of breast cancers in dogs are malignant but if treated rapidly and aggressively, the prognosis is much better.

In many (maybe most?) bitches, the first heat is unusual – often unusually light. The second and subsequent ones are typically more obvious and/or heavier.

31 days into full oestrus without ovulation? That’s definitely not normal – time for a fairly urgent health check, as this might suggest a serious ovarian disorder.

Lots of possible causes – but always best to get a vet check as some are potentially serious.

It’s not really normal for her to go 4-5 years without one – so I’d strongly advise a vet check to see if there are any underlying health issues.

At 14 that’s definitely a worry, and can be a sign of a number of underlying problems. I think definitely vet time…

That’s not normal no – any change to the discharge when a dog is in season is potentially worrying. Personally, yes, I would have her neutered, as at this age the risk of a life-threatening pyometra becomes very high.

There are a lot of possible issues, including a one-off silent oestrus (happens sometimes and we don’t always know why). Alternatively, the cause may be more serious – ovarian disease, even ovarian cancer. I’d suggest a reproductive health check up for her with your vet. Or, if you’re not planning to breed her, consider neutering, especially if her reproductive system may be malfunctioning, as this might increase the risk of disease down the line.

Dogs don’t actually get a “period”, its a very different biological process.
However, yes, she can still come into season and get pregnant (although probably not a good idea to let her at that age!). In general, I’d strongly suggest spaying and entire bitch of that age, as the risk of life-threatening pyometra increases with age.

It might be a hormonal issue, or she might be having silent seasons. Time to talk to your vet about the underlying cause, if you want to breed from her, or getting her spayed if you don’t.

Sudden onset panting and thirst isn’t normal – I’d strongly advise an urgent call to your vet for advice. It may suggest infection which can be life-threatening.

Infertility is possible – and “runts” are reportedly more likely to have other underlying hormonal problems. However, I wouldn’t bank on it – she might get in pup next time! I think a reproductive workup with your vet might be a good idea too – some underlying diseases can cause infertility and it might be wise to get those ruled out.

Usually in a split oestrus, pro-oestrus will start again within 4 weeks or so, so 8 weeks seems a long time. There are reports that some bitches may ovulate in the second half, but my understanding is that many do not. However, most split oestrus events are one-offs; the subsequent cycles are generally normal. Possible causes include hypothyroidism and some ovarian problems, so it might be worth getting a referral to a veterinary theriogenologist or endocrinologist; alternatively, see what happens with her next cycle. If that is abnormal as well, then definitely seek a referral. Good luck!

DEFINITELY time for an URGENT vet check. This is not normal and in a dog of that age, the longer it’s left the more serious it becomes. Possibilities include an open pyometra, vaginal infection, or even uterine tumours.

That is not normal – vet time as soon as you can get an appointment.

Hypothyroidism often disrupts normal cycling, as thyroid hormones are involved in so many different metabolic processes. Alternatively, there may be some underlying hypothalamic or pituitary disease that is causing both hypothyroidism and reproductive hormone anomalies. It’s probably best to talk to your vet about the situation as there are several possibilities!

Get her checked by your vet as soon as possible – dogs don’t go through the menopause like humans, but they can develop pyometra, uterine cancer, and various other diseases that are potentially life-threatening.

It sounds like she might be in season then – all dogs are different! But if in doubt, get her checked out by your vet to rule out medical issues such as vaginitis.

There are huge variations between individuals and breeds. Some dogs naturally only cycle every 18 months; others more frequently – the average for a large breed is every 6-12 months, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some who go longer! If in doubt, get your vet to check her over for signs of underlying health problems that could be delaying oestrus.

It could be a urinary tract infection – but we’d strongly advise a vet check!

With a split cycle like that it’s really hard to be certain – I’d advise talking to your vet about vaginal cytology to determine exactly where she is.

That isn’t usual, and there are lots of possibilities – ranging from “silent” seasons (that don’t show) to some rather nasty types of cancer. I’d suggest they get a health check from her vet to rule out anything nasty.

If she’s very small, that can cause delayed onset of seasons – female wolves usually come into season the first spring (or sometimes autumn) after they reach a genetically set body weight, and our dogs have inherited similar systems. There might also be other underlying problems – however, the evidence now seems to suggest that if she’s reached adult weight, then spaying her before the first season is absolutely fine, and significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer later. If there is an underlying hormonal abnormality as well, better out than in, as it were.
However – I’d strongly suggest talking to the dog’s vet if the current owner will give you permission. If she won’t that suggests there’s something else going on.

Remember, a dog’s seasons aren’t the same as human menstruation – the biological mechanisms for the blood-tinged discharge are very different. Heavy bleeding in season may be normal but I would very strongly advise a vet check because she should not be bleeding for 3 months at a time – this is highly abnormal and may suggest a more serious condition such as cancer of the uterus.

Yes, if they’re clean they can remove the discharge before anyone sees it! It’s not always that dramatic.

The “play” stage is characteristic of pro-oestrus, the phase immediately before the fertile period. Some dogs are just a bit more shy than others, but if you’re worried, your vet will be able to do tests to determine if there are any hormonal imbalances.

Yes, there’s no maximum age, as long as she’s healthy enough for the anaesthetic (6.5 shouldn’t be an issue!).

It can be, yes; dogs USUALLY come into season between 5 and 8 months of age for the first time, but it is very variable. In addition, the first cycle can be quite “quiet” and easy to miss, especially if she’s quite clean. If she hasn’t had one by 12 months, definitely worth a check up.

I would advise you to contact your vet immediately – while that might just be age related variation, what you’ve described could also be consistent with an early pyometra or metritis.

Not certainly, but I wouldn’t generally recommend it. 8 years old is getting into “senior years” for most dogs, and at that age the risks of pregnancy do start to increase quite substantially. If you do want to breed from her again, then I’d strongly recommend getting a full health check done by your vet first, to make sure there aren’t any underlying health problems that could cause issues during the pregnancy.

It is possible but it’s not normal – it could indicate an ovarian tumour, for example.

Yes, I definitely think a check up is needed.

Hi Jenny, I’d recommend contacting your vet ASAP to discuss this and arrange a check-up for your dog. It could be the sign of another problem and she sounds as though she’s quite uncomfortable.

It’s a matter of the balance of risk. This is actually an area which is still under active study. What we do know is that spaying before the first season is the most effective way to reduce breast cancer in dogs (reducing the risk by a factor of 200!), and that the more seasons they have, the higher their risk of this disease. The evidence we have suggests that about 50% of all entire bitches will develop a mammary tumour (and roughly half of those will be malignant); if neutered before the first season, about 0.25% will develop one (0.5% relative risk); after the first it’s 4%, after the second it’s 13%, and if you let them have three seasons, there’s no reduction in the risk at all. This is the main reason vets often recommend neutering early – because it essentially eliminates this disease.
However, there is also research that early neutering (before puberty is complete) may increase the risk of certain tumours, especially osteosarcoma (bone cancer), raising the risk from roughly 0.06% to 0.12% – 0.24%, depending on breed. In addition, early neutering may put dogs at an increased risk of orthopaedic problems such as dysplasia or arthritis. There is also a suggestion that neutering before the first season may increase the risk of incontinence later in life, although this isn’t well supported by data.
As a result, it’s a matter of weighing up the risks and the benefits! Personally, I think that as long as the dog’s external genitalia are mature, I’m happy to neuter before the first season UNLESS she’s in a breed with a very high risk of osteosarcoma (large and giant breeds, especially Wolfhounds, Newfoundlands or Leonbergers), in which case I’d want to wait until skeletal maturity.
I hope that helps, but I’m aware that this is one of those topics where there is no right answer – it’s a matter of weighing up the pros and cons of each option.

It’s unusual, but it’s most likely that she’s just very clean and is removing all evidence of the discharge! However, if in any doubt, get her checked over by your vet – there are a number of hormonal abnormalities that bitches can suffer from that may need management.

I would strongly advise seeking veterinary attention – this could be a serious health problem such as a pyometra, which may be fatal if untreated.

It’s unlikely – some dogs do have irregular seasons and sometimes hormonal changes can be reportedly be triggered by the presence of entire males, but not usually castrated ones who aren’t producing the same pheromones.

I think she needs urgent attention from a vet – the symptoms you are describing could be those of a urinary infection, an open pyometra (a womb infection that can be fatal), or even womb cancer. My advice would be to get her seen and checked out as soon as possible; while she might be at increased risk under anaesthesia, any of these conditions could be even more dangerous if untreated.

Hello, given her age we strongly suggest you speak to your vet for further advice, they will be able to exam her if needed – even for your peace of mind.

Hi Jodie, it’s possible, but I’d recommend giving your vet a call for some further advice and they’ll be able to let you know if she needs to go in for a check up.

It is quite possible she’ll come into heat again – healthy dogs don’t usually go through the menopause, unlike humans. However, 12 is pretty old to carry a litter for the first time, and it could be really hard on her, especially as at that age it’s likely she has some underlying health problems. Our advice would be to get a full health check with your vet, and talk to them about whether it would be safe – or kind – for her to carry a litter to term.

Hi Shane. It varies with each bitch. In general, the season will be around 3 weeks long, and bleeding is for around the first 9 days or so.

Hello. If your dog hasn’t had a season and is over two years old, I’d recommend getting in touch with your vet and popping her in for a check-up. Seasons can vary in when they start, but your vet will be able to examine her and give you advice specific to her

You are right, it probably is just that she’s in season – however, an intact bitch that old is at a very high risk of a pyometra (a life-threatening womb infection), and of womb cancer. The symptoms you describe could equally well be caused by one of these serious conditions, so we’d strongly advise you to get her checked out by your vet.

Hello Crissy, in your dogs case, I would get in touch with your vet and have her checked over. It could be a behavioural issue, but it’s best to get her checked.

Hi Barry, this is an interesting one, thanks for asking. Actually, female dogs (bitches) don’t ever hit ‘menopause’ in the way that human women do. It is common for the signs of a season to be much reduced and therefore go unnoticed, sometimes referred to as a ‘silent season’. So the answer is that technically, yes, your bitch could become pregnant at 14. It’s worth considering having your dog neutered to reap all of the benefits that come with it, unless of course you plan to breed from him. As for whether you should spay your ageing greyhound, that one would be worth talking through with your vet to consider it on an individual basis in terms of health and benefits. We hope this helps.

Hi Barry, this is an interesting one, thanks for asking. Actually, female dogs (bitches) don’t ever hit ‘menopause’ in the way that human women do. It is common for the signs of a season to be much reduced and therefore go unnoticed, sometimes referred to as a ‘silent season’. So the answer is that technically, yes, your bitch could become pregnant at 14. It’s worth considering having your dog neutered to reap all of the benefits that come with it, unless of course you plan to breed from him. As for whether you should spay your ageing greyhound, that one would be worth talking through with your vet to consider it on an individual basis in terms of health and benefits. We hope this helps.