This may be something that you have always wondered, but never wanted to ask. Like humans, do dogs get the menopause when they reach a certain age? This article will explore this topic further and aims to give you a better understanding of the canine reproductive cycle.
When do dogs go into heat?
Like people, female dogs can start their ‘periods’ at different times. In dogs we broadly refer to this as their heat cycle or season. Female dogs reach sexual maturity (or mid-puberty) between 8 and 18 months of age, with most dogs experiencing their first heat at around 6-7 months of age. However, dogs do not come into heat every month but instead they cycle only once or twice a year, averaging around 6 months in between cycles. There is said to be some breed variability with the maturation age.
When dogs are in heat they are fertile, their seasons generally last approximately 2 to 3 weeks, but again this may vary between individuals. Dog owners may notice clinical signs including behavioural changes, vulval enlargement or redness and vulval discharge (often bleeding). Male dogs will also usually show more interest in females when they are in heat, this is due to the increased pheromones.
Do dogs go through the menopause?
In short the answer is ‘no’. Dogs do not stop cycling like humans do and continue to have seasons during their whole lives. Furthermore, this does mean that entire (unneutered) bitches are still at risk of getting pregnant even later on in life, something which is generally not recommended.
Their fertility and ability to conceive may decline with age and their cycles may reduce in frequency, but rarely do they stop completely.
Spaying
Spaying or neutering entire bitches is recommended due to the health benefits. It is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs and it is one of the most common procedures in Veterinary practice. Spaying dogs prevents reproductive tract disease in both cats and dogs including pyometra (Howe, 2015). Unneutered females have an increased risk of developing mammary tumours, this risk also increases with age (Burrai et al, 2020).
Unneutered females are at risk of developing a life-threatening uterine/womb infection referred to as a pyometra. Sadly, pyometras are a common presentation in Veterinary practices and alarmingly affects approximately 25% of all female dogs under 10 years of age (Hagman et al, 2011). During a pyometra, your dog will have an accumulation of pus within the womb, which is life-threatening.
Clinical signs of a pyometra may include lethargy, vomiting, increased drinking and urinating, and sometimes (in milder cases) malodorous vulval discharge. Eventually if left untreated, affected dogs will almost always develop sepsis and severe systemic infection. Early identification is key and although pyometras can develop at any age, dogs are more prone to developing them shortly after their season has ended (usually around 2-3 weeks later). This highlights the importance of sharing and keeping a record of your dog’s season history.
Conclusion
To conclude, female dogs do not get the menopause, but the duration between one season and the next may get gradually longer with age. Just be aware that unlike humans, they can conceive and get pregnant throughout their entire lives. Neutering is highly recommended.
References:
- Burrai, G, P. Gabrieli, A. Moccia, V. Zappulli, V. Porcellato, I. Brachelente, C. Pirino, S. Polinas, M. Antuofermo, E. 2020. A statistical analysis of risk factors and biological behaviour in canine mammary tumours: a multicentre study. Animals. 10.
- Hagman, R. Lagerstedt, A. Hedhammar, A. Egenvall, A. 2011. A breed-matched case-control study of potential risk factors for canine pyometra. Theriogenology. 75: 1251-1257.
- Howe, L. 2015. Current perspectives on the optimal age to spay/castrate dogs and cats. Veterinary Medicine. 6: 171-180.
- Dog Spay Archives – VetHelpDirect
Discussion